Meet the New England 2025 Summer Program Prefects, Part III

We now continue to introduce the prefects for the New England High School Summer Program, which begins July 13! For previous introductions, see the Summer Blog, and to be part of this year’s program, apply now! 

Paloma Gallivan (NE’27) 

As she neared the end of high school, Paloma Gallivan (NE’27) knew she wanted to go to Thomas Aquinas College; she just had to decide on which coast. “My older brother went to the California campus,” she says. “I decided to go to the Summer Program in New England, just to try something different.” Her experience at the 2022 program confirmed her decision to attend TAC-New England, adventuring across the country from her native Santa Ana, California. “I thought about going to the West Coast campus, but in the end, I wanted to be in Massachusetts.” 

On her program, Paloma fell in love with the Socratic seminars and the beautiful, colonial campus. “I remember going kayaking during the River Day and being blown away by the view,” she says. She now returns for her second Summer Program as a prefect. A rising junior, she is looking forward to her busiest year yet, though she hopes to continue pursuing swimming, ballet, and knitting in her spare time. 

Gabriel Livingston (NE’28) 

Hailing from Lincoln, Nebraska, Gabriel Livingston (NE’28) learned about Thomas Aquinas College from a family friend who was a tutor on the California campus. His older brother enrolled as a freshman in the fall of 2022, but that was not enough to convince Gavriel to go as well. “Initially, I didn’t even consider TAC,” he says. “But the Summer Program completely changed my mind.” He quickly realized that the College was exactly where he wanted to be. “I also saw how much my brother thrived there,” Gabriel says. “That was really influential for me as well.” 

As a sports fan, Gabriel’s favorite Summer Program memory is the students vs. prefects basketball game. “It was so much fun,” he laughs. “We creamed those prefects.” He is excited to return to the program as a prefect this time. “It’s a great time to make friends and see how TAC nurtures the academic and spiritual life.” 

Antonia Fitzpatrick (NE’27) 

“My parents are both graduates of the College, so TAC was always a potential option,” says Antonia Fitzpatrick (NE’27) of Scranton, Pennsylvania. “But I wasn’t enthusiastic about it until I got to see the pursuit of truth on campus.” Now a rising junior, Antonia is glad she chose TAC. “It's the best education around, hands down.” 

Antonia is returning for her second year serving as a prefect for the High School Summer Program and is looking forward to reading the books discussed in class alongside the high schoolers. “I want to help the attendees get the most they can out of the readings,” she says. “There is so much to learn from what we discuss on the Summer Program.” When not in classes, Antonia enjoys drawing, painting and playing the violin. 

Tommy Fallon (NE’26) 

Tommy Fallon (NE’26) of Utica, New York,  first encountered Thomas Aquinas College while reading the Newman Guide, but later heard excellent things about it from a friend. “In high school, I thought I wanted to go to a typical college and play football,” he says. “But as I entered my senior year, I realized I wanted more out of college than just sports.” TAC offered a thorough, thoughtful course of study that seemed to point towards the things that mattered most. “If I was going to go to college, I wanted to make the most of it.” 

Tommy did, indeed, make the most of it, as he has spent the last three years enjoying the community, reading the Great Books, and partaking in his favorite hobbies: martial arts and football. This summer will be his third serving as a Summer Program prefect. “I’m excited to show New England to attendees from different parts of the country,” he says.