First-Year Mentors
2023 First Year Mentors
These student leaders will help you transition to life at HWS. First-Year Mentors are an integral part of each First Year Seminar. You will meet regularly with your mentor to discuss coursework and receive assistance on anything from writing papers to planning projects to studying more effectively. Your mentor also serves as a good resource for any questions you may have about life as a college student.
Bella Babikian ‘24 (she/her/hers)
FSEM 043 - Twenty Questions
What is one campus activity that every student should experience at least once? Everyone should go to a hockey game in the Cooler. It’s a quintessential HWS and Central New York experience!
Rebecca Barr '25 (she/her/hers)
FSEM 059 - Who Tells Your Story?
Where do you find community at HWS? The clubs and organizations you can be a part of are an amazing way to meet new friends and feel a sense of belonging.
Matthew Brand ‘24 (he/him/his)
FSEM 037 - Something in the Way
What is your favorite course so far? I have two favorite courses. I took Introduction to Imaging during my first year at the Colleges to satisfy my art requirement. I loved this class and it helped me realize a creative passion of mine that I wasn’t sure about prior. I loved my professor, Anastasia, and I love the outlet that the class and photography became to express my creativity and share the lens through which I see the world. My other favorite class thus far is Macroeconomics. The professor was easily one of the best professors I have had at this school. He made the content of the class so interesting and he created a relaxed but engaging atmosphere in the classroom.
Addie Brinkler ‘26 (she/her/hers)
FSEM 049 - What is Freedom?
What was a meaningful connection you made during your first year? My FSEM advisor was a great resource for me on campus. Not only was she helpful in my academics but I also babysat for her. I got to hang out with her family and her cats and it was nice to have that family connection while I was missing mine.
Jordan Britton ‘24 (he/him/his)
FSEM 139 - Mars!
Describe the moment that HWS became your home: I had a few of my friends over for Thanksgiving dinner this year and one of my friends who is an international student said, "It is really hard being so far from home, but you guys are like home to me."
Tucker Budd ‘25 (he/him/his)
FSEM 193 - Japan: Ghosts, Demons & Monsters
Where do you find community at HWS? Almost everywhere. Everyone is super friendly and welcoming, and if you have any sort of hobby or interest there are definitely others here with that same interest. Finding community may be a stressful thing when coming to a new school, but HWS makes it super easy.
Georgia Craven ‘25
FSEM 036 - Relations, Happiness and Service
Describe the moment that HWS became your home: When I joined the Admissions team! I found a place that I really love and met so many amazing people that will be some of my life-long friends!
Jack Deely ‘26
FSEM 103 - The Reality Effect (It was not a dark and stormy night)
What is one campus activity that every student should experience at least once? Swimming in the lake during the first opening weeks of the fall semester. When it is nice out, every student goes down to the boathouse and jumps in the lake. It is a great way to meet new people and enjoy the sun.
Matt Dwyer ‘24 (he/him/his)
FSEM 034 - Building Bridges: Immigration and Oral History
Where do you find community at HWS? With my fraternity brothers at HWS. I attended Culver Military Academy for high school and became accustomed to surrounding myself with young men whom I could call my brothers. Coming into college, I was very anxious that I was never going to find that again. Fortunately, I was proven wrong by the Delta-Phi chapter of the Kappa Sigma fraternity, where I have made some of the most meaningful, committed, and lasting friendships of my life.
Winter Fagerberg ‘24 (he/him/his)
FSEM 045 - Stealing Art, Saving Art
What is one campus activity that every student should experience at least once? Visit the boathouse by Lake Seneca. The lake is one of the biggest assets that HWS has to offer, thus I encourage all first years to take full advantage of it!
Natalie Haythorn '25
FSEM 127 - Hip-Hop Culture
Where do you find community at HWS? In the people I surrounded myself with. By finding people that have similar interests and are involved in the same things - like my sports teams (soccer and tennis), I was able to make connections and friendships that would last a lifetime.
MaryBridget Horvath ‘24 (she/her/hers)
FSEM 144 - Parched: The Past, Present and Future of Water
What was a meaningful connection you made during your first year? My advisor. I stop by his office just about every day now and it's nice to have him in my corner to bounce ideas off of or go through schedules with me.
Abigail Jones ‘26 (she/her/hers)
FSEM 051 - Writing the Journey
What course has surprised you the most? Prior to HWS, I would never have considered myself a dancer. I decided to take a dance seminar, Body and Self, to fully immerse myself in the liberal arts college experience. We did every dance you could think of, from ballet to Afro-Caribbean dance. I enjoyed the course so much that I took an improvisation dance class in my second semester. My favorite courses have undoubtedly been my dance seminars, which I was pleasantly surprised to enjoy so much.
