Meet the New England 2025 Summer Program Prefects, Part IV

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!

Therese Lickona (NE’28) 

Therese Lickona (NE’28) always knew about TAC, as her parents are both alumni of the College. “I wanted to forge my own path and go somewhere else at first,” she says. “But what better place to forge a path than at TAC?” After attending the Summer Program and experiencing the joyful community, rich intellectual life, and faithful Catholic environment for herself, Therese promptly filled out her application and was accepted as a member of the Class of 2028. 

As she anticipates her sophomore year, Therese can’t wait to share the true, good, and beautiful with Summer Program attendees from all over the country. “There’s just so much academic beauty in the curriculum,” she says. “It is ordered toward God so beautifully.” She is looking forward to meeting new friends, playing sports — especially basketball — and enjoying time with the girls in the women’s residence hall. 

Pedro da Silva (NE’25) 

When he converted to Catholicism in high school, Pedro da Silva (NE’25) knew he wanted to study theology in college, but wasn’t sure where to go, as there were not many Catholic options for college in his native Brazil. “After my conversion, I decided that I wanted to study God, to better understand Him and all His works,” he explains. Through recommendation by the Institute of Hugh St. Victor, a Brazilian online learning initiative, he was directed toward TAC, and he quickly realized that this college in Massachusetts offered everything he was looking for. This year, his fellow graduates elected him as their Class Speaker. 

Although Pedro did not attend the Summer Program as a high schooler, this is his third summer serving as a prefect. “Being able to show the attendees what the College is about and ignite the desire to be a part of it in their hearts is an amazing opportunity,” he says. “It’s an honor to be able to share truth, goodness and beauty with the students.” 

Sophie Schindler (NE’28) 

A serendipitous Google search sent Sophie Schindler (NE’28) to TAC. “I had no connection to the College whatsoever,” she laughs. “It just popped up when I was researching colleges.” She was intrigued by the Great Books curriculum and Socratic seminars. After weighing her options, she decided to travel across the country from her home state of Oregon to give the New England campus a try. During her freshman year, she fell in love with the friendships that seemed to form so easily at TAC. “It was really a combination of loving the community and God’s call,” she says. “God made it clear that TAC was where He wanted me.” 

In addition to introducing newcomers to the welcoming community, Sophie is excited to showing summer programmers the swing-dancing culture on campus. “I’m really looking forward to the dance lessons,” she says. In her free time, Sophie reads, bakes and plays soccer and tennis.