Parents

By Michael F. McLean, Ph.D.
President, Thomas Aquinas College
Talk given at the Catholic Professional & Business Group
Reno, Nevada
June 11, 2015

On June 10 the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit granted a stay (PDF) against the HHS Mandate that would otherwise require Thomas Aquinas College to facilitate the availability of free contraceptives, abortifacients, and sterilization services to its employees. The College’s attorneys at the Jones Day firm will next submit a writ of certiorari to the United States Supreme Court asking it to take up the case.

Photographs of the Class of 2015 and this year’s Commencement exercises are now available, for viewing and for purchase, at the Thomas Aquinas College Gallery Page of Timothy Teague, an Ojai-based photographer who has been capturing key College events for some 20 years. The images include portraits of this year’s graduates, both individually and as a group, as well as candids from the May 16 Commencement exercises.

Note: The following essay is adapted from comments made before the Thomas Aquinas College Board of Governors at its May 15, 2015, meeting.

By Morgan Furore (’15)

Thank you all for giving me the opportunity to be here with you today, and above all, thank you on behalf of my fellow students for your generous support of the College as members of the Board of Governors. The education that we have received here is truly priceless, and it would not be possible without your support. Thank you.

Note: The following essay is adapted from comments made before the Thomas Aquinas College Board of Governors at its May 15, 2015, meeting.

By Rocky Brittain (’15)

President McLean, members of the Board of Governors, good afternoon and thank you for this opportunity to tell you a little bit about myself and to thank you for all that you have done and continue to do for our beloved college.

On the eve of Commencement 2015, the Thomas Aquinas College Parents’ and Alumni Associations jointly hosted their second annual dinner for graduates and their families. Due to inclement weather, this year’s dinner took place inside St. Joseph Commons, where Tlaquepaque, a popular local Mexican restaurant, served fresh tacos with all the fixings. Some 460 soon-to-be graduates and their loved ones were on hand for the festivities.

Note: At its 2015 Commencement exercises, Thomas Aquinas College awarded its highest honor, the Saint Thomas Aquinas Medallion, to Sr. Regina Marie Gorman, O.C.D., vicar general of the Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles.

On May 16, Thomas Aquinas College celebrated its 41st Commencement Exercises, honoring the 80 members of the Class of 2015. The day began with the Baccalaureate Mass of the Holy Spirit in Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel. Rev. Joseph Illo, a former College chaplain who is now pastor at Star of the Sea Church in San Francisco, served as the principal celebrant and homilist:

Audio: