September 2025

Friends,

“Back to School” — those three magical words — came alive yesterday on our first day of classes as we welcomed our largest freshman class in a dozen years and our biggest graduate class ever!

And so, the “Spartan Journey” begins …

With a mix of excitement and nervousness, our new students arrived — and said goodbyes to their parents — and experienced a wonderful orientation program. The Spartan Journey started with Move-in day on Thursday, continued throughout the fun-filled weekend, and culminated with yesterday’s blessed Convocation:

- “You Pack it, We STAC it” Move-in 

- Welcome Event and BBQ

- President-to-Parent Coffee Chat 

- Class Photo and Tailgate Party 

- Wellness, Fitness, and Team-Building Programs 

- Trips to Six Flags and The Met 

- New Student Convocation and Reception 

Yesterday morning at 8:00am, I had the opportunity to greet our new students at the front gate on their first day with a simple message of support (see welcome video): 

“I will be with you every step of the way over the next four years — on campus, in the Caf, at the games, in the Career Center, and, especially, in the classroom.”

So, it is now Back to School and time to begin the journey of hard work, community engagement, and lifelong learning.

Regards,

PS — To learn more about our wonderful students, please read our Scholarship Brochure.

Welcome back, Spartans! Our students kicked off the semester with beautiful weather, and met President Daly at the front gate on the way to their first classes.

We welcomed incoming freshman, transfer, and graduate students at our incredible "Spartan Journey" Orientation, held from August 28 through today, September 3.

"You pack it, we STAC it!" — the Sprint Football, Track & Field, and Cross Country teams joined our Orientation Leaders and Resident Assistants to assist students and families at the dorms during move-in. President Daly and President Mullaney from Rockland Community College also met with families and students who are residing at STAC on move-in day!

During the Spartan Journey, students and their families attended a "Welcome to STAC" event hosted by President Daly and Dean Nesbitt under the front lawn tent.

Students were introduced to their Orientation Leaders and parents and families enjoyed a Coffee Chat with President Daly in the Romano Student Alumni Center, followed by a welcoming New Student BBQ. 

Over the weekend, the STAC community enjoyed the Athletic Tailgate, Men's Soccer game, Karaoke, Mini-Golf, and Explore Next Door trips to Six Flags Great Adventure and The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The College community officially welcomed the Class of 2029 and transfer students at our New Student Convocation yesterday in the Sacred Heart Chapel. The Convocation honored our newest students, who heard greetings from faculty, staff, alumni, current students, and friends of the College. The Convocation concluded with a "new student procession" back to campus in front of our founding Dominican Sisters and a reception on the Romano Student Alumni Center front lawn.

Robots. AI. Labyrinth. Innovation never takes a summer break at St. Thomas Aquinas College! Professor Brett Karopczyc and students Christina Manjappallil and Jojo Jose spent the summer teaching a robot to conquer the classic game Labyrinth — powered by reinforcement learning and fueled by a Faculty Development SPARK Grant.

Watch the robot in action below. Fantastic work, Spartans!

The College looks forward to celebrating the grand opening of the state-of-the-art SKAE Astronomy Center on Tuesday, September 30, beginning at 5:30 PM in the Romano Student Alumni Center on campus.

The evening will include remarks from Peter and Leslie Skae, the benefactors whose vision and generosity made the Astronomy Center possible. Serving as keynote speaker will be Dr. Charles Camarda, a 46-year NASA veteran, inventor, author, educator, and STS-114 astronaut who flew the historic return-to-flight mission following the Columbia disaster.

From 7:00-9:00 PM, guests can take part in small-group tours of the SKAE Astronomy Center, available by advance reservation when registering.

St. Thomas Aquinas College is proud to announce its continued rise as a national leader in student-focused, affordable education—earning two prestigious honors for the 2025 academic year.

The College has been named one of America’s Best Colleges 2025 by Money and recognized as a College of Distinction for 2025-2026.

The College is proud to share that President Ken Daly has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation (HVEDC), further strengthening the College’s commitment to advancing education, economic growth, workforce development, and innovation throughout the region.

“We are honored to welcome Ken Daly to the HVEDC Board of Directors,” said Mike Oates, President and CEO of HVEDC. “Ken is a transformational leader whose commitment to education, innovation, and workforce readiness perfectly aligns with HVEDC’s mission. His depth of experience across both the private and academic sectors will bring tremendous insight and value to our strategic efforts throughout the Hudson Valley.”

Check out St. Thomas Aquinas College's feature stories! We are delighted and proud to introduce you to the following individuals:

Michael DiBartolomeo

Vice President for Enrollment Management

Layla Cesar '26

Forensic Science Major

Sr. Peggy Scarano, OP '70

Dominican Sisters of Sparkill

Board of Trustees Emerita