Settling In

Still reeling from the excitement of their arrival, the attendees on the 2025 California Two-Week High School Summer Program spent Sunday afternoon exploring the campus and coming to know one another. 

At a welcome meeting in the Fritz B. Burns Auditorium, Admissions Director Jon Daly gave a brief overview of what students should expect outside the classroom in the upcoming weeks. Brian Dragoo, the Summer Program’s academic director, then offered a glance at what TAC’s program of Catholic liberal education has to offer. Classes at Thomas Aquinas College are divided into “sections,” each of which typically has 13-18 students. Every section works through Socratic seminars, with members of the teaching faculty members — called tutors — present to help guide the conversation. 

“We call ourselves tutors, instead of professors, because of the way we handle things in the classroom,” said Mr. Dragoo. “We read Great Books, and we talk about them. The discussions principally take place among the students, and are guided by experienced tutors under the light of the teaching of the Church. Our role is more of a guide than a lecturer.” 

Following the talk’s conclusion, Admissions counselors led a tour of the campus, showing Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel, St. Patrick’s Coffee Shop, the classroom buildings, and St. Bernardine of Siena Library to program visitors. The tour ended with a visit to the Pope St. John Paul II Athletic Center, followed by an outdoor barbeque with tri-tip steak and hot dogs. Students continued to meet fellow attendees, and some headed over to the athletic field to play Spikeball and volleyball. Those who traveled all day were able to attend Mass, offered by the Summer Program Chaplain, Rev. Sebastian Walshe, O.Praem (’84).