December 2025

Friends,

As we approach the holidays, it is beginning to feel a lot like Christmas here at STAC!

Last week, we held our Tree Lighting, with our Holiday Chorus singing with glee; hosted 1,500 members of the community on the front lawn for our Winter Wonderland Family Festival; and welcomed the Class of 2030 at a special Holiday Open House. This week, we will be hosting parties for our employees, donors, guidance counselors, and, especially, our students — “Holiday Bingo Midnight Breakfast”! — as they prepare for their term papers and final exams. 

We will also be holding our Board meeting, at which we will showcase “Student Carousels” that highlight our students’ work in the classroom, on the courts, and in the communities we serve. You will be so proud to know that our students have again given back to help those in need: volunteering at food pantries … donating toys, pajamas, and books … welcoming veterans for lunch … supporting children and adults who have special needs … and spreading the STAC cheer and holiday gifts to all. 

As a wonderful 2025 comes to a close, please join our students in the season of giving and give the greatest gift of all — “the gift of education.”

Regards,

To start off the holiday season with festive cheer, the College hosted our annual Holiday Concert and Tree Lighting! The event is a cherished campus tradition that brings Spartans and their families together for music, community, and holiday spirit! Special shout out to Dr. Evan Matthews and Lorraine Derwin for coordinating this fantastic show, singing alongside our students, and delivering a special encore performance for our founding Dominican Sisters. 

Each semester, the College's Laetare Players and STAC Singers perform for our Spartans and the local community in various shows, short plays, comedies, and even write and develop their own original pieces!

The College's Winter Wonderland Family Festival held this past weekend was a success with over 1,500 families and friends in attendance! There were special visitors from the North Pole, delicious food and seasonal treats, unique local vendors, and lively entertainment for all ages.

Students in our Hospitality Events Planning and Management program under Professor Angela McDonnell worked diligently throughout the Fall 2025 semester to plan this incredible event. A fabulous experiential learning opportunity for our students, and the perfect way to kick off the holiday season!

The College is proud to announce the expansion of our Master of Science in Teaching (MST) program to include a new certification pathway in Physical Education (All Grades). This new program will launch in Fall 2026 and join the College’s “ADVANCE: Lifelong Learners” portfolio — a dynamic initiative designed to support individuals throughout their academic and career journey as we look to further increase our largest Graduate program enrollment ever!

The College will offer an Educator Excellence Incentive for eligible students applying to the inaugural Fall 2026 MST cohort. Students who apply by March 1, 2026, and meet eligibility requirements will receive a $10,000+ financial award, supporting the ADVANCE initiative’s mission to expand accessible, high-impact pathways for future educators.

We hosted our Winter Open House on Saturday with 300 prospective students/family members in attendance. Our Class of 2030 recruits experienced the spirit of our close-knit community, toured campus, and discovered what our students love most about St. Thomas Aquinas College, while enjoying the special Winter Wonderland! We look forward to building upon our largest freshman class in a dozen years!

President Daly and his wife Laurie proudly sponsored the Nassau Counselors Association (NCA) Annual Holiday Gathering last week, an event that brings together a wide range of professionals including school counselors, mental health counselors, as well as agency and private-practice counselors. This year’s gathering welcomed more than 50 counselors from across Nassau County. On Wednesday of this week, they will be supporting the STAC Admissions team in hosting a similar gathering in Suffolk County for the East End Counselors Association (EECA).

In November, we celebrated and honored our benefactors and raised money for student scholarships at our Annual Tribute Dinner. This year, we honored  the Dominican Sisters of Sparkill, with the Founders Award;  Peter ’90 and Kim Unanue ’99, with the Aquinas Medal; and Aramark, under the leadership of Paul Carroll, with the Mission Impact Award. Congratulations to all, and thank you for supporting our students!

The College's Spartan Wellness Day in the Romano Student Alumni Center was a success! The entire Spartan community came together and focused on self-care and mental health awareness. The Spartan community took time mid-semester to unplug, recharge, and reset.

Spartans enjoyed relaxation stations and activities with coloring, crafts, and massage chairs, as well as comfort food. Therapy dogs and bunnies also stopped by to brighten the day of our students and employees!

In honor of Veterans Day, our St. Thomas Aquinas College community saluted the brave men and women who have selflessly served to protect our freedom. Local Veterans, their families, and members of the STAC community gathered to honor our Veterans at a special luncheon with President Daly so they could be recognized and thanked in person for their sacrifice and service.

The College proudly displayed 50 American Flags on the front gates and illuminated the St. Thomas Aquinas College sign in red, white, and blue (see here). Veteran Tom Carroll, father of Professor Christine Cahill, Assistant Dean of the School of Business, wrote a beautiful thank you letter to the College on behalf of the attendees, while others generously donated to our scholarship fund. To all Veterans who have served with courage and honor, we thank you!

Kudos to David George from our partner, Aramark, for his active involvement in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. For many years, Dave has brought joy to others by assisting with the balloons. Aramark won the Mission Impact Award at our Annual Tribute Dinner for their support of the College and our students. 

This year at the Parade, Dave helped with the Minnie Mouse balloon, and in the past he has walked with the Pillsbury Doughboy, Goku, Macy’s Gold Star Balloons, Elf on a Shelf, Wiggleworm, the Christmas Ornament Balloon, Harold the Policeman, Papa Smurf, Chase from Paw Patrol, and even SpongeBob!

Check out St. Thomas Aquinas College's feature on three of our incredible Spartans! We are delighted and proud to introduce you to the following individuals:

Dr. Linda Levine Madori

Professor of Therapeutic Recreation

Ibrahim Conteh '26

Secondary English Education (7-12) Major

Erin Preiss '23 , '24

Special Education Teacher at Bardonia Elementary