Current Students

Although members of the Thomas Aquinas College Board of Governors meet three times a year to conduct the business of the College, their fall gathering takes place in a more informal setting for fellowship, study, and prayer. This year’s fall retreat, held on the last weekend in October, provided the usual opportunity for Governors to visit with one another, with students, and with members of the faculty.

As part of its ongoing program of bringing job and graduate-school recruiters to campus, the Office of Career Services on Thursday hosted a visit from Dr. Ronald J. Pestritto, graduate dean and professor of politics at Hillsdale College. “I do not visit many schools, but I traveled here for the sole purpose of speaking with you about our program,” said Dr. Pestrito. “We are very happy with our TAC graduate students, and we would like more of you to join us.”

On Wednesday afternoon Thomas Monaghan, the onetime owner of Domino’s Pizza and the founder of Ave Maria University, visited Thomas Aquinas College to make an extraordinary offer to members of the Senior Class: free tuition at the Ave Maria School of Law for all three years of their legal education.

Students met in the Dumb Ox Café last Wednesday night for this semester’s informal showcase of musical talents:

On Saturday night, the Sophomores of Thomas Aquinas College hosted their 2014 Halloween Dance, “Night of the Contemplative Dead.” Lumberjacks, superheroes, cowboys, and others gathered in St. Joseph Commons for an evening of skits and dancing. See photos below:

On Saturday evening, Resident Assistant Sarah Dufresne led a group of students to historic Grant Park Cross in Ventura for “Sunset at the Cross.” The purpose of the event, as Miss Dufresne put it, was “to simply find glory in God’s creation.” Students relaxed, socialized, and said evening prayer while watching the sun set over the Pacific Ocean.

By Rev. Hildebrand Garceau, O.Praem. (’78)

Note: Head Chaplain Rev. Hildebrand Garceau, O.Praem. (’78) delivered the following homily at the 11:30 a.m. Mass on Friday, October 17 — the one-year anniversary of the death of Thomas Aquinas College’s founding president, Dr. Ronald P. McArthur.

Audio:

Over the Columbus Day weekend, Admissions Director Jon Daly, Director of Alumni Relations Mark Kretschmer, and Chaplain Rev. Paul Raftery, O.P., led a men’s campout/retreat for some 25 Thomas Aquinas College students.

On the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, Chaplain Paul Raftery, O.P., led students in a Rosary procession around the campus. The group began outside St. Joseph Commons, continued on to the Lourdes Grotto, and concluded with adoration in Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel.

Following its recent campus Career Forum, the College’s Office of Career Advisement sponsored a talk and Q&A last weekend for students who are considering a career in nursing. Charlene Niemi, RN, MSN — the College’s nurse and a member of the nursing faculty at California State University, Channel Islands — spoke to a roomful of students eager for her expertise and counsel.