Mark Heath ’15 found St. Lawrence had a game plan for him both on the field and in the classroom. 

When the Rochester, NY, native and defensive lineman for the Saints’ football team started Introduction to Biology, he admits it was an adjustment. “I quickly learned I had to study every single night, no matter what,” he says.

Despite the course’s difficulty, Mark excelled because of his personal determination and utilizing the intricate support system in place to ensure his success. In addition to lectures, labs, and independent and group projects, all students enrolled in the course must sign up for study groups called peer-pods. “There are only six students in each peer-pod, and each group is led by a teaching assistant,” he explains. “I get to ask a lot of questions and help others understand what we’re focusing on. It’s been really helpful.”

The work Mark put in paid off: he earned one of the top academic honors from the Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) in the spring of his first year.

When he isn’t in class or lab, or studying, Mark can usually be found at football practice or with his coaches and teammates. “One of the reasons I came to St. Lawrence was because the coaches made such an effort to get to know me and my family,” he says. “They cared about St. Lawrence being the right fit for me and it has been perfect. My teammates are my friends and family here. I’m proud to belong to something so great.”