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Students met in St. Joseph Plaza on Wednesday night for this semester’s informal showcase of musical talents:

As part of its annual ranking of American colleges and universities, U.S. News & World Report measures the percentage of alumni who contribute to their colleges and universities, so as to gauge graduates’ satisfaction with the education they have received.

The American Council of College Trustees and Alumni (ACTA) has released its 2015-16 report on the curricular strength of American colleges and universities and, once again, Thomas Aquinas College is at the very top of the list.

Each fall the sophomores, juniors, and seniors take turns hosting welcome events for the new freshman class. This past weekend, it was the seniors’ turn. The day began with a joint trip to the beach:

Then, that evening, the seniors held a “Home of the Brave” dance, complete with student-produced skits, in St. Joseph Commons:

Ever since his Holiness Pope Francis canonized St. Junipero Serra on Wednesday afternoon, the campus of Thomas Aquinas College has been abuzz with celebrations of California’s new patron saint.

On Wednesday night, the men of the residence hall formerly known as Blessed Junipero Serra sang at the evening Mass. For the propers of the Mass, they sang arrangements composed by junior Giorgio Navarini, who also served as director of the self-styled “Serran Choir.” Below is a video of their rendition of the Sanctus:

Students met on the lower portion of the campus on Saturday for what was billed as Thomas Aquinas College’s “First Annual Spearshake Festival.” That is not a typo. The festival was not dedicated to the Bard of Avon, but to the art of hurling spears … into a bullseye affixed to the side of a haystack. College tutor Dr. Christopher Oleson, a trained martial artist, organized the event, which promised, “Real spears. Real Prizes. Real Glory.”

Fans of The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings converged on the Dumb Ox Coffee Shop last night for the first-ever Tolkien Trivia Night, organized by freshman Joe Daly. Several teams of five contestants squared off in the competition, which featured a series of increasingly obscure questions about all things Middle Earth. The winners for the evening were members of the squad captained by tutors Andrew Seeley, Patrick Gardner, and Tony Andres.

On Wednesday night, the eve of the Feast of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, the women of the residence hall named in her honor came together for a talk about their patroness.

In a letter filed on Wednesday, September 30, Donald B. Verrilli, Jr., Solicitor General of the United States, endorsed Thomas Aquinas College’s effort to bring its challenge of the HHS Mandate before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Audio: