A Residential Director’s Letter to the Students of Thomas Aquinas College

by Mary-Catherine Froula (’19)*

“It is within our power to transform our deserts of isolation into fruitful gardens of solitude.”

Dear Students,

Today marks the 125th birthday of the Venerable Fulton J. Sheen, the late and beloved prelate, evangelist, and television pioneer. As such, it’s a fitting occasion to recall the Archbishop’s scathing critique on the elective/major system, which, in his view, crippled Catholic higher education — and which continues on most campuses to this day.

Among the many heartaches of the College’s having to send students home early this year was that those in New England — who had just braved the first winter on the new campus – had to depart before getting to enjoy their first spring. If it’s any consolation for them, Resident Director Isaac Cross (’19) has taken some beautiful photos of the flowers now in bloom across the campus:

On May 1, 2020 — a day when the Dow dropped 622 points — Thomas Aquinas College parents helped raise $327,686 for student financial aid.

“We began the 2020 Parent Day of Giving doubtful that we would reach our $125,000 matching-gift challenge, given the financial hardships so many are experiencing,” says Robert Bagdazian, coordinator of the Thomas Aquinas College Parents' Association. “In the end, we far exceeded that goal.” 

Even though COVID-19 restrictions preclude Thomas Aquinas College from welcoming visitors to its California and New England campuses, the Admissions Office is still offering live, guided tours to prospective students and their families — albeit virtually.

Every year on May 1 — the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker — the parents and grandparents of Thomas Aquinas College students past and present hold the Parent Day of Giving in support of the College’s financial-aid needs. This year, to inspire yet more generosity, two anonymous benefactors have promised to match all gifts up to $125,000 total.

“With so many families experiencing unemployment, loss of income, and financial hardship as a result of the coronavirus, many are understandably anxious that they won’t be able to afford the cost of tuition next year,” says Thomas Aquinas College President Michael F. McLean. “We want to relieve our families of this concern. The College’s Financial Aid office is fully prepared to make our program of Catholic liberal education affordable for all of our students and their families in 2020-21, regardless of their circumstances.”