Good News from the Hill: 2024-25 Highlights

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From groundbreaking ideas to game-winning goals, the 2024-25 academic year was full of energy and momentum. Students, faculty, staff, and alumni brought Hamilton’s mission to life in ways big and small, illustrating what happens when a community leans into creativity and connection.

Campus Moments

Notable speakers and new spaces were just a few of the many moments and additions that helped shape the Hamilton experience last year.

Student leaders welcome cars as they drive up College Hill Road — Welcome! August marked the arrival of our newest students. The 460 members of the Class of 2028 came from 38 states and 23 countries, represented more than 400 high schools, and spoke 38 languages. Fun fact: the most popular name in the class is Alexander.

Former President Barack Obama greets Student Government Alliance President Anna Gnapp '26. — **Hill Stops**: President Barack Obama drew more than 5,000 attendees to the Sacerdote Great Names Series in April, headlining a standout year of visitors that also included Pulitzer and Emmy Award winners, acclaimed artists, and national thought leaders. Check out who made their way to the Hill.

From left to right, Professor Anne Huff, Mike Klapmeyer, President Steven Tepper, David Solomon and Linda E. Johnson ceremoniously shovel dirt to break ground for the Innovation Center — **Innovation Center Underway**: Construction began last year on Hamilton鈥檚 new Innovation Center, a $50 million, 41,000-square-foot facility that will feature AR/VR labs, robotics studios, makerspaces, and collaborative research areas. Designed to bring together students and faculty across disciplines, the center will fuel hands-on learning and bold ideas thanks to cutting-edge tools and technologies.

Construction Webcam

Sage Rink, November 2024 — **Investing in Sage Rink**: Completed ahead of the 2024鈥�25 season, the first phase of Sage Rink鈥檚 renovation introduced new locker rooms, a team lounge, upgraded athletic training facilities, and modernized equipment areas鈥攁n important investment in Hamilton hockey and one of the most historic college rinks in the country.

April 2025 Labyrinth Dedication — **Talk a Walk for Your Mental Health**: The labyrinth, a Class of 2019 gift, was installed behind Anderson-Connell Alumni Center and opened at the beginning of the fall semester.

2024-25 Highlight Video Thumbnail — Take a look back at memorable moments from the past year.

Smiles, Surprises & Standouts

Collage of 2025 student fellowships and scholarship recipients — **Awards & Accolades**: It was another banner year for Hamilton students 鈥� 14 of whom successfully secured prestigious fellowships and scholarships. Read about our Goldwater Scholar, Watson Fellows, Gilman Scholars , Bristol Fellows, Truman Scholar, Fulbright ETAs, and Critical Language Scholarship recipients.

Matthew Zaishnikov poses with his new telescope — A Wish Come True: When a local 14-year old鈥檚 wish arrived through the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Central New York, Hamilton students and faculty turned it into an unforgettable night by presenting Matthew Zaishnikov with a professional-grade telescope.

A Year of Firsts for the New President

From launching a campus-wide innovation initiative to reimagining the role of the liberal arts, President Steven Tepper鈥檚 first year was defined by ambitious firsts and a call to think boldly about what comes next for Hamilton.

The Open Thinker Meets the Open Curriculum

A sociologist, arts advocate, and first-generation college graduate, President Tepper brings a creative and student-centered lens to leadership. He is known on campus for asking intriguing questions and for his steadfast belief in Hamilton being the ideal place to imagine what鈥檚 possible.

What If?

President Tepper鈥檚 remarks from his inauguration in September married philosophy and strategy, casting Hamilton as both a place and a practice of creative inquiry. He marked the occasion by announcing his 鈥淲hat If鈥� Initiative, which encouraged campus community members to explore and collaborate on projects that will shape the future of Hamilton and higher education. Inaugural recipients were announced in May.

Liberal Arts Learning That Connects

Across disciplines and throughout the world, Hamilton students are applying what they learn in meaningful ways by exploring identity, tackling everyday problems, and making new discoveries that stretch from our ski trails to distant stars.

Hebrew text on a piece of paper. — Interdisciplinary Exploration Through Jewish Studies: Drawing on history, religion, literature, and language, Hamilton鈥檚 new Jewish Studies minor invites students to explore identity, culture, and community across time and place, and from multiple perspectives.

The snow grooming machine grooms the Nordic ski trail on campus. — A New Way to Groom Trails: Grisha Hatavets 鈥�25 took on a real-world challenge as part of a research fellowship: how to make grooming Hamilton鈥檚 cross-country ski trails more efficient. His solution offers a smarter, more sustainable approach to maintaining nearly 10 miles of trails.

