NORTHAMPTON — Smith College has once again been named among the nation’s top producers of Fulbright U.S. Student Program award recipients, continuing a long-standing record of preparing graduates for global engagement and impact.

Smith is one of only five baccalaureate institutions that can claim being a Top Producer of Fulbright Students every year since the designation began in the 2009-10 academic year. The 2025-26 recognition marks Smith’s 17th consecutive year on the list. This year, the college ranks 12th among top Fulbright-producing institutions nationwide.

The Fulbright Program, established in 1946, is the U.S. government’s flagship international academic exchange initiative, supporting study, research, and teaching abroad. For the third consecutive year, 10 Smith students and recent alums have been selected for Fulbright U.S. Student Program awards. Smith recipients will teach, conduct research, and pursue advanced study in Taiwan, Sweden, South Korea, Germany, Spain, Japan, and Italy.

Smith’s sustained success as a Fulbright Top Producing Institution reflects the college’s interdisciplinary approach to learning, where faculty mentorship and student scholarship combine to address complex global challenges.

“Being awarded a Fulbright is an extraordinary honor and a transformative opportunity for our students to deepen cross-cultural understanding and expand their academic and professional horizons,” said Andrew Dausch, director of the fellowships and postgraduate scholarships program in the Lazarus Center for Career Development. “Smith’s continued success in the Fulbright Program reflects both the strength of our students and the global scope of a Smith education.”

The Lazarus Center for Career Development supports all undergraduate students and alumni pursuing experiential learning opportunities, including Fulbright awards and other prestigious fellowships. Since 2001, more than 300 Smith students and graduates have been named Fulbright scholars.

NORTHAMPTON — U.S. News & World Report has once again recognized Smith College as a leader in access, affordability, and academic excellence. In its 2026 Best Colleges rankings, Smith is ranked 10th for Best Value and tied for 13th among National Liberal Arts Colleges.

The Best Value ranking highlights colleges that deliver outstanding academic quality at an affordable cost, taking into account the percentage of students who receive financial aid and the average net price of attendance. Smith is one of a handful of liberal arts colleges that meets the full demonstrated need of every enrolled undergraduate with financial aid packages that include grants and no loans.

This year, U.S. News evaluated more than 1,700 institutions using up to 17 measures of academic quality and graduate success. Out of 207 liberal arts colleges assessed, Smith placed fourth among 12 Massachusetts institutions in its category. In the Best Value list, Smith ranked third among the eight Massachusetts colleges recognized.

NORTHAMPTON — The trustees of Smith College unanimously voted to name the college’s Campus Center in honor of Julia McWilliams Child, who graduated from Smith in 1934. The 60,000-square-foot Campus Center, which serves as the heart of student life on campus, was partially funded by proceeds from the 2002 sale of Child’s home in Cambridge, which the famed chef donated to the college. It includes flexible meeting spaces, the Campus Center Café, and areas for studying and socializing.

“Smith College is honored to recognize not only Julia’s generosity and lasting impact on the college, but also her impact on American culture and beyond as a teacher, author, and television personality,” President Kathleen McCartney said. “Throughout her life, she brought people together, so it seems appropriate to name the Campus Center for her as an ongoing celebration of her life’s work.”

Since 2004, Smith has celebrated Child’s legacy on Julia Child Day, a tradition held each year on the Thursday before Thanksgiving. Yesterday, the dining halls and the Campus Center Café served many of her famous recipes, like coq au vin, fruit crêpes and French onion soup.

“The Julia Child Foundation for Gastronomy and the Culinary Arts, established by Julia, is delighted to have Julia’s contributions to Smith and beyond recognized in such a special way,” said Eric Spivey, chairman of the Julia Child Foundation for Gastronomy and the Culinary Arts. “A gathering space at the college which meant so much to Julia is such a fitting tribute to all that Julia represented and the mission she tasked the foundation with fulfilling: promoting the joys of cooking, eating and drinking well, notably in good company and as a community. We think Julia would be delighted and humbled by the honor.”

NORTHAMPTON — The SmithVent team of engineering alumni, staff, and faculty are the winners of the CoVent-19 challenge to design an easily manufacturable ventilator for use during the coronavirus pandemic, according to Grécourt Gate, Smith College’s online news portal. The team’s breathing device was chosen from more than 200 submissions to the competition launched on April 1.

“In two months, we went from knowing nothing to having a functional prototype,” said team co-leader Susannah Howe, director of Smith’s Engineering Design Clinic. “To see that trajectory in such a short period of time, with people who are volunteering their time on top of their other jobs, is amazing and heartwarming and so rewarding.”

Smith College President Kathleen McCartney added that “I could not be more proud of the SmithVent team for winning the CoVent-19 Challenge. This win speaks volumes about the power of a liberal-arts education, grounded in experiential learning, to find innovative, collaborative solutions to complex, urgent problems. SmithVent is Smith at its best: a lasting example of our community coming together for the betterment of the world.”