-
About
Fidelity & ExcellenceThomas Aquinas College is unique among American colleges and universities, offering a faithfully Catholic education comprised entirely of the Great Books and classroom discussions.
-
A Liberating Education
Truth MattersTruth, and nothing less, sets men free; and because truth is both natural and supernatural, the College’s curriculum aims at both natural and divine wisdom.
-
A Catholic Life
Under the Light of FaithThe intellectual tradition and moral teachings of the Catholic Church infuse the whole life of Thomas Aquinas College, illuminating the curriculum and the community alike.
-
Admission & Aid
Is TAC Right for You?Do you enjoy grappling with complex questions? Are you willing to engage in discussions about difficult concepts, with the truth as your ultimate goal?
-
Students & Parents
Mind, Body & SpiritThere is always something to do at TAC — something worthwhile, something fulfilling, and something geared toward ever-greater spiritual and intellectual growth.
-
Alumni & Careers
What Can You Do with a Liberal Education?Nothing speaks more to the versatility of the College’s academic program than the good that our alumni are doing throughout the Church and the world.
College Captures the Attention of … Colorado-Based Lawnmower Company
“This is not a typical venue for a Walker Talk story,” concedes the author of Unique Mower, Unique Education, an article in the forthcoming issue of Walker Talk magazine.
Yet when the house publication of the Colorado-based Walker Mower company learned that Thomas Aquinas College employs three Walker machines to maintain its campus — and that two of those machines have logged an impressive 15,000+ operating hours — the magazine sent its editor to California to learn more. What he discovered, and what Walker Talk now shares with its readers, is that “the mowers and the school complement one another,” in more ways than one.
“By helping students seek out what is true, good, and beautiful within a small, close-knit community, this college is preserving a classical education,” the story observes. “Part of this education extends to the landscape.”
Indeed, the author marvels at the College’s “beautiful landscape, highlighted by buildings representative of Spanish Revival architecture” and how the campus is “cared for almost exclusively by students” through the College’s Service Scholarship program. “At a time when too many college graduates find themselves $30,000 to $40,000 or more in debt, the school holds their debt ceiling to no more than $18,000,” the author explains. “The Service Scholarship program is an important part of this financial commitment. …. Some 75 percent of Thomas Aquinas College students work 13 hours per week in exchange for a reduction in their tuition.”
The students’ on-campus jobs include maintaining the grounds and assisting in the upkeep of the College’s mowers and other mechanical equipment. Walker Talk quotes the College’s landscape supervisor, Dave Gaston, and the head of its automotive maintenance department, John Vineyard, about how they train and prepare students for their work. “The students are all fast learners and have excellent morals and strong work ethics,” says Mr. Gaston. “The work experience teaches time management and gives students a reflection of the real world.”
Naturally, the article also delves into the finer points of how Messrs. Gaston and Vineyard keep the mowers operating at a high level despite running for four hours a day, five days a week, over the course of many years. “Just like its emphasis on preserving a classic education,” the author concludes, “the College has been very good at preserving the mowers, too.”