Ava Levinson ‘26 (she/her/hers)
FSEM 078 - Sustainable Living and Learning Communities
What is your favorite course so far? An environmental ethics course with Assistant Professor of Philosophy Kelsey Ward. With my interest in environmental studies, I appreciated learning the perspectives on the ties between human values with the increasing deterioration of ecological systems in today's society.
Yovanka Lopez ‘24 (she/her)
Mentor Course: FSEM 164 - Encountering Difference
What is your favorite course so far? “It Belongs in a Museum!” The course is part of the anthropology and critical museum studies programs here at the colleges. It dives into the methods that institutions, like universities and museums, obtain historical and archeological objects from other cultures. It elaborates on the ethics and the political rules of many societies that go into debates regarding the looting of artifacts or the litigious ways cultural objects are obtained.
Cassie Lundgren ‘26 (she/her/hers)
FSEM 147 - Stories of Writing and Resistance
What was a meaningful connection you made during your first year? My now good friend Caroline. I met Caroline when she was my tutor coordinator at Skoi Yase Primary School with the America Reads program my first semester of college. Under Caroline's guidance, I became more passionate about the Tutor Corps program and the impact I was making on the children we were working with, and I have since continued with this program and intend to do so in the future.
Riley McCabe ‘26
FSEM 056 - Game Changers: Disease, Cures, and Social Change
What is one campus activity that every student should experience at least once? This campus really does provide you with opportunities to meet new people, whether it's roasting marshmallows at the Winter Wonderland, throwing axes at the Halloween events, or just playing the most hyped up game of bingo at the pub. There are so many opportunities offered to students, you just need to take them and you'll have a blast!
Holly McCarty ‘25 (She/Her/Hers)
FSEM 146 - Hacking the Law
What was a meaningful connection you made during your first year? My own FSEM mentor! She was incredibly supportive and cognizant of what I was going through as a first-year student. She became one of my largest support systems and best resources as a student!
Laura McDonough '26
FSEM 114 - Head Over Heels:Themes of Love and Longing in Popular Music
What is one campus activity that every student should experience at least once? Day of Service
Quinn McGowan ‘24
FSEM 113 - Railroad to Freedom: The Underground Railroad in New York
What course has surprised you the most? I took GEO 182, Intro to Meteorology my second year at HWS. I am a history major but part of the Eight Goals at HWS includes taking a science credit. I was nervous to take a science class because I have never been the best at science, but this class was so interesting and I would recommend it to any student.
Holly Miles '26 (she/her/hers)
FSEM 078 - Sustainable Living and Learning Communities
What is one campus activity that every student should experience at least once? Everyone should definitely go to a sports game. HWS has a pretty high amount of athletes on campus, so there's a good chance that you'll know someone who is playing. Plus, cheering for your school is always so fun! The William Smith volleyball games in the fall are really fun to watch!
Ingrid Miller ‘26 (she/her/hers)
FSEM 185 - Design in American Culture
What is one campus activity that every student should experience at least once? Day of Service! Spanning across all class years, this short day provides a wonderful opportunity to gain a glimpse of outreach in Geneva and explore the greater community.
Marin Montagne ‘26
FSEM 101 - New Chemistry Meets Old Art
What is one campus activity that every student should experience at least once? Everyone should attend some sort of sporting event in their time here. I am biased and obviously think everyone should go to a volleyball game, but you can always expect to have fun and feel welcomed at these events.
Elizabeth Nafz ‘24 (she/her/hers)
FSEM 140 - Almost Got Away With It
What was a meaningful connection you made during your first year? During my first year, I was closest to my roommate because we bonded over figuring out college life together. I was glad to have a friend with whom I could try out restaurants in town or debrief after a long day of classes.
Dima Piskun ‘24 (he/him/his)
FSEM 031 - From Comix to Graphix: The Art of Story
Where do you find community at HWS? All around me, really. I have made meaningful connection in many different parts of campus, admissions, recreation, academic departments, clubs, you name it. I think that your residential community is most important, because the colleges are a lot more fun if you live with people you enjoy spending time with.
Abby Sherwood ‘26 (she/her/hers)
FSEM 193 - Ghosts and Hauntings in the Americas
What is one campus activity that every student should experience at least once? Every student should experience a Midnight Breakfast at least once. This occurs during finals week when the dining hall opens extra late. Students can come together and take a break from the stress and pressure of finals and enjoy breakfast, at night, together.
