California
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July 17, 2025
Students raced around the academic quadrangle, played watermelon polo, and inclined their ears to hear Fr. Sebastian’s words of wisdom on a variety of topics — another full afternoon on the California High School Summer Program.
After Wednesday’s morning classes, programmers sat down for a talk by Director of Admissions Jon Daly, who gave them a rundown on the College’s admissions process, financial aid program, and alumni career paths. Admissions Counselors Orion LaCour (CA’22) and Eli Hunt (CA’25), as well as prefect Rose Anderson (CA’26), next gave testimonials about how they came to know and love the College. “By the end of the two weeks, I was really in love, but I didn’t know with certainty whether I would be back,” recalls Rose, who first visited TAC on her own Summer Program. “I applied to eight other colleges, but I didn’t find myself like I found myself here. This place has been the biggest blessing of my life.”
Changing out of classroom dress, the students then headed over to St. Bernardine of Siena Library, the start and finish point for the annual Quad Run, where students race each other in pairs around the academic quadrangle. Inspired by a classic scene from the 1981 film Chariots of Fire, the programmers held a quad race of their own. Situated above the Our Lady of Guadalupe Fountain, Patrick Daly (CA’26) emceed the race and played upbeat songs to keep the runners’ spirits high. In the men’s race, the champion was Thaddeus S., sprinting around the quad in only 38.6 seconds, while Genevieve Matthews finished first for the women’s race with an amazing time of 43.03.
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A sprinting match alone, however, would not do for the afternoon’s recreation. So, the programmers headed over to the ponds for an unusual game of water polo. Slathering themselves from head to toe in Crisco, the students divided into two opposing teams in the pond, each striving to carry a watermelon to the opposite side! Teams played for best two-out-of-three, and everyone laughed and cheered as the watermelon slipped back and forth between them.
Running back to the residence halls for some much-desired showers, the students slowed their pace by partaking in a dinner of char siu roast pork, coconut rice, and curry-roasted cauliflower. Having discussed Boethius, Fabre, and St. Thomas earlier in the day, they had their last official study hall of the Summer Program, finishing the The Consolation of Philosophy.
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To conclude the evening, the programmers took to chairs set up on the St. Gladys Patio for milkshakes and “Theology on Tap” with Fr. Sebastian. The chaplain took care to answer many of the students’ anonymously submitted questions as thoroughly as possible. He first spoke about marriage: the traditional and modern definitions, their opposition, and why Catholic marriage is natural. Then, he explained the principal differences between Protestantism and Catholicism, saying that Catholics believe more in God’s use of humans as instruments to help bring about the salvation of others, referencing the Scripture passage of the paralytic who was cured on account of his friends’ faith. Finally, Father touched on transubstantiation and vocational discernment, sharing that the more peace someone feels with a certain aspiration, the more likely it is to be that person’s calling. “Father’s talk was really moving, " said Tessa B. “I think he had some really good points to say, and I really enjoyed that we were all together as a group. I learned a lot from him.”
When they returned to the residence halls, students found several huge pizzas, on which they feasted before retiring. Today’s class should prove exciting, as students wrap up Boethius. Read all about it this afternoon on the Summer Program Blog!
