January 2025

STAC Friends,

Happy 2025!

The New Year is a time to quickly reflect on the wonderful year that our students just completed, while planning and preparing for another amazing year ahead.

It is also a time to make resolutions and commitments to our students. My resolution for 2025 is:

"To care for our students more than ever and prepare them to succeed in life."

So, how will we live up to this commitment? By following the same blueprint from the past, but constantly adapting, modernizing, and contemporizing our approaches to ensure our students are prepared for the future. We will build upon our strong liberal arts foundation and community service ethos, while at the same time supporting our students’ mental health needs, providing new experiential learning opportunities, and designing a curriculum that meets the workforce needs of tomorrow. 

I am excited to share that 2025 promises to be another wonderful year — freshmen applications are up, academic offerings are being expanded, athletic programs are growing, fundraising proceeds are at record levels, and new astronomy center, track & field, and academic programs of the future are on the way!

As we prepare to welcome our students back on January 21, please read below to learn about the many ways they finished 2024 with a flurry. Happy New Year to all as we start another journey of caring for our students … every day in 2025 and beyond!

Regards,

We are proud to announce the launch of our newly redesigned Master of Public Administration (MPA) program.

Offering specialized tracks in Nonprofit Leadership and Criminal Justice Leadership, our 36-credit program offers flexible in-person and online course options led by our distinguished faculty.

As part of our new program rollout, students who apply to the MPA program by January 24, 2025, will be eligible for a $10,000 financial award toward their degree.

Devin Niccoll ’25, a student in our Hospitality Management program, has been working in Dublin, Ireland in a co-op with Teeling Brothers, supported by our Experiential Learning Opportunity Fund. Devin has continued to gain hands-on experience in a real-world setting, and has been learning new skills in operations management, while utilizing innovative technologies in the workplace. Check out the video highlighting his experience so far!

The School of STEM at St. Thomas Aquinas College is empowering the next generation of health and fitness professionals through immersive, hands-on learning. This November, Kinesiology students took charge of two impactful initiatives, showcasing their technical skills, leadership, and career-ready confidence.

During the College’s annual "Spartans Take a Beat" wellness event, students from the KIN 401 Adapted Fitness class conducted 23 comprehensive health screenings for faculty, staff, and students.

Bridging classroom learning with athletic performance, KIN 350 Strength and Conditioning students led two days of athletic assessments for the College’s Lacrosse and Track & Field teams.

Excitement is building as St. Thomas Aquinas College celebrates the rapid progress of its highly anticipated “Eye to the Sky” SKAE Astronomy Center. The dome was installed at the end of the semester! Interior construction is underway, and the state-of-the-art facility is set to open on Earth Day with classes being offered in Fall 2025. 

The College's Winter Wonderland Family Festival held on December 7 was a success with over 1,500 families and friends in attendance! There were special visitors from the North Pole, delicious food and holiday treats, local vendors, and family entertainment.

Students in our Hospitality Events Planning and Management program under Professor Angela McDonnell worked diligently throughout the Fall 2024 semester to plan this incredible event. At the close of the semester, students received certificates for their achievements and presented to President Daly and Town Supervisor, Theresa Kenny about this fabulous experiential learning opportunity.

Students on the Track & Field/Cross Country teams joined their Coach, Ray Kondracki, in a Penguin Plunge Parade. They decorated a STAC Athletic van and celebrated outside the homes of three brave families to spread holiday cheer.

The Penguin Plunge is a 100% volunteer not-for-profit group that works to help families of seriously ill children meet their medical and support costs as they focus on their children's health.

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:

Thomas Quevedo

Regional Admissions Counselor

Eliza Doba '25

Biology Major

Jodi Haque '11, '13

NYC DOE Special Education ELA Teacher