Shaping the lives of students to serve a greater good is an overarching goal of the Colleges' mission. There is a tremendous sense of pride when a member of the community goes to do this in great and small ways, with a demonstrated sense of dedication to home, college, community, and country—such is the case with Hobart alumnus and Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen.
Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ) has remained active in the Hobart and William Smith community since he graduated from Hobart in 1969. He provided outstanding leadership in the Colleges' fund-raising efforts as the 1972-73 chair of the Hobart Alumni Fund, class agent, a leader of the reunion gift committee, and a member of the Capital Campaign steering committee. A dedicated member of the Colleges community, Mr. Frelinghuysen gave convocation remarks at Hobart's 175th anniversary weekend. In 1977, and again in 1994, he was the recipient of the Alumni Citation Award. Congressman Frelinghuysen is now serving his fourth consecutive term as a Republican member of the 107th Congress. He is New Jersey's senior member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, where he serves on three subcommittees; Defense; Veterans, Housing, Environment and Independent Agencies; and Energy and Water Development. Mr. Frelinghuysen has championed a balanced federal budget, supported welfare reform and efforts to secure the future of the Medicare program, and now is working to modernize Medicare to include a prescription medicine benefit. He also supports strengthening the military, protecting patients from managed care abuses, improving education, reforming campaign finance laws, and saving Social Security.
A man of principle and deep concern for his fellow citizens, Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen is a champion of service and a shining example to the Hobart and William Smith community of the power of dedicating oneself to bettering the circumstances of those around him. His efforts both on this campus and in Congress will leave a positive, lasting impression for years to come.