Exoplanet Discoveries: A new telescope gifted to the College by Peter Schloerb 鈥�73 has helped students and faculty confirm the existence of new exoplanets.

Voices in Action

Through debate, art, and peer-led conversation, students are creating spaces for dialogue, listening across differences, and shaping what civic engagement looks like on campus and sharpening their skills to take with them.

Ilsaa Siddiqui ’25 makes a point during the debate. — Students Take the Lead on Finding Common Ground: Hamilton students didn鈥檛 just participate in a campus debate, they created it. They turned their chosen topic, 鈥淩esolved: Are environmental protections more important than economic growth?鈥� into a thoughtful, inclusive discussion and showed what happens when students lead with curiosity, respect, and conviction.

HamVotes encourages voter registration and election day participation on Martin's Way — Practicing the Liberal Arts Through Democratic Dialogue: A new initiative, Crossroads, included organized events like pop-up tables on Martin鈥檚 Way, a community mural painting, and small-group discussion series, in addition to talks and panels. These programs created spaces for peer-to-peer dialogue, creative expression, and civic exploration leading up to Election Day.

Scholars Who Shape the World

Hamilton鈥檚 faculty are nationally recognized experts in their fields and treasured mentors on campus. Whether advancing public discourse or exploring tough questions with students, they bring their research into discussions and invite students to do the same.

Quarterly-Media-Coverage — Insights That Inform: Many Hamilton faculty were among those who were sought out by major international and national media outlets for their expertise on a wide range of topics. Professor of Government Philip Klinkner, Professor of Economics Ann Owen, and Visiting Professor of History Ty Seidule were among those who brought critical academic insights to broader public conversations.

The World鈥檚 Largest History Prize: Associate Professor of History Mackenzie Cooley was one of nine winners of the 2025 Dan David Prize, which is awarded to early and mid-career researchers whose work illuminates the human past in bold and creative ways. Cooley is an intellectual historian who studies the uses, abuses, and understandings of the natural world.

Books That Sparked Conversation

Alexandra Plakias ’02 — Associate Professor of Philosophy Alexandra Plakias鈥� latest book *Awkwardness*, which draws on psychology, ethics, and everyday encounters to explore why social discomfort happens, was featured in outlets around the world during the holiday season.

*Reds*, a new book from the Publius Virgilius Rogers Professor of American History Maurice Isserman, unpacks the contradictions of the Communist Party USA, a movement shaped by both egalitarian hopes and authoritarian extremes.

Jaime Lee Kucinskas — *The Loyalty Trap* by Associate Professor of Sociology Jaime Kucinskas examines how civil servants balanced personal ethics and professional obligations during the Trump administration.

Conference Champions

Hamilton鈥檚 men鈥檚 ice hockey team made history with a 3鈥�0 victory over Tufts to claim . The championship capped off a record-breaking season and earned the Continentals an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament, where they made it to the national quarterfinals.

The men’s hockey team celebrates its first NESCAC win after defeating Tufts 3-0 on March 9 at Sage Rink.

Rooted in the Region

The College鈥檚 location in Clinton and the Mohawk Valley shapes the work done on the Hill. In turn, the Hamilton community is committed to giving back to the region we call home. Through local partnerships, research, and sustained service, students and faculty are sharing knowledge, building relationships, and making a lasting impact.

Levitt Center Mural — Grant to Expand Justice Lab鈥檚 Impact: The Levitt Center鈥檚 Justice Lab received a generous Winston Foundation grant, enabling faculty and students to expand crime prevention, justice policy, and community-engaged research in Utica. This funding supports student-driven projects focused on youth empowerment, data-informed interventions, and local partnerships.

aerial of Clinon — $331 Million Impact: From student spending to local construction and operations, the College plays a vital role in sustaining economic life in the Mohawk Valley. A recent study found that Hamilton contributed $331 million to the regional economy in one year 鈥� supporting 1,800 jobs and generating more than $117 million in payroll.

Utica sign at the Adirondack Bank Center — Levitt Report Examines Youth Gun Violence in Utica: Partnering with local leaders, the Levitt Center and students taking part in the College鈥檚 Justice Lab conducted research on youth gun violence in Utica. By combining interviews, data, and policy recommendations, the report offers new insights that have sparked community dialogue and offered practical solutions.

