On Sunday, October 21, Thomas Aquinas College students performed in the first of this year’s two informal concerts — “Schubertiades” — in St. Cecilia Hall. In the video above, Amelia McHatton (’21) plays Debussy’s “Clair de Lune.” And below, freshmen Nathan O’Reilly, Joseph Caldwell, and Dominic Gardner perform Corelli’s Concerto grosso no. 8 in G minor:

To mark the midpoint of the semester, on Tuesday evening students gathered for “Open-Mic Night,” a semi-annual, outdoor showcase of musical talents.

Culminating a process that began in the spring of 2017, Thomas Aquinas College has received approval from the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education to operate a second campus in Western Massachusetts, where it will award the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts. The decision sets the stage for Thomas Aquinas College, New England, to open its doors in fall 2019.

On the afternoon of Sunday, October 14, Thomas Aquinas College hosted a concert featuring Italian tenor Luciano Lamonarca in St. Cecilia Hall. Mr. Lamonarca performed various arias, songs, and sacred hymns with the accompaniment of a violin, piano, and cello, but for his final two numbers, he was joined by the Thomas Aquinas College Choir, directed by Sean Donnelly (’16) and accompanied by Paul Grimes (’15) on the piano:

Alumni, parents of current students, and their families from throughout Southern California converged on campus Saturday for Alumni and Parent Day. The event began with Mass in Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel, followed by brunch in St. Joseph Commons. Later in the morning, the College hosted a seminar, led by members of the teaching faculty, about St. Thomas Aquinas’ writing on the Crucifixion and burial of Christ from the Compendium Theologiae:

On Columbus Day, a 25-year old statue of the holiday’s namesake found a new home on the campus of Thomas Aquinas College.

“We are pleased to place this statue of Christopher Columbus on our academic quadrangle,” said President Michael F. McLean. “And we are grateful to College Governor Robert Barbera for giving it to us.”

Three New Tutors, Vice President,
and Facilities Manager

This past weekend, retired tutor Dr. Carol Day and the College’s resident assistant, Jeannette Richard (’17), led a campout at the Sage Hill campground in Santa Barbara.

The crew hiked to the Red Rock Pools on Saturday, and most even braved the chilly water for some fall swimming. They then spent the afternoon exploring the area around the campsite, reading in the great outdoors, climbing trees, playing catch, resting in hammocks, and cooking dinner. That evening they enjoyed the stars as well as some good conversation and hot chocolate.