Celebrating 40 Years

1969

Founders incorporate and publish A Proposal for the Fulfillment of Catholic Liberal Education.

1970

Gala Founding Dinner at the Fairmont Hotel, San Francisco; Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen, Keynote Speaker

1971

Founding President Dr. Ronald McArthur opens doors at “Claretville” campus, Calabasas, with 33 students and 4 faculty members.

1975

• The Class of 1975 – The First Commencement
• Mr. Larry Barker donates Ferndale Ranch to the College.

1978

• Permanent Campus opens with “Temporary” Buildings
• St. Joseph Commons gets underway

1979

The first permanent building, St. Joseph Commons, is dedicated.

1980

Full accreditation by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges

1982

Blessed Mother Teresa, Commencement Speaker

1989

College builds the first women’s residence, St. Katharine of Alexandria Hall.

1990

•    First classroom building, St. Augustine Hall, is completed.
•    First “Summer Seminar” is held for friends & benefactors.

1991

•    Dr. Thomas E. Dillon is inaugurated as second President of the College.
•    First men’s residence, St. Bernard of Clairvaux Hall, is built.

1994

The Honorable & Mrs. William P. Clark make gift of 17th century Spanish ceiling for the Library.

1995

• St. Bernardine of Siena Library is dedicated.
• John Cardinal O’Connor† is Keynote Speaker at 25th Anniversary Celebration.

1996

Blessed Junipero Serra Hall is built.

1997

•    Former Ambassador to the Holy See and College Governor William A. Wilson presents President & Mrs. Dillon to Bl. Pope John Paul II and then-Cardinal Ratzinger.

•    First High School Great Books Summer Program has 26 participants.

1999

St. Thérèse of Lisieux Hall is built.

2000

•    At 30th Anniversary of San Francisco Founding Dinner, Keynote Speaker, former U.S. Senator Jeremiah Denton, and first Board Member, John Schaeffer, are honored.
•    The science building, Albertus Magnus Hall, is dedicated.

2001
Dr. Pia de Solenni (’93) awarded Prize of the Pontifical Academies

2002

Saints Peter & Paul Hall, the last residence hall for men, is dedicated.

2003

Pope John Paul II gives his blessing to the plans for Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel.

2005

Construction of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel and the Faculty Office Building begins.

2006

•    Visit of Archbishop Celestino Migliore, Permanent Observer to the United Nations, as Commencement Speaker
•    Inaugural Golf Classic, sponsored by the Board of Regents

2007

•    Archbishop Malcolm Ranjith, Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship, Presides at Commencement
•    St. Vincent de Paul Lecture and Concert Series Endowed by Paul and Barbara Henkels
•    Dedication of St. Thomas Hall

2008

•    Blessing by Pope Benedict XVI of the Chapel Cornerstone in Rome
•    Cardinal Pell visits for Commencement.
•    Laying of cornerstone of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel

2009

•    Dedication of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel
•    Death of President Thomas E. Dillon
•    Installation of Interim President Peter L. DeLuca

2010
•    Inauguration of President Michael F. McLean
•    Dr. John R. Mortensen (’97) awarded Prize of the Pontifical Academies
•    Raymond Cardinal Burke Presides at Commencement
•    Founder Marcus R. Berquist dies

2011
•    50th Alumni Priest Ordained: Rev. Joseph Dygert (’02), Diocese of Colorado Springs
•    Archbishop José H. Gomez Makes First Visit to Campus as Commencement Speaker
•    U.S. News Rates College among Top 10 “Most-Loved” Colleges by Alumni

2012
•    Mother M. Assumpta Long, O.P., serves as Commencement Speaker
•    Dr. Thomas Kaiser becomes first tutor to teach all 23 courses in the College’s classical curriculum