Hobart and William Smith Colleges graduate Brendan Csaposs has received City Year Baton Rouge's 2026 Alumni Shining Star Award for his continued work in education and community service. The Geneva alumnus began his service career while at HWS and now works with education and nonprofit organizations from Nairobi, Kenya.
Csaposs, a 2009 graduate, is the third recipient of the award, according to the college's announcement. City Year Baton Rouge uses it to recognize former corps members whose service has continued into their careers and communities.
At HWS, Csaposs mentored a Head Start student through Jumpstart during his first AmeriCorps term. He later completed three more AmeriCorps terms — two with Teach For America and one with City Year Baton Rouge — before teaching special education in Baton Rouge and New Orleans.
He later helped found and lead public charter schools serving students in historically underserved communities, HWS said. He earned a master's degree in educational leadership from George Washington University and a doctorate in adult education and lifelong learning from the University of Arkansas.
Csaposs now leads Sea Change Consultants, an education and evaluation consultancy in Nairobi. The college says his work includes projects with nonprofits, foundations and education providers in Africa and elsewhere.
As part of the award, he will take part in speaking and mentorship opportunities with City Year Baton Rouge corps members over the coming year. The award recognizes a career in service rather than a new program at HWS.
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