Class Of 2029 Arrives As Campuses Buzz With Excitement

COLLEGEVILLE/ST. JOSEPH (WJON News) -- The campuses at the College of St. Benedict and St. John's University are buzzing with activity again this week.

Director of Public Relations Michael Hemmesch says they don't have final numbers yet, but both schools have solid enrollment numbers for the Class of 2029.

Around 23 states and seven countries for our first-year students.  More than 300 of those first-year students are student athletes, and over 80 of them are in some sort of music, theater, or visual arts program.

Hemmesch says, like most colleges and universities, they are experiencing issues with international students trying to get their visas approved so they can travel to the United States.

Hemmesch says new this fall for the nursing program students and faculty is their staffing of the Community Outpost at Salem Lutheran Church in East St. Cloud.

That's an example where our students and faculty are getting involved with the local community.  Another good example, the new University of Minnesota Medical School that is opening in partnership with CentraCare in St. Cloud, with the inaugural 24 students, six of them are St. Ben's and St. John's alumni.

Hemmesch says the most popular majors at St. Ben's and St. John's are global business leadership, biology, nursing, and education. They offer over 60 majors and programs between the two campuses. A large majority of the students are required to live on campus all four years they are enrolled.

The St. Ben's volleyball team, which made the NCAA tournament last season, is hosting a large tournament this Friday and Saturday.

The St. John's soccer team opens its season at home on Friday.

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Hemmesch says athletic events, fine arts activities, and public lectures, as well as the trails and arboretum, are a great way for community members to come to both campuses and see what they have to offer.