The COOP interns gather in the Chapel to connect and discuss the semester's projects. — 15 Years of Student-Led Engagement: For more than a decade, Hamilton students have partnered with local organizations through the College鈥檚 Community Outreach and Opportunity Project (COOP). In 2023-24, 349 students volunteered more than 10,000 hours by supporting tutoring programs, food security efforts, and more, all while gaining a deeper understanding of community and connection.

Grant made to Samuel Kirkland - Colonial Map of New York Province — $750K Grant for American Indian and Indigenous Studies: The new program builds upon Hamilton鈥檚 foundational relationship with the Oneida Indian Nation and reflects a broader commitment to inclusive, place-based education. Students will explore urgent questions about land, identity, sovereignty, environmental justice, and decolonization.

Where Curiosity Leads Recent Grads

Grounded in the liberal arts and guided by strong mentorship, Hamilton鈥檚 most recent graduates are using their academic experiences to shape the future.

2025 Commencement — What鈥檚 Next for the Class of 2025? With the freedom to design their own academic paths 鈥� and the support to stretch in new directions 鈥� graduates in the Class of 2025 left campus in May armed with critical skills and big plans. From taking their interest in optimization and applying it to operations at the Walt Disney Company to pursuing a career in the music business, this group of Hamiltonians is already on the move.

Commencement canes — Notes from Grad School: Whether they are pursuing a Ph.D. in evolutionary biology or a master鈥檚 in financial engineering, members of the Class of 2024 who pursued graduate school after leaving Hamilton are doing work that builds on the questions they began exploring here and asking new ones.

Celebrating a Community That Gives Back

Each year, every gift to Hamilton reflects a community united in fueling the College鈥檚 future. Through record participation, new scholarships, and lasting investments, alumni, families, and friends are creating meaningful opportunities for today鈥檚 students and generations to come. Here are some highlights from the 2024-25 fiscal year:

10,751 attendees showed up at Hamily events throughout the year, including 40 virtual events and 63 in-person events on campus and around the country. (Keep an eye out for our fall events schedule coming soon, and save the date for Homecoming Weekend, Sept. 26-28 on the Hill!)
At the Horowitch Career Center, alumni volunteered in events, panels, and info sessions to support and engage students. Our six alumni Industry Coaches offered students real-world insight through huddles and 1:1 conversations, helping them explore industries and build connections.
The Hamilton Fund raised $7,354,146 from gifts of all sizes and thousands of donors, providing real-time impact for students heading to the Hill this fall.
Donors established 26 new endowed funds, including 12 scholarships and four professorships, which will support generations of students and inspire the work of faculty for years to come.
The overall total for both gifts and new commitments for all designations and purposes was $29,132,166, which includes donors who have made Hamilton a part of their by documenting a bequest intention.
85.6% of the Class of 2025 participated in their Senior Gift (the highest participation total in more than five years!), with the majority of those contributions supporting the installation of an LED lighting system for the new campus bridge (currently under construction).
Among young alumni in the 鈥淕OLD鈥� (Graduates Of the Last Decade) group, there was a 175% increase in membership to the 1812 Leadership Circle.
In College tradition, the 50th reunion cohort worked tirelessly to raise funds for their class gift in recognition of their milestone celebration. Total giving for the Hamilton and Kirkland Classes of 1975 was $5.5 million, supporting various causes and endowing The Social Justice Experiential Learning Fund, which provides financial support to students who endeavor to recognize, understand, and advance work toward social justice through experiential learning projects.
The Class of 1970 had the highest alumni giving participation across all class years, with 64% 鈥� fueled in part by giving in honor of their 55th reunion.
Two new spaces on campus were opened to recognize the Kirkland legacy, the Kirkland Gathering Circle, a gift of the Kirkland Class of 1973 in honor of their 50th reunion, and Kirkland Courtyard, a 50th reunion gift from the Kirkland Class of 1974.

Alumni

Innovators. Problem-Solvers. Facilitators. Leaders. Hamiltonians throughout the world are making a difference in their professions, communities, and for their alma mater.

Welcome New Alumni Trustees

Hamilton鈥檚 Alumni Council has elected two alumni trustees to serve on the Board of Trustees for four-year terms beginning July 1. They are Alice Davis Tornquist 鈥�86 and Vidal Torres 鈥�00, P鈥�29.

Class of 2020 take photos during the 2025 Reunion Weekend

Reunions 2025: Music, Memories & Meaningful Moments

From sunny skies to drenching downpours, Reunions Weekend brought all kinds of weather 鈥� and even more joy 鈥� as more than 1,000 alumni, family, and friends returned to the Hill.

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