Freshmen Close Out Orientation “Trilogy”

Friday marked the third and final installment of the “trilogy” that is the three-day orientation for incoming students at Thomas Aquinas College, California — a day consisting of some recreation, getting to know the campus, and preparing for next week’s classes.

Following lunch, members of the Class of 2027 took turns visiting key campus facilities. Led by the Admissions team and prefects, they explored the St. Bernardine of Siena Library and met Head Librarian Richena Curphey. The library boasts a ceiling imported from a 17th century European monastery, a music room with a curated selection of recordings, a fine-arts room, and an exquisite rare-books collection.

The second stop on the tour was at the campus’s most recent building, the Pope St. John Paul II Athletic Center, designed by alumnus architect Anthony Grumbine (’00). Students enjoyed learning about the myriad exercise options available to them, including the weight rooms, rock wall, lane pool, and basketball and tennis courts — all positioned next to the athletic field and sand volleyball pits.

Sections convened later that afternoon for a discussion over various essays concerning the liberal arts — what they are, their merits, and their history. Freshmen concerned themselves with a close look at what the next four years hold in store as they embark on a curriculum unlike any other today: one which fosters critical thinking, dialogues between those who agree and disagree, and delves into the greatest questions posed by man.

To cap off the day, the freshmen and prefects squared off in two friendly games of basketball. First the women went head-to-head in an intense game, which the prefects dominated, 40-15. The men prefects next claimed a victory of their own, albeit in a much closer match, eking out a 28-26 win.