When Jon Cardinal ’08 came to St. Lawrence, he promised himself he would try to make a lasting impression on the University, the North Country and his generation. His work as president of the student government body in 2006 reflected that promise. 

“I used the position to inspire the student body to look beyond the University walls and provide hope and help to the disadvantaged and underserved of the North Country,” Jon says.  “We had never taken on such an initiative – to raise awareness of the poor in the North Country and look for ways that the student government could help.  I felt that it was only right for our student government to live up to the generosity, thoughtfulness and compassion of our students and give back to the region we all call our home for eight months of the year.”

A government major, Jon has found a way to stay enveloped in local politics in the North Country.  “I was elected president of the SLU Democrats during my first year at St. Lawrence,” Jon explains.  “In that position, I became really involved with the local county Democrats and eventually was appointed chair. Recently, I was elected the North Country regional director for the New York State College Democrats.”

Jon, who is from Ogdensburg, NY, and graduated from Ogdensburg Free Academy, is also a member of the Communities that Care Coalition.  “It’s is a North Country board that brings together educators from the K-12 levels, local government officials, local police and the local BOCES system to try to rebuild our North Country communities from the ground up,” he explains. 

Jon was recently named a Truman Scholar, along with classmate Charlotta Chung ’08. They are the first-ever recipients from St. Lawrence and two of 65 students nationwide given this distinction and honor.  “As a scholar, you are charged to carry on the legacy of Harry S Truman--no small task, but an inspiring one,” Jon says.