HWS News
3 October 2024 • Sustainability HWS Takes 2nd in National RainWorks Challenge By Natalia St. Lawrence' 15
The Environmental Protection Agency awards HWS team second place for their campus stormwater infrastructure proposal.
Hobart and William Smith has won second place in the final round of the Environmental Protection Agency’s 11th Annual Campus RainWorks Challenge. With 12 impressive teams competing, HWS beat out the University of California – Berkley for the 2nd place spot. The University of Oregon took first place.
The Campus RainWorks Challenge is a national green infrastructure design competition for American colleges and universities that seeks to engage the next generation of environmental professionals, act on the need for innovative stormwater management techniques and showcase the benefits of green infrastructure.
The HWS proposal, created by a team of students as part of their Environmental Studies Capstone, was titled, “Creating a Sustainable, Walkable Community for Odell’s Village and the HWS Campus.” The team includes Madeleine Buck ’26, Owen Hotaling ’24, Erin Howe ’24, Tarang Malhotra ’26 and Jackson Mischler ’24. They were led by Associate Professor of Environmental Studies Beth Kinne and Assistant Professor of Art and Architecture Max Piersol.
The entry focused on reducing stormwater flow into Odell’s Pond and preventing localized flooding at Odell’s Village, HWS’ residential neighborhood for juniors and seniors. Additional considerations noted increased campus connectivity, improved pollinator habitats, restored native plants and new signage about the local flora and fauna.
"It feels amazing to be recognized for the work we put in on this project. I believe that our win is proof that the multidisciplinary approach that HWS takes to higher level education works," Hotaling says. "At the end of the day, it was the different perspectives, knowledge, and disciplines that came together to win us second place, not to mention the passion we all share for sustainability!"
"It was an honor to represent HWS alongside a talented and passionate group of students and professors. I am incredibly proud of our team for applying our knowledge to solve real-world problems. Winning second place not only proves the viability of our ideas, but also inspires us to continue developing sustainable solutions that can further benefit our campus and beyond," Malhotra adds.
Watch the team’s video proposal.
The judges’ comments included praise for the proposal, “Beautiful and carefully crafted video and design board,” and also reflected on how the students successfully integrated HWS’ strategic vision for climate action into their proposal. “This group took into account the master plan for the school including the climate resiliency plan.”
“I'm very proud of our HWS student team," Kinne says. "In addition to addressing existing storm water management problems, the plan promotes campus connectivity, incorporates the HWS master plan, student preferences and local history, and employs green infrastructure in the form of native and economically and culturally relevant vegetation. It was truly an interdisciplinary project and their creativity was impressive."
HWS students will receive a $12,000 prize for taking second place.
Learn more about the EPA RainWorks Challenge here.
