Sustaining Saints: A Path of Service, Community, and Gratitude
Brian Carpenter ’84, P’21, came to St. Lawrence as a football and Nordic ski recruit from rural Vermont on an ROTC scholarship. He left with a strong education, a commitment to service, and lifelong friendships that have inspired nearly three decades of giving back.
I knew almost immediately that St. Lawrence was where I wanted to be.
When I visited campus as a prospective student, the thing that struck me most was the sense of community. People greeted each other, looked one another in the eye, and seemed genuinely connected. I was being recruited for athletics and was considering several schools, but St. Lawrence felt different. By the time I got home from the visit, I knew where I wanted to go, and I never gave it a second thought.
I came to ski and play football but ended up trading in my skis for a lacrosse stick.
I had never played lacrosse before, but a couple months before the season started, Coach Don Leet handed me a stick and encouraged me to give it a try. I absolutely loved it and playing on that team became one of the best parts of my college experience. Coach Leet and my football coach, Andy Talley, were hugely influential in my life. They were real leaders who took care of their players; they were always there. And 40 years later, my teammates remain some of my closest friends—we still get together in Boston every summer to play golf and catch up.
St. Lawrence taught me how to think, not what to think.
I changed my major several times before graduating with a degree in economics and a minor in English literature. What I appreciate most about my education is that it taught me how to learn, reason through complex problems, and communicate effectively. Whether I was serving in the Army, leading a business, or taking on new challenges, I was able to adapt because of the foundation I built at St. Lawrence.
Service was a big part of my upbringing, so I was drawn to ROTC.
I served nine years on active duty and more than 30 years total in the Army and Army National Guard before retiring as a brigadier general and going back home to help my dad grow the family business, Champlain Valley Equipment. Looking back, I see many connections between my time at St. Lawrence and my military career. Athletics, leadership opportunities, and the support of mentors all reinforced the value of teamwork, commitment, and serving something larger than yourself.
My son Spencer ’21 found his own St. Lawrence experience through service.
He was a great athlete, but when he got to St. Lawrence, he decided to follow a different path than I had. He became involved with Campus Kitchens and just loved it. He lived in the house for three years, helping coordinate meals, gather food, organize volunteers, and serve the local community. After graduation, he worked at the Greater Boston Food Bank through a St. Lawrence connection, and he has continued to think seriously about food security, rural communities, and making a difference.
For me, supporting St. Lawrence is about gratitude.
The University gave me—a rural farm kid—an exceptional education, lifelong friendships, and opportunities that have served me throughout the course of my life. It also introduced me to mentors who genuinely cared about their students. Of course, when my son chose St. Lawrence, my connection became even stronger. Supporting the University is my way of helping ensure that future generations have access to the same kind of experience that meant so much to me.