Jacob Siegel ‘24
FSEM 043 - Twenty Questions
Describe the moment that HWS became your home: After one of the first few times my friends and I visited the Bozzuto Boathouse early in my first year. We had just finished our soccer practice and got our lunch from the cafe, preparing to take it back to our rooms. Yet, one of us suggested that we take our lunch down by the lake and go for a swim. While playing music and jumping from the dock into the lake, it's impossible to not step back and idealize this perfect cut of nature, just minutes away from where you sleep, and renders HWS as a place of serenity and happiness.
Cayden Smith ‘24 (she/her/hers)
FSEM 166 - Miracle Drugs
Where do you find community at HWS? Within the clubs I’ve joined including the sorority on campus, Theta Phi Alpha, and the equestrian club team!
Alaina Tremblay ‘24 (she/her/hers)
FSEM 035 - Just Words
What was a meaningful connection you made during your first year? You'll meet friends in the most unexpected places. I met my best friend and roommate for the past two years in passing while I was eating with a group of students on the Coxe Hall steps. After this interaction, we started saying 'hello,' then our group of friends started hanging out together, and then eventually, we became inseparable. Your first year is a transition. Be prepared that you might not be best friends with the students you met during orientation by Halloween. And that's okay. We are all figuring this new life out. That being said, be willing to put yourself out there to meet new people.
Marcella Venettozzi ‘26 (she/her/hers)
FSEM 055 - I’m New Here: Imaginers, Observers, Immigrants
What is your favorite course so far? I take a pretty science-heavy course load, so my favorite course is piano lessons at the Gearan Center. I enjoy learning and playing the piano and it is a stress reliever. Music lessons also provide some general credit toward your degree!
Mercedes Wiegel ‘25 (she/her/hers)
FSEM 093 - Ethical Debates in Medicine
What was a meaningful connection you made during your first year? During the admissions process and throughout my time here at HWS, I have made a meaningful connection with Senior Associate Director of Admissions Sue Willard ‘99. Sue has guided me through my college experience on both a personal and an academic level, making me a more confident student as well as individual.
Ahmed Wise ‘24 (he/him/his)
FSEM 042 - Face to Face: Interrogating Race in the United States and South Africa
Where do you find community at HWS? What makes HWS special is that you can find community in so many areas. I find community in residence halls, on my specific floor, in the classroom, in the dining hall, on the sports field, and in clubs. Because HWS is so small, it allows for everyone to connect throughout so many different fields.
2023-24 Athletic Study Mentors
Athletic Study Mentors are student athletes who work with their first-year teammates to develop learning and time management strategies, in addition to helping them transition to college life. If you are a first-year varsity athlete, your Athletic Study Mentor will support you through workshops and one-on-one meetings, and is a great resource for all your questions about life at HWS. Athletic Study Mentors are here to support from the moment you enroll through your first year.
evan amendum '24
William Smith Soccer
Hometown: Newark, DE
Major: Biology
Kayleigh Aquino '24
Hobart and William Smith Cross-Country
Hometown: Amherst, NY
Major: History
What is the biggest difference between being a student-athlete in high school and in college? Time management! No one is telling you what to do and when to do it, and you'll have a lot more free time in college. Figuring out how to spend it can be quite a challenge.
Matthew Brand '24
Hobart Basketball
Hometown: White Plains, NY
Major: Economics
What was a meaningful connection you made during your first year? My senior teammate, Dan Masino '21. Dan was also my Athletic Study Mentor. Dan was a guy that had achieved the highest levels of success both academically and athletically and was a role model that I was able to look to early on at HWS. Not only did he set a standard of excellence that I could follow but was always there to converse with me, guide me, and offer any advice that he could to help aid in my success. He quickly became a big brother to me as we spent countless hours in the gym together and off the court having a good time. He is still someone I talk to on different occasions about career advice and life in general. I value our relationship greatly.
Artem Buzoverya '24
Hobart Ice Hockey
Hometown: Kharkiv, Ukraine
Majors: Economics and International Relations
Where do you go for advice on campus? Office hours or teachers I am close with.
Guillermo Castaneda Chang '24
Hobart Soccer
Hometown: Guatemala City, Guatemala
Majors: Economics and Mathematics
What is one campus activity that every student should experience at least once? Catching a game from any of our teams.
Johnny Colombi '25
Hobart Football
Hometown: Castle Rock, CO
Major: Economics
Will Corbett '25
Hobart Lacrosse
Hometown: Madison, WI
Majors: Economics and Computer Science
What was a meaningful connection you made during your first year? My ASM (we ended up being roommates the next year).
