LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION congratulating Hobart and William Smith Colleges
upon the occasion of their designation as recipients of the Geneva Area
Chamber of Commerce 2011 Business of the Year Award

WHEREAS, The State of New York is renowned for its centuries-old tradi-
tion of excellence and diversity in education and for the place of para-
mount importance which education holds for the people of the State; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to congratu-
late Hobart and William Smith Colleges upon the occasion of their desig-
nation as recipients of the Geneva Area Chamber of Commerce 2011
Business of the Year Award on Friday, January 27, 2012; and
WHEREAS, Located on 195 acres in the heart of New York State's Finger
Lakes Region, Hobart and William Smith are independent liberal arts
colleges distinctive for providing highly individualized educations;
guided by an interdisciplinary curriculum grounded in exploration and
rigor, the Colleges prepare students to think critically; and
WHEREAS, In partnership with the Geneva and global communities and
through robust programs in career development, study-abroad, service,
leadership and athletics, Hobart and William Smith Colleges foster an
environment that values global citizenship, teamwork, ethics, inclusive
excellence, and cultural competence; and
WHEREAS, Hobart and William Smith Colleges enjoy a rich heritage based
on a two-college system rooted in interdisciplinary teaching and
research; originally founded as two separate colleges (Hobart for men in
1822 and William Smith for women in 1908), the institution now operates
under a coordinated college system; and
WHEREAS, Hobart and William Smith Colleges have been named 2011 Busi-
ness of the Year by the Geneva Area Chamber of Commerce; this is the
highest honor a business can receive locally; and
WHEREAS, Ably led by President Mark D. Gearan, Hobart and William
Smith Colleges continues to prosper today and into the future; and
WHEREAS, The Colleges and President Gearan's dedication to Geneva has
been solidified through the Geneva Partnership, an initiative to forge
the strongest possible ties with the community and enhance life for all
who work, study and live there; through this partnership, the Colleges
work with community members to identify challenges and brainstorm
specific ways that faculty, students and staff can work with local resi-
dents to overcome particular obstacles; and
WHEREAS, These partnerships allow community members to explore new
ideas while giving students the kind of rich, real-world experiences
that set them apart when looking to start their careers after gradu-
ation; and
WHEREAS, Under President Gearan's leadership, during the spring and
summer of 2011, Hobart and William Smith Colleges and the Geneva City
School District (GCSD) held a series of meetings with community leaders
from both the nonprofit and for profit sectors in an effort to align the
greater Geneva community around the strategic priorities of the school
system; and
WHEREAS, Calling its efforts 'Geneva 2020,' the group seeks to harness
the resources of the Colleges and the Geneva community to provide
assistance in four key areas identified by GCSD as being critical to the
future of Geneva's children: graduation rate, career and college
preparedness, literacy, and communications; and
WHEREAS, In 2010, the students, faculty and staff of Hobart and
William Smith Colleges provided more than 190,000 hours of community
service in the Geneva area and raised a significant amount to support

local non-profit agencies; in January of 2011, the Boys and Girls Club
honored the Colleges as the "Community Partner of the Year"; and
WHEREAS, Hobart and William Smith Colleges are in the unique position
of benefiting Geneva both as an economic contributor and also as the
clear leader in service for the region; no other organization in the
community makes a similar contribution in terms of human hours of
service provided to all of its not-for-profit agencies; and
WHEREAS, The President's Forum Series, established in the winter of
2000 by President Mark D. Gearan, was designed to bring a variety of
speakers to campus to share their knowledge and ideas; the events are
open to the public and many speakers have drawn audience members from
the local Finger Lakes community as well as the surrounding cities of
Rochester, Syracuse and Ithaca; and
WHEREAS, Recently, Professor of Economics and Interim Provost Patrick
McGuire and his students conducted an economic impact report that looked
at how the Colleges contribute to the region; among factors they studied
were direct and indirect job growths; Professor McGuire estimates that
the indirect and induced spending from the Colleges, their students and
employees, supports between 1,110 and 1,805 jobs in the Geneva region;
and
WHEREAS, Shortly after joining Hobart and William Smith Colleges,
President Gearan developed a five-year strategic planning initiative,
HWS 2005; since then he has led the next two phases of the planning
initiative, HWS 2010 and HWS 2015, as well as Campaign for the Colleges,
the $200 million capital campaign scheduled for completion in 2012; and
WHEREAS, Included in the planning initiatives was the creation of the
Finger Lakes Institute in 2002; established with support from Senator
Michael F. Nozzolio, the Finger Lakes Institute is dedicated to the
promotion of environmental research and education about the Finger Lakes
and surrounding environments; In collaboration with regional environ-
mental partners and state and local government offices, the Institute
fosters environmentally-sound development practices throughout the
region, and disseminates the accumulated knowledge to the general
public; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when individ-
uals and institutions of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought
to our attention, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the
citizens of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
congratulate Hobart and William Smith Colleges upon the occasion of
their designation as recipients of the Geneva Area Chamber of Commerce
2011 Business of the Year Award; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to President Mark D. Gearan, Hobart and William Smith Colleges.