November 2024

Friends,

As our students walk onto campus today, they will be surrounded by 50 beautiful American Flags adorning our entrance as a visible symbol of our pride in our country. As we remember our Veterans, we also reflect on the importance of providing access to education — such as through the original GI Bill — to all individuals. Education changes lives. It changed my life, changed many of your lives, and will change the lives of our students. 

Forty years ago, I was a high school senior at Brooklyn Tech. I was playing football with my friends at the park one afternoon when my Mom ran up (there were no cell phones back then!) to tell me that I had earned a scholarship to go to college. As the son of a New York City firefighter with 4 siblings, the scholarship was necessary for my family to afford my college education. 

All these years later, I humbly reflect on that moment as the moment that changed my life and opened the doors to my future. Now, I am privileged to “pay it forward” by providing our students with scholarships that will open doors to their future. 

We recently held a number of events to connect our deserving students with generous donors and, of course, to raise new funds to support future students. Our donors — including John Lang '90, a holocaust survivor — shared their past experiences and mentorship, while our scholars shared their stories and appreciation. As I listened to our student speakers — Karolina Jaruseviciute and Chanelle Russell — I closed my eyes for just a second and was back sitting in their same seats 40 years ago. When I opened my eyes, I re-committed to providing that same opportunity to the next generation of students. I ask that you join me in giving the “gift of education.”

As we prepare for next week's Veteran’s Day and tomorrow’s Election Day — our students' first time voting in a Presidential election — we will continue to proudly fly the American Flag and celebrate the unlimited opportunities provided by education.

Regards,

The St. Thomas Aquinas College community will be celebrating Veterans at our "Host a Veteran for Lunch" event on Tuesday, November 12 at 12:30 PM at the McNelis Dining Hall.

Our community will come together to recognize the bravery, sacrifice, and patriotism of U.S. veterans.

St. Thomas Aquinas College seeks to challenge, guide, and energize each student to realize and create their own path to success and commit themselves to making a profound difference in the world.

Students are able to ignite their passions with the help of generous scholarships from benefactors who attend outings such as our first-ever "Angels on the Fairway" Golf Invitational, President Club Dinner, and Scholarship Benefactor Reception attended by Trustee Emeritus Joe McSweeny and his wife, Joan.

"Angels on the Fairway" Invitational Golf Outing

President’s Club Dinner and Scholarship Benefactor Reception

On November 14, we will celebrate our benefactors and raise money for student scholarships at our Annual Tribute Dinner. This year, we are honoring Javier L. Evans, Sr. Margaret Oettinger, O.P. ’67, Martin Cottingham and Irish American Building Society.

John Lang '90, a holocaust survivor, graduated from STAC at age 60, and still works as Managing Director and Partner at Hightower Westchester at age 94. He has been married to his wife, Ilse — who is also a holocaust survivor — for over 70 years.

When Mr. Lang emigrated from Germany in 1939, he landed in Kenilworth, England, which is the home of current student-athlete, Elita Silins '25. The two were able to connect at a luncheon on campus, learn about each other's stories alongside fellow Spartans, and chat about life at St. Thomas Aquinas College. Mr. and Mrs. Lang provided wonderful advice and mentorship to the next generation of Spartans.

On October 19, Route 340 (the road in front of the College) was re-named the “Doc Schelin Memorial Highway” in honor of the College's beloved Doc Schelin.

Doc was an esteemed leader on campus as Dean of Student Affairs and Professor of History and Political Science. He is forever remembered by his wife, Carol Schelin, daughter Leslie, family, and all who were a part of his story, legacy, and love for “his” STAC! Following the re-naming, a reception was held at the College.

Doc was a beloved member of the community and had a vibrant presence at the College. Please consider a gift in memory of Doc to allow our students to flourish and ignite their passions over the course of their college journeys.

On October 5, our Spartans gathered together in full force as the largest team at the Rockland County Out of the Darkness Community Walk!

Thirty members of our staff, faculty, students, parents, and alum (and their pets!) participated.

Collectively, the Walk raised over $26,000 for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). We are proud of our College community’s commitment to making a difference!

In early October, President Daly joined students and volunteers from the St. Thomas Aquinas College community, the Sparkill Creek Watershed Alliance, Department of Environmental Conservation, and local residents, to plant 290 trees and shrubs along the Sparkill Creek tributary, which runs behind the College’s Fitzpatrick Village.

The "Trees for Tribs" initiative is designed to protect, restore, and enhance the local ecosystem by stabilizing streambanks, improving water quality, and creating a healthier habitat for wildlife. Go Spartans!

St. Thomas Aquinas College students participated in a service project at One-to-One Learning's annual Star-Fest fundraiser in Upper Nyack, NY. Trustee Paul Fitzpatrick and his wife Una, along with students Michael Keegan, Bryanna Ely, Kersten Savage, Gianna Garbaccio, Tess Morelli, and Kevin DeLucci, mingled with guests and assisted with food preparation. Kevin also participated in the event onstage, singing two songs! What a great way to see our Mission in Action!

The College community celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month with President's Council member Sabrina Greco, by honoring the contributions made by our local Hispanic Community. On October 9, we hosted a panel featuring the 100 Hispanic Women of Rockland County. This panel fostered conversations of how students can use their voices for self-advocacy and offered advice for our campus social justice advocates including our own Dr. Nydia Prishker and Karla Zamora '24.

Congratulations to the 27 student-athletes who were recently inducted into our prestigious 4.0 Club for achieving a perfect GPA in the Spring 2024 semester! These Spartans are the definition of academic excellence. 

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. Sarah Rosati

Assistant Professor of

Education

Holger Sanchez '27

Management Major

Hospitality Management Minor

Mary Kate Henry '24

Event Coordinator at Croke Park Stadium