Meet the Summer Program Prefects: Luke Cecchi (’24)

Next in this series on the prefects for the 2022 High School Summer Program in New England is rising junior Luke Cecchi.

“Both of my parents are graduates of Thomas Aquinas College, so I grew up reading the newsletter and hearing stories about life at the College,” he says. But he was not ready to part ways with the landscape and seasons of the Northeast. “Being from Central New York, the fact that TAC was in California was a little daunting. So I was super excited when they opened up the Northfield campus!” Even then, though, he was unsure. “I was not very interested in attending as a student, because I wanted to play basketball in college.”

Fortunately, not only had TAC acquired the New England campus by the time Luke was deciding on his college plans, but it was hosting its first East Coast  Summer Program. “It was my first look at the Discussion Method of teaching, and I really loved it,” he recalls. “In fact, going to class became my favorite part of the program!”

Luke, however, was no idle contemplative. He took an active part in the “epic showdowns” that raged on the basketball court and athletic field between attendees and prefects. Looking back, he says, “I fell in love with the academics, as well as the community. I applied only a few weeks after attending the Summer Program.”

Luke is excited to return to the program this year as a prefect. “I’m really looking forward to introducing the attendees to the Great Books,” he explains with a barely concealed glint of unsuppressable enthusiasm. Then, perhaps as vivid memories of epic showdowns past  resurface, he adds, “I also can’t wait for the athletics during the day.”