Peterson Maina ’10 traveled 7,000 miles to get his education at St. Lawrence.  The sophomore from Mombasa, Kenya, first heard about St. Lawrence through admissions counselor Eric Weinhold ’80, who gave a presentation at his high school.  Maina had never been to the United States, but he was convinced that St. Lawrence was the place he wanted to be.

Assimilating into American culture was difficult for Maina when he arrived on campus, but the Center for International and Intercultural Studies arranged a host family for him, which “made my transition much easier,” he says.  During his first year at college, Maina lived with Jeff Chiarenzelli ’78, an associate professor of geology.

In the limited time he has been on campus, Maina has become of a leader.  He is a student delegate to the Alumni Executive Council for the 2007-2008 academic year, and is an undergraduate representative in the Academic Affairs Committee.

“I’m really enjoying St. Lawrence’s endless opportunities and generous financial aid,” says Maina.  “Every activity I’ve undertaken at St. Lawrence has been meaningful.”

Maina was recently elected to be the foreign minister of the African Student Union.  He sang in the University Chorus last year and participated in the Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP).

The students at St. Lawrence welcomed Maina and are “kind and enthusiastic,” he remarks.

Maina quickly excelled in his studies, making the Dean’s List in both the fall and the spring.  He finds the courses challenging but intellectually stimulating, thanks in part to his professors.

“Apart from being experts in their fields, the professors are like mentor parents to every student they teach,” affirms Maina, who intends to major in biology and plans to become a doctor.

In the fall, he will be the teaching assistant for a biology course and a laboratory assistant for the chemistry department.

“It has been one of the most enriching experiences in my life,” says Maina of his time at St. Lawrence.