Category: Sparkill

(SPARKILL, N.Y. — October 25, 2022) The Honors Program at St. Thomas Aquinas College is growing and for a significant reason. The unique program gives students the experience of the inter-relatedness of knowledge while introducing a passion for learning that goes beyond the classroom. 

Offering small classes and purposefully curated experiential learning opportunities, Honors Program students engage in a rigorous core curriculum designed to challenge and inspire.   A key element of this program is the opportunity to study at Oxford.

The experience allows Honors Program students to spend 3 weeks studying at the University of Oxford during the summer before their senior year under a full scholarship provided by the College. 

Dr. Meghan De Witt, Honors Program Director, noted: “We are proud to have welcomed our largest Honors class earlier this fall. Honors students at STAC lead the school in-service opportunities, academic success, and leadership throughout their four years of study. They experience unique classes, culminating in the amazing opportunity to study at Oxford. This experience provides a paradigm shift for our students as they experience a global learning environment and are exposed to ideas and experiences that are life-altering and unforgettable.”

Along with taking classes at one of the most prestigious universities in the world, Honors Program students immersed themselves in the culture and history of the United Kingdom, traveling throughout England and visiting sites such as the British Museum, Stonehenge, The Prime Meridian, and Big Ben. To supplement their studies, they also visited many notable literary landmarks, touring the homes of Shakespeare, Rudyard Kipling, and J. R. R. Tolkien, and visiting the Charles Dickens Museum.

When the students weren’t in class or sightseeing, they enjoyed dining at Merton Hall and studying in the breathtaking Bodleian Library.

STAC Honors student Katherine Cording ‘23 feels that the summer Oxford trip was a once in a lifetime opportunity. “I’m so grateful for the STAC Honors Program for giving me the chance to go on this amazing trip. I spent three weeks studying Shakespeare’s works and was able to travel both to Stratford-upon-Avon to see the Royal Shakespeare Company Perform and visit the Globe in London. As an English major, it was a dream come true. This trip to Oxford was something I was looking forward to ever since I joined STAC as a freshman, and it lived up to my every expectation! As for the Honors Program itself, it has helped me make a lot of connections, both with my peers and with professors, that I cherish a lot. The experiences I have had throughout the Honors Program will stay with me long after I graduate.”

– Second Consecutive Incoming Class with 10% Growth –

(SPARKILL, N.Y. — Thursday, September 1, 2022) St. Thomas Aquinas College is proud to welcome the Class of 2026 – its largest freshman class since 2013. For the second consecutive year, the College has increased its incoming Fall class by 10%. At a time when many higher education institutions are experiencing declining enrollment, St. Thomas Aquinas College is growing and investing in its new programs for its students. 

“We are thrilled to welcome these students to our campus as they begin their ‘Spartan Journey’. They are a highly accomplished and resilient class who will make an impact on the STAC community,” said St. Thomas Aquinas College President Ken Daly. “Throughout our new students’ educational experience with us, we will challenge and inspire them to reach their full potential.”

The growth is attributable to the positive momentum and forward-thinking programs that the College has implemented through their Strategic Vision – “A Commitment to Learning for a Lifetime.” This includes the commitment to providing access to an affordable education, transformative academic and experiential learning programs, and accelerated 5-year “STAC Tracks,” which lead to both an undergraduate and graduate degree. The College recently announced a new MBA, Healthcare and Informatics program, as well as the launch of new NCAA Women’s and Men’s volleyball programs. 

The College’s newest incoming class hails from nearly 20 states and 15 countries. The diverse student body includes students entering the College’s competitive academic, athletic, and leadership programs, including its largest Honors class ever. Popular majors for the incoming class include education, business, psychology, as well as biology and exercise science in the College’s new School of STEM. 

Students will experience a robust new 5-day “Spartan Journey” orientation program where they will form connections with new and current students, meet with President Daly, faculty and staff, and learn more about their academic schedule, while getting to know their new “home” through a wide-variety of student exploration excursions.

“We look forward to our newest students experiencing what makes STAC such a truly unique institution,” stated Kevin Nesbitt, St. Thomas Aquinas College’s new Vice President of Student Development. “Through innovative and engaging programming throughout their Orientation experience, our students will gain a greater understanding of their own personal journey as they ponder – why me, why now, and why here.” 

Orientation will culminate with a new Convocation ceremony on Thursday, September 8, where new students will hear remarks from President Daly and receive words of welcome from the College community and then process back to campus in front of the College’s founding Dominican Sisters.