Every year during orientation, Union College hosts John Calvin Toll Day of Community Engagement, a campus-wide day of service focused on supporting the Schenectady community. While participation is required for first-year students, the event is open to everyone on campus - and this year's turnout was especially meaningful.
Held on September 6, 2025, this year's Toll Day included a special guest: President Kiss, who rolled up her sleeves and joined the Goose Hill Neighborhood Association for a neighborhood clean-up. From picking up trash to sorting recyclables, she led by example in showing what community commitment looks like.
Toll Day began in 1996 and was later renamed in honor of John Calvin Toll, a Union College alumnus whose family supported student volunteerism. As the event approaches its 30th anniversary in 2026, it continues to grow in reach and impact.
Students volunteered with a wide range of local organizations, including Schenectady Urban Farms, Mont Pleasant Middle School, ReTree Schenectady, and the MoonCatcher Project. According to Ben DeAngelis, Assistant Director of the Kenney Center for Community Engagement and Outreach, "This event introduces new students to community organizations that match their values - it's the starting point for deeper engagement."
Erin Spence, Program Coordinator of Community Engagement at the Kenney Center, echoed this sentiment: "It's about giving students the opportunity to get off campus, meet people, and make a difference." As feedback and appreciation pour in from local partners, Toll Day continues to prove that when Union students show up, Schenectady benefits-and so do they.
