Lawrence Today magazine, Spring 2004
This year’s contingent of new students,
which includes 359 freshmen, 30 transfer students, and 16 non-degree-seeking
visiting
international
students,
matches last year’s mark as Lawrence’s
highest number of new students since 1973, when 423 matriculated.
"We were able to enroll one of the largest classes of new students since
the 1970s this fall, while at the same time improving upon our strong
academic
profile from the previous year,” says Steve Syverson, dean of admissions
and financial aid.
Collectively, this year’s incoming freshmen achieved an average
ACT score of 27.6, up from 26.9 a year ago, and the number of students
who
ranked in
the top 10 percent of their high school graduating classes rose from
34 percent a year ago to 42 percent this past fall. The average high
school
grade-point
average among the incoming freshmen improved to 3.67.
"The college continues its commitment to meeting the full financial need
of every student who qualifies for admission,” Syverson says, “and
that commitment enables us to recruit a diverse and interesting student
body from a wide range of socio-economic, cultural, and geographic backgrounds.”
For the 2003-04 academic year, 87 percent of all Lawrence students are
receiving need- or merit-based financial aid. The average need-based
financial
aid package totals more than $21,600.
In addition to their academic credentials, members of the Class of 2007
also engage in a variety of interesting — sometimes fascinating — extracurricular,
enrichment, athletic, and volunteer-service activities. Here are a few of
them:
Student U.S. ambassador to Australia and New Zealand
Four-time state cross-country champion and eight-time state track champion
who lives on a cattle ranch in Texas
Interned at Yellowstone National Park as an interpretive ranger
Swam the English Channel
Entertainment director of a substance-free coffeehouse and teen center
Hotdog vendor at Safeco Field in Seattle
Established a bookmobile to collect over 2,000 books to distribute to impoverished
children in Turkey
Tutor for Americorps
First violinist in the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland and the National
Youth Orchestra of France
Bingo caller at a group home for mentally impaired adults
Model for Kohl’s Department Store
Intern for a congressional campaign in Oregon
The Illinois basketball three-point shooting champion
Musical ambassador to Japan for the Arcady Chamber Music Society
Played the lead role of Elizabeth Proctor in The Crucible opposite
a professional actor from the Milwaukee Repertory Theatre
Competed in the 1999 World Karate Association World Championships in Germany
as a member of Team U.S.A.
Featured in an article in Newsweek magazine
Snake handler at a nature preserve