Hobart and William Smith Colleges

22 August 2025 Meet the Class of 2029!

Orientation Week welcomes new students with exploration, service and a touch of Disney magic. 

Starting Wednesday, Hobart and William Smith will roll out the welcome mat for 536 new students arriving from 30 states and six continents — from Ghana to Vietnam, Australia to Egypt. With an average GPA of 3.63, the Class of 2029 brings with it a passion for leadership, creativity and civic engagement, earning merit scholarships in areas from the arts to athletics. More than a third are student-athletes ready to join the Herons and Statesmen on 30 varsity teams.

Over five days of Orientation kicking off August 27 and culminating with Convocation on Sunday, August 31, students will explore campus life, connect with faculty and peers, and dive into their new community.

Even those who’ve visited before will see HWS through a new lens, guided by a dedicated team of Orientation Mentors — 85 upper-class students trained to help ease the transition to college life. From navigating residence halls to discovering the best places on campus to study, mentors are key to the experience.

A highlight of Orientation is the SPARK! Project — a two-day immersive experience that introduces new students to faculty and classmates while diving into a unique topic. This year’s topics include everything from building robots and circuits with Assistant Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science Hanqing Hu to fishing in the Finger Lakes with Associate Professor of Writing and Rhetoric Benjamin Ristow.

Students will also meet with their First-Year Seminar where they'll begin building critical academic skills under the guidance of a faculty adviser who will support them throughout their early college journey.

Saturday brings the annual Day of Service, where students will volunteer at 26 sites throughout Geneva — from schools and community gardens to nonprofits and food programs. It’s an opportunity to connect with the city and with one another, and for many, it sparks four years of ongoing civic involvement.

That night, the Smith Opera House will host the always entertaining Orientation Variety Show, featuring music, comedy and performances by Orientation Mentors.

Orientation concludes Sunday with Convocation, the official start to the academic year. This year’s keynote speaker is Walt Disney Imagineering Architect Richard “Toby” Pugh ’67, recipient of the Hobart Medal of Excellence — the Alumni Association’s highest honor. Classes begin Monday, September 1. Learn More.

In the above photograph, the HWS spirit squad welcomes students to campus in 2024.