Hobart and William Smith Colleges

27 March 2025 • Service Service and Community Impact over Spring Break By Peter Budmen

HWS students dedicated their spring break to making a difference.

Through the Alternative Spring Break program hosted by the Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning, 13 students participated in two transformative volunteer experiences, one in Chesterfield, Virginia, and the other in Lyons, New York.

Supporting Conservation at Pocahontas State Park

Led by Eleanor Sorbello ’23, MHEL ’25 and Sophia Prouty MHEL ’25, 10 students traveled to Pocahontas State Park in Chesterfield, Virginia. This marked the 25th year HWS students have partnered with the park, which spans 7,919 acres of forested land, trails and waterways.

Participants gained a behind-the-scenes understanding of park management by assisting with constructing new bunkhouses and clearing trails in preparation for the park's busy season. Through hands-on learning, students deepened their knowledge of environmental stewardship, conservation and public service.

Participant Phillip Dilgard-Clark ’28 reflected on the impact of the group’s efforts. “We were part of an ongoing project to preserve and provide access to a beautiful area for people to enjoy and the work we did will have an impact on visitors for years to come,” Dilgard-Clark says. “People from around the country built the park in the 1930s and volunteers from around the country help to maintain it. We got to play a small role in that tradition.”

Advocating for Justice with Rural and Migrant Ministry

Meanwhile, Jasmine Goncalves '27, Jack Tafolla-Garcia '28 and James Thornburg '28 spent the week with Rural and Migrant Ministry (RMM) in Lyons, New York. RMM's mission is to "create hope, justice and empowerment with farm working and rural families in New York by building community and developing leaders through advocacy, education and the arts."

Students were immersed in RMM’s work, engaging in cultural celebrations, legislative advocacy and youth programming. A highlight of the week included traveling to Albany to meet with legislators alongside RMM’s Justice Organization of Youth (JOY) program participants, who create theatre for social change. Students had the opportunity to meet New York State Assemblymember Jonathan Jacobsen and discuss the Access to Representation Act (ARA) and the Bolstering Unrepresented Immigrant Legal Defense Act (BUILD).

Goncalves, who serves as co-president of HWS Votes and President of HWS Debate, says, “I felt empowered being able to speak directly to politicians in the New York Senate about pressing issues such as farmer and immigrant rights. I thought it was a unique and important experience that I got to be part of, especially at a time when folks feel helpless.”

Both students and chaperones left with a deeper understanding of social responsibility and commitment to civic engagement. Sophia Prouty MHEL ’25 says, “Developing leadership and team-building skills while serving the park has been an incredibly meaningful experience. It has sparked personal and professional growth and allowed me to purposefully give back to the community. Contributing to the preservation of the park’s history while enjoying its natural beauty has made this experience especially rewarding.”

To celebrate and share their experiences, participants will host the Alternative Spring Break Return Expo on Friday, March 28, from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. in the Stine Room of the Adams Intercultural Center. All are welcome to attend and learn more about the students' impactful work.

CCESL is always seeking additional chaperones and leaders for future experiences. Interested individuals are encouraged to reach out at serve@hws.edu .

Since its inception in 2001, Alternative Spring Break has provided students with meaningful opportunities to engage in service and develop leadership skills. 

View more photos from this year’s trips here. Follow @hwsccesl on Instagram.