Friends,

Innovation continues to flourish across our campus, fueled by our mission to ignite the passion of today’s students and tomorrow’s leaders through hands-on, experience-driven learning. This commitment to experiential education — a core pillar of who we are — has only deepened with the establishment of the Lower Hudson Valley Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at St. Thomas Aquinas College. This partnership expands our capacity to empower students to think boldly, solve real-world challenges, and transform their learning into meaningful, real-world outcomes. 

The SBDC, which arrived in January 2025, has quickly become a dynamic extension of our mission. Serving Rockland, Westchester, and Putnam counties, the Center provides entrepreneurs and small business owners with no-cost, one-on-one business advisement, training, and research. In 2025, the Center generated significant economic impact across the region — complementing STAC’s approximate $100 million annual economic contribution — and supported 668 clients while helping to launch 89 new businesses.

St. Thomas Aquinas College is proud to be one of only two private institutions in New York State to host an official SBDC location, joining a statewide network traditionally based at CUNY and SUNY campuses. As the first new SBDC Center established in New York in more than 15 years, this partnership reinforces our position as a regional leader in innovation, economic development, and community advancement.

Where Sparks Ignite Innovation

Every day, sparks ignite innovation across the SBDC—through entrepreneurs pursuing bold ideas, business owners seeking to deepen their impact, and students engaging directly with the challenges and opportunities of the real world. From emerging startups to long-standing local enterprises, the Center is a place where determination meets opportunity and where the entrepreneurial spirit truly shines.

The SBDC’s first new hire was a STAC alum — Daniel McConnell ’16 — and ten STAC students have already been hired as interns, underscoring the powerful experiential learning pipeline this partnership has created. This impact is already evident in the work of our students, who are contributing meaningfully to the Center’s mission. 

Adrian Castillo ’26, majoring in Business Management & Administration, has taken a leading role managing the SBDC's social media. Additionally, he has assisted with SBDC client meetings where his Spanish language skills have been invaluable.

Computer Science major Nicholas Santos ’26 recently advanced this momentum by conducting an in-depth analysis of the Center’s client database, uncovering valuable insights that directly support small businesses throughout the Hudson Valley.

Together, we are building a community where creativity flourishes, collaboration strengthens, and entrepreneurial ideas take flight. The sparks we ignite here shine far beyond our campus.

Together — We lead. We innovate. We serve. We ignite the Spark!

Regards,