Meet the New England 2026 Summer Program Prefects, Part I

Students attending this year’s High School Summer Programs in in New England can look forward to Great Books, great discussions, and deepening faith in a community of friends — all in the company of an awesome leadership team! Having introduced the head prefects, the Summer Blog now presents the first installment in a series of weekly profiles of the rest of the crew.

To all those who have enrolled — we can’t wait to see you on June 23 or July 12!

And if you haven’t enrolled yet, what are you waiting for?

Justin Hoeing (’28)

Soccer lover Justin Hoeing (’28) from Meriden, Connecticut, heard about Thomas Aquinas College through family friends. Though his mind was set on going to a school where he could pursue sports at a higher level, he attended the Summer Program anyway, convinced it would help him rule out the College as an option. “I ended up impressed by the Discussion Method and how effective it was for learning,” he says. “I found myself coming away with a deeper understanding of things after each class and developed a love for the process of reading and discussing texts as a way of learning.”

His opinion was so firmly changed, in fact, that when offered a full-ride soccer scholarship at another school, he chose Thomas Aquinas College instead. Now a rising junior, Justin couldn’t be happier with his decision.

“I love learning through discovery and really having to work through things before they click,” he says. “I leave every class with a deeper understanding of the object of discussion, and the ability to express why certain views are true and should be upheld.” Outside of classes, Justin fishes, plays guitar, and — of course — plays soccer.

 

Naomi Pride (’28)

“Army brat” Naomi Pride (’28) spent her childhood moving from state to state with her family, experiencing a wide array of environments. In high school, a former TAC faculty member and his son served as her teachers and opened her eyes to the kind of education the College had to offer.

“They mastered teaching via the Discussion Method, and I wanted to have the formation that they received,” she says. “They made education engaging and never treated my mind like a bottle to be filled with information, but instead kindled a true love of learning in my soul.”

Naomi attended the 2023 Summer Program and loved it, which led to her enrollment in the Class of 2029. She takes her first step over to the prefecting side of the two-week Summer Program this year, hoping to share her experience with the programmers. “While it is hard work that we do here, we truly grow in wisdom, develop as individuals, grow deeper in our faith, and have a lot of fun while doing it together!”

 

Gabriel Livingston (’28)

Hailing from Lincoln, Nebraska, Gabriel Livingston (’28) learned about Thomas Aquinas College from a family friend who was a tutor on the California campus. Although his older brother enrolled as a freshman in 2022, that was not enough to convince Gabriel to go. “Initially, I didn’t even consider TAC,” he says. “But the Summer Program completely changed my mind.”

Gabriel quickly realized that the College was exactly where he wanted to be. “I was able to get an inside look at both the academic and spiritual life of the College and experience them firsthand. I loved the Discussion Method, and I really enjoyed an environment where my classmates were my peers.” 

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 two-week program after his first stint as a prefect last year. “I hope the students this year can take away a meaningful and rewarding experience that makes them recognize the beauty of the Great Books, the truth of great friendships, and the love God has for them.”

 

Rose Reilly (’27)

Michigan native Rose Reilly (’27) first discovered Thomas Aquinas College through her cousins, who are all alumni of the California campus. “My initial impression was that TAC was very different from all the other colleges I knew,” she says. “I loved the mesh between social life, curriculum, and culture, which was something I didn’t see elsewhere.”

At the Summer Program, she discovered all the New England campus had to offer and found that her cousins’ glowing testimonies about TAC rang just as true on the East Coast as they did in California. Sold, she enrolled as a freshman in 2023 and now anticipates her senior year.

Rose comes to this year’s Summer Programs ready to read great literature, share her love of dance, and build new friendships. In her opinion, one of the best parts of the program is getting to experience a taste of campus life for a week or two. “I want the programmers to get a real idea of what we do here: talk to current students, live in the dorms, try out the Discussion Method. This summer is going to be so fun!”

 

Alexei Forrester (NE’26)

“My parents and uncle are all alumni,” says Alexei Forrester (’26), a member of the College’s newest graduating class and a Harvard, Massachusetts, resident. “I respected them and was inspired by the way that they spoke about the Faith.” For him, attending the College was a natural next step for his education.

“I love that, here, you can bond with people your age over intelligent conversation,” he shares. “The communal pursuit of wisdom and virtue is extremely conducive to friendship.”

For his debut as a prefect, Alexei brings his love of music, soccer, and camaraderie to the table. This fall, he will head to Tennessee to train for his new job as a corporate pilot for BradenHealth hospitals; first, though, he can’t wait to spend one final week at his alma mater for the one-week Summer Program. “I’m excited to inspire the next generation to go to Thomas Aquinas College and flourish.”

 

Therese Lickona (’28)

Therese Lickona (’28) always knew about TAC, as a California native and daughter of two alumni. But, “I wanted to forge my own path and go somewhere else at first,” she says. She nevertheless attended the Summer Program on the New England campus, seeking adventure, which she found during her time on the East Coast. “I realized why my parents valued this education and the pursuit for truth so highly, and why they wanted that for their children.”

After 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 junior year, she can’t wait to share the true, good, and beautiful with attendees from all over the country during the two-week program.

“There’s just so much academic beauty in the curriculum,” she says. “I love being able to make connections with the programmers and dedicate my time to something I believe is worth sharing.” She is looking forward to meeting new friends, playing sports — especially basketball — and enjoying time with the girls in the women’s residence hall. 

 

Rising High School Seniors:
Apply to the Summer Program!