by Bridget Ruffing, ’22
On the evening of October 10th, Thomas More College welcomed twenty-seven prospective students and their families to the Fall Open House. The College’s Admissions department, guided by Admissions Director Zachary Naccash and Admissions Counselor Eva Moorman, worked tirelessly to treat these visitors to the best the College has to offer.
The Open House began with a reception in the Warren Memorial Library, where students and faculty discussed the joys and rewards to be found in a Thomas More College education. Visitors got to see the library’s extensive collection of books and displays highlighting the guild programs and Rome semester while they chatted with current students about their experiences. The reception was followed by a banquet and faculty remarks in the festive tent. Afterward, everyone returned to the library to laugh and applaud as members of each class acted out scenes from Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, The Taming of the Shrew, Hamlet, and As You Like It. The evening closed with a spirited folk-music jam session and Compline in the chapel.
On Monday, visitors caught a glimpse of the College’s academic offerings. Mrs. Moorman noted that “the schedule allowed students to sit in on current classes and to have their own class with one of our professors, Dr. Powers. They attended presentations on the Liberal Arts and TMC’s Program of Studies, on Community Life, and on Student Career Services—which covered internships available to students during their four years of study as well as opportunities for post-graduate success.”
Mrs. Moorman also gave a presentation on her experience with the Rome semester during the concluding reception at Mercy Hall. She said, “it is a