Sayf Elhawary '25
Hobart and William Smith Squash
Hometown: Piscatawy, NJ
Major: Computer Science and Mathematics
What was a meaningful connection you made during your first year? A Teaching Fellow who was at my FSEM on orientation day. It was meaningful because we ended up having the same major and became best friends.
Alexandra George '24
William Smith Ice Hockey and William Smith Bowling
Hometown: Marysville, MI
Majors: Pyschological Science and Educational Studies
What is one campus activity that every student should experience at least once? Going to the lake! Whether you’re swimming, fishing, boating, or just hanging out, being by the lake is a central part of our campus!
Nicholas Gullace '24
Hobart Lacrosse
Hometown: Livingston, NJ
Major: Economics
What is one campus activity that every student should experience at least once? Winter Wonderland.
Ryan Hinman '25
Hobart Football
Hometown: Lambertville, NJ
Major: Economics
What is the biggest difference between being a student-athlete in high school and in college? There’s a lot more responsibility of getting work done on your own time. Life of a student athlete in college forces you to be much more organized. College professors also reward effort and students get to know them much more than high school. To put it simply, professors care more if you care more.
Brooke Jarvis '24
William Smith Basketball
Hometown: Baldwinsville, NY
Major: Writing and Rhetoric
What is the biggest difference between being a student-athlete in high school and in college? The level of commitment. The expectations of a college student-athlete are much higher and it requires you to push yourself to succeed.
Heather Kerns '24
Hobart and William Smith Sailing
Hometown: Apollo Beach, FL
Majors: Geoscience and Environmental Studies
What is one campus activity that every student should experience at least once? Watch the sunrise over the lake. Whether it is for a morning lift, practice, or just by choice everyone should get to watch the sunrise over the lake before they leave HWS. The best spot to watch is the boathouse or the benches on South Main Street. Every student should take time to appreciate the beauty of where our campus is!
Ethan Kowalski '25
Hobart Football
Hometown: Lancaster, NY
Major: Economics
Where do you go for advice on campus? My coaches, advisor, and older teammates.
joel kraft '24
Hobart Football
Hometown: Waterloo, NY
Major: Psychological Science
Sean Pesin '24
Hobart and William Smith Tennis
Hometown: Tel-Aviv, Israel
Majors: Economics and Psychological Science
What is the biggest difference between being a student-athlete in high school and in college? The time commitment when traveling.
Hobart Volleyball
Hometown: Kharkiv, Ukraine
Major: Architectural Studies
Where do you find community at HWS? All around me, really. I have made meaningful connection in many different parts of campus, admissions, recreation, academic departments, clubs, you name it. I think that your residential community is most important, because the colleges are a lot more fun if you live with people you enjoy spending time with.
Kate Risley '24
William Smith Lacrosse
Hometown: Fairfield, CT
Major: History
Where do you go for advice on campus? HWS has incredible on-campus resources that make the transition from high school to college smooth and sets a basis for the ongoing support that the community provides throughout your years here. If I ever encounter an issue, I lean on my friends and teammates along with my coaches and advisors to provide me with insightful advice and feedback on situations that come with being a student-athlete.
Victoria (Tori) Smith '25
William Smith Swimming and Diving
Hometown: Astoria, OR
Major: Biology
Where do you go for advice on campus? I go to Student Engagement, coaches, my advisor, and my fellow teammates.
Laurens Van Alen '24
William Smith Field Hockey
Hometown: Malvern, PA
Major: Media and Society
What was a meaningful connection you made during your first year? I loved meeting all of my upperclass teammates. It was really meaningful when they actively reached out to us as first-years and we were all able to bond throughout the season because of this.
Aidan Vanek '25
Hobart and William Smith Rowing
Hometown: Upper Arlington, OH
Major: Biochemistry
Where do you go for advice on campus? Peers, coaches, and professors.
jordon walker '24
Hobart Football
Hometown: Bloomfield, CT
Major: Economics
Elaina Wamhoff '24
William Smith Volleyball
Hometown: LaMoille, IL
Major: Computer Science
What was a meaningful connection you made during your first year? My athletic trainer, who supported me physically and emotionally throughout the entire year
Emilie Waters '24
Hobart and William Smith Alpine Ski
Hometown: Madison, CT
Major: Sociology
What is one campus activity that every student should experience at least once? Going to a Career Services talk with alumni. I was unsure about how worthwhile these events were until I attended one. They are so informative and honestly very eye opening. I think it is really valuable to hear from someone who is super successful in whatever field they are in, who has been in your exact position before.
Matthieu Wuth '24
Hobart Ice Hockey
Hometown: Westminster, CO
Major: Chemistry
Where do you go for advice on campus? I often go to my classmates and professors that I have become really close with in my time at HWS.