Community Connections

We’re taking a look back at some of our favorite moments from the 2025-26 year—instances when Lafayette faculty and staff shared their expertise, opportunities when student-athletes inspired the next generation, and connections that brought our campus and our community closer together.

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2025-26 highlights

Educational access and youth development

Lafayette students sit at a table with EASD students as they work on an activity during the annual Literacy Day

631

students were involved in Landis’ weekly education-based programming with community partners in programs such as LafKid Connect, America Reads, Classroom Companions which supports autistic classrooms, and a new literacy program in collaboration with ProJeCt of Easton at Cheston Elementary. MORE

 

Lafayette students in Connected Classrooms sit at a table with EASD students as they build a structure out of plastic cups and skewers.

100

students and faculty shared their expertise with 251 Easton Area School District elementary students through Landis Center for Community Engagement’s Connected Classrooms.

Two Girl Scout Brownies test their fling fliers with a Lafayette engineering student during Girl Scout Badge Day.

80+

local Girl Scouts, grades K-12, learned about engineering, STEM careers, robotics, coding, performing arts, and more alongside 60 Lafayette faculty, staff, and students through the College’s second annual Girl Scout Badge Day.

Community development and economic vitality

34 students and employees in GovLab, Tech Clinic, and senior design classes dug into community development projects, including historic preservation efforts, conceptualizing the proposed Easton-Palmer-Forks Regional Multimodal Trail, and leading survey work on economic drivers to bring residents and visitors to Easton.

20+ Lehigh Valley companies, nonprofits, or organizations where Lafayette students gained practical experience through internships. CONNECT

An employer speaks with a Lafayette student during a Career Fair

97

employers featured at Gateway Career Center‘s fall 2025 and spring 2026 Career Fairs.

A young boy in an astronaut outfit works on a craft during Space Fest

20+

community events and programs supported by Lafayette, including Space Fest, preview of Ken Burns’ The American Revolution, LVACA annual meeting, Easton State of the City, Lehigh Valley Chorale’s Louder than Words Summer Sing, Heritage Day, and Easton PRIDE.

Food, environment, and sustainability

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Landis students worked with six area organizations throughout the year, focused on reducing food insecurity in Easton and finding sustainable solutions.

More than 2 dozen

local students hosted on campus by the Office of Sustainability to learn about food justice and regenerative agriculture, environmental innovation, and sustainable practices through a Sustainability Youth Day Camp and the weeklong Sustainability Leadership Program for high school students.

Community members gather by Paxinosa Elementary for the West Ward Sale. A sign advertises the sale

More than 10 tons

of new and gently used items were donated by students through Green Move Out, spearheaded by the Office of Sustainability. Items were redirected through the West Ward Sale, donated to 18 community partners, and repurposed at the campus thrift store.

A student volunteer pushes a wheelbarrow full of watermelon at LaFarm.

4,747

pounds of produce grown at LaFarm (Lafayette’s 3-acre working farm and community garden) was donated to local food pantries and Easton-area nonprofits. An additional 3,069 pounds of produce was sold at LaFarm’s pay-what-you can farmstands in the West Ward and on campus.

Health and well-being

Lafayette students talk with participants of the Meals at the Market program as they enjoy a meal in the Community Room at Easton Public Market.

106

Landis students volunteered in weekly programs at Country Meadows Retirement Community, Gracedale Nursing Home, and Northampton County Prison. Landis volunteers also assisted with Meals at the Market, a new program in collaboration with Easton Area Neighborhood Center and Easton Public Market, which assists older adults living in fixed- and limited-income housing by preparing nutritious meals each week to address food insecurity, reduce social isolation, and build community.

1,200

Easton Area School District fifth and sixth graders visited campus for School Day Game 2026, thanks to a partnership with Wells Fargo. Students learned from student-athletes, and cheered on the women’s basketball team.

6 local girls hold foam swords in front of 6 Lafayette students as they learn the art of fencing.

More than 150

camps and clinics hosted by Lafayette Athletics for local youth.

Arts and culture

Missy Nerino stands near two paintings of early Lafayette College and explains the history to a group of fourth graders

Every Easton Area School District fourth grader

visited campus for the Bicentennial Art History Docent project. Students learned about the key figures central to the founding of the College and nation with Lafayette Galleries and Lafayette College Libraries. The project, made possible through a Crayola Community grant, inspired students to create art in their classroom that was on display during Easton Heritage Day and at the Community Arts Fair component of Fall Arts Festival at Lafayette.

Johanna Douge ’27 and artist Christopher K. Morgan worked on a lei-making technique as part of the Beyond the Stage series. Workshops were offered on campus and for the community at Easton Area Public Library. The Arts at Lafayette series offers a chance to dive deeper into your favorite Performance Series with a series of complementary events and workshops.

8

Beyond the Stage programs through the Arts at Lafayette expanded performance series offerings to the Lehigh Valley community through workshops, readings, master classes, and programs.

A mom and daughter sit on chairs on the Quad for Movies on the Quad.

3

free movies shown for the community this summer through Lafayette’s Movies on the Quad series.

Democracy and civic life

7 candidates for Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District engaged in a debate on campus, open to faculty, staff, students, and community members.

A student talks with a resident at Gracedale during POSP.

62

students volunteered their time and talents with Firth Youth Center, Gracedale, Paxinosa Elementary School, and Easton Garden Works and Easton Urban Farm through the Pre-Orientation Service Program.

Bicentennial crayons from Crayola

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