The Beginning of the End

On Thursday afternoon, the penultimate day of the 2014 Summer Program, most of the men, joined by Fr. Sebastian, the prefects, and even some of the College’s student workers, played in a 3-on-3 basketball tournament on the campus courts. Other students took to the volleyball and tennis courts, or spent the time socializing with their many new friends. And a group of some 30 ladies ventured into Santa Paula, where they scoured the shops for clothes to wear to Friday night’s soiree, then paid a visit to a local coffee shop.

That evening, history was made in the final study hall. Every night throughout the Summer Program, Admissions Director Jon Daly and one of the prefects engage in a friendly race to see who can complete roll call more quickly. (To see how the race works, watch the video from last year’s program, below.)

In all the years of the Summer Program, Mr. Daly — an accomplished roll-caller — has never lost twice in row. But it happened for the first time on Thursday evening, when Prefect Christopher Sebastian (’13) bested him for the second consecutive night. The student is now the master …

After study hall and Rosary, all gathered in St. Joseph Commons. The prefects conducted a brief review of the dance steps that students have been learning, followed by some spirited Bollywood line dancing. “I don’t want this to end,” one student lamented, echoing the sentiments of many.

However, “the best part of the night,” as one observer put it, came after curfew. The women, who had filled their common room for a poetry recital, were surprised by a strange sound coming from outside. When they listened more carefully, they discovered it was … singing. They rushed to the doorway to see, standing just beyond the patio, the Summer Program men, led by Prefect Andrew Rossi (’13) — all dressed in their Sunday best, bearing roses and chocolates. The ladies, Head Prefect Kathleen Sullivan (’06) reports, “absolutely melted.”