October 2025

STAC Friends,

“To Infinity and Beyond!” 

- Buzz Lightyear 

In the immortal words of the lovable Space Ranger Buzz Lightyear, St. Thomas Aquinas College has now officially gone “to Infinity and Beyond” with last night’s Grand Opening of the SKAE Astronomy Center!

For students who grew up watching Buzz, his best pal Woody, and their owner Andy — and for us parents who watched, too! — the movie Toy Story taught us the magic of innovation, creativity, and shooting for the stars. Here at STAC, we are now literally shooting for the stars with the unveiling of the SKAE Astronomy Center. 

Thanks to the generosity of benefactors Peter and Leslie Skae, we were able to make this transformational investment in our new STEM school. Yet, Peter and Leslie’s commitment goes far beyond their generosity; Peter is a former Board Chair and Leslie’s Dad Jim Costello — yes, that Costello (namesake for Costello Hall)! — also served as Board Chair. Jim and his beloved wife Gloria Costello — and now Peter and Leslie Skae — have sponsored so many programs and scholarships, mentored and hired our students, and helped guide me and my predecessors on the strategic direction of the College. So, last night’s Grand Opening event was the culmination of a lifetime of helping our students reach for the stars. 

Fittingly, at the end of one of the Toy Story movies, Andy heads off to attend college and leaves behind Buzz (named, of course, after fellow Space Ranger Buzz Aldrin!). Here at STAC, our students are also beginning their college journeys like Andy … while carrying Buzz’s spirit of innovation and creativity as they boldly go “to Infinity and Beyond”!

Peter and Leslie Skae are dedicated, long-time supporters of the College whose vision and generosity made the Center possible. Peter previously served as Chair of the College’s Board of Trustees, following in the footsteps of Leslie’s father, James Costello. Their support secured the 24" Cassegrain telescope and the custom observatory dome from Hudson River Trading, and provided the funding to build the Center and its unique, dedicated classroom space. It offers students, faculty, alumni, and the community exciting opportunities for hands-on research, citizen science, and stargazing. Thank you Peter and Leslie!

On September 30, St. Thomas Aquinas College was excited to host the Grand Opening of the SKAE Astronomy Center on campus. All in attendance experienced an evening of inspiration, exploration, and discovery!

The evening included a warm welcome from President Ken Daly and remarks from Peter and Leslie Skae, Bob Catell, and students Jake Halloran and Fanta Diop, followed by a keynote address from Dr. Charles Camarda, NASA Astronaut, inventor, author, and educator.

Following the welcome, guests enjoyed light refreshments, family-friendly astronomy activities, a book signing with Dr. Camarda, our current Art Gallery exhibition titled Telescopic!, and opportunities to connect and network.

Astronomy Center tours were an absolute highlight of the evening! Guests were among the first to experience the new SKAE Astronomy Center and saw firsthand the state-of-the-art facility which advances the College’s mission to provide hands-on, interdisciplinary learning across the sciences and beyond. Guests ascended the spiral staircase and had the opportunity to look at the moon — and Saturn — through the telescopes!

Dr. Charles Camarda, NASA Astronaut, inventor, author, and educator, delivered a fantastic keynote address. He shared inspiring perspectives on innovation, problem-solving, and teamwork under the most high-stakes conditions imaginable.

With over 46 years of experience at NASA, Dr. Camarda served as a research engineer, an astronaut, and a NASA senior executive. Following the Columbia tragedy, he led the teams that identified its technical cause and developed groundbreaking repair technology that he personally tested in space.

Immersive Classroom Space

Upon entering, students have access to a flexible classroom space which supports immersive instruction, guest lectures, and interactive programs, while integrated audio-visual displays offer real-time access to celestial observations. This year, courses being taught at the Center include Modern Mysteries of Astronomy, The Science, Ethics, and Analysis of Space Policy, Astrophotography, and Astrophysics.

State-of-the-Art Telescope

At the heart of the SKAE Astronomy Center is a powerful 24-inch Cassegrain telescope, built by DFM Engineering Inc., with a 192-inch focal length that allows for stunningly detailed views.

Housed within a secure Steel Ash-Dome — one of the few of its kind in the region — the telescope is remotely operated using TheSky™ software, enabling precise and automatic tracking of stars, planets, galaxies, and more.

Join us for a Community Observation Night at the SKAE Astronomy Center! These evenings invite stargazers of all ages to explore the night sky, observe planets, stars, comets, and galaxies, and enjoy engaging astronomy programming.

Upcoming Dates

• Tuesday, October 7, 2025 @ 7:30 PM
• Saturday, November 15, 2025 @ 7:30 PM
• Saturday, January 24, 2026 @ 7:30 PM
• Tuesday, February 10, 2026 @ 7:30 PM
• Tuesday, March 3, 2026 @ 7:30 PM
• Tuesday, April 14, 2026 @ 7:30 PM
• Tuesday, May 5, 2026 @ 8:00 PM
• Saturday, June 6, 2026 @ 8:30 PM

The School of STEM at St. Thomas Aquinas College launched on Earth Day in 2021 under Dean Bianca Wentzell, who has brought her passion, professionalism, and dedication to our students. The School of STEM and their dedicated faculty team provide dynamic undergraduate, graduate, and partnership degree programs in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics—preparing students to solve real-world challenges with innovation and expertise.

The School of STEM hosts annual events such as our Earth Day Celebration, panel discussions, and summer programs. Students also have the ability to gain hands-on experience through transformative experiential learning and internship opportunities.

From our community-wide Earth Day Celebration, to Summer STEAM Camps and the STEM Exploration Summer Program, STEM@STAC is buzzing!

We welcomed our largest freshman class in a dozen years and our biggest graduate class ever, and have ample academic events and volunteer opportunities during the year that allow our students to ignite their passions.

Meet Professor Alfredo Viegas, the College's Astronomer & Observatory Coordinator, who has had a passion for Astronomy since he was 7 years old.



Professor Viegas attended Wesleyan University because of their large telescope on campus, and conducted his own undergraduate astronomy research. He graduated with an honors B.A. in 1990, followed by his M.S. in Astronomy from Swinburne University of Technology in 2006, and served as President and Chairman of the Amateur Astronomers Association of New York City from 2019-2025. Welcome to St. Thomas Aquinas College!