St. Lawrence University welcomed Kassandra G. Wood as a member of the Class of 2024. Wood attended Camden Hills Regional High School.

St. Lawrence University welcomed nearly 625 new students to the community this fall, including 596 members of the Class of 2024. The newest Laurentians comprise one of the most diverse classes in St. Lawrence history. First-year students come from 32 states, Washington, D.C., and 33 countries, while 14 percent of the class are U.S. students of color and 10 percent are international students. First-generation college students comprise nearly 20 percent of the Class of 2024.

The defining characteristics of St. Lawrence students-inquisitive, supportive, and passionate-are already evident in the new cohort. With 81 percent having participated in community service and 79 percent taking part in leadership activities, this class has already demonstrated they prioritize others and are eager to step up, take action, and tackle the big issues facing local and global communities.

At St. Lawrence, each first-year student participates in the University's nationally-recognized First-Year Program (FYP), one of the oldest living-learning programs in the country. The FYP helps students make successful transitions from high school to college. Students live together as a cohort and are taught by faculty teams, developing the writing, speaking and research skills needed to be successful in college and beyond. Students continue to hone these skills in a spring First-Year Seminar.

Fall semester classes began on Aug. 26.

About St. Lawrence University:

Founded in 1856, St. Lawrence University is a private, independent liberal arts institution of about 2,500 students located in Canton, New York. The educational opportunities at St. Lawrence inspire students and prepare them to be critical and creative thinkers, to find a compass for their lives and careers, and to pursue knowledge and understanding for the benefit of themselves, humanity and the planet. Through its focus on active engagement with ideas in and beyond the classroom, a St. Lawrence education leads students to make connections that transform lives and communities, from the local to the global. Visit www.stlawu.edu.