Growing the minds, and ambitions, of Easton area students

Tom ’67 and Sharon Smith

By Margaret Wilson

As Lafayette celebrates its 199th anniversary this month, this story of LafKid Connect showcases the spirit in which the College was created. Nearly two centuries ago, in March 1826, the citizens of Easton received a charter signed by Pennsylvania Gov. John Andrew Shulze establishing Lafayette College. Today, the generosity of alumni like Tom ’67 and Sharon Smith continues the connection to the City of Easton by offering students the opportunity to make an impact in the community. 

Tom Smith ’67 knows firsthand how influential exposure to the world of higher education can be for an adolescent. 

“I remember my father taking me to a football game at Princeton when I was in seventh grade. I went home and got straight A’s for the next half of the year,” he says. 

In fact, Tom first decided to attend Lafayette for reasons outside those typically considered by prospective students. Instead, he was impressed by the College’s winning streak in the College Bowl, a televised student quiz show. 

“You never know where inspiration is going to come from, right? Lafayette won five straight games and were grand champions. I said, ‘That’s my school right there.’” 

Tom and his wife, Sharon, a retired special education teacher, wanted to support Lafayette in a way that would mirror their experience: allowing young students in the Easton area to get excited about the opportunities at college, keeping them engaged in education. 

In 2021, they provided funding to support the creation of LafKid Connect, a program that partners middle school students in the Easton Area School District with Lafayette mentors, bringing the students to campus to visit clubs, career fairs, and participate in other mentorship opportunities. 

LafKid Connect was developed by Adam Finkelstein ’20 and is operated by students under the Landis Center for Community Engagement. Since their initial gift, the Smiths have watched the program grow, with a significant number of local children participating each year.

The Smiths hope that by showing middle schoolers what is possible in college, and specifically at Lafayette, they’ll be encouraged to try their hardest and leave with a goal of attending college themselves. 

“When I was on the Lafayette swimming team, we had a kid who came up from town who would come to the pool during our practices,” Tom says. “He was in junior high, and he kept saying, ‘I’m going to go to Lafayette someday.’ By watching the swim team, he became inspired and ultimately attended Lafayette.” 

The mission of LafKid Connect spoke to a cause close to both their hearts. 

“We had our pick of a couple things [we could choose to support], and LafKid Connect was clearly the one we wanted to get involved in,” Tom says. “This was perfect because it allowed Sharon to do something in an area she believed in and do something for the city of Easton.” 

Sharon and Thomas ’67 Smith

That connection to Easton was another big part of why the Smiths identified LafKid Connect as a meaningful cause.

“We’re very interested in the ‘town-gown’ [relationship],” Tom says. “Easton is a cool place. We thought it would be worthwhile to contribute to a stronger connection.” 

Since the start of their involvement, the Smiths have been able to visit the LafKid Connect team, with Sharon leading a training for the Lafayette mentors on engaging with students, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills. 

“I asked them, ‘What makes a lake a lake?’ And they would say, ‘Because it has water’ or ‘Because the river runs into it,’” Sharon says. “But actually, what makes a lake is the depth. In other words, you have to think of all your dimensions and think outside the box. And I think the [LafKid mentors] did that a lot. They were very engaged.” 

Looking forward, the Smiths are hoping to work with the programming team to keep building up the portfolio of clubs, programs, and experiences offered to the middle school students through LafKid Connect. They have also met with groups like the Parents Council to share the benefits of the program. 

One of the Smiths’ biggest goals is ensuring LafKid Connect exists in perpetuity, with consistent leadership, continuing relationships with local students, and an identity of its own that helps propel its success. 

“People want to go with a winner, and if this program is the winner, then there’ll be much more enthusiasm and participation, both by Lafayette students and from the Easton school system,” Tom says. 

Whether at their introduction to LafKid Connect in 2021 or building its legacy in 2025, the Smiths’ motivation remains the same: the students. 

“I love the [LafKid Connect] programming,” Sharon says. “It’s just innovative. Somebody’s put some thought into this, and I think it’s very exciting for the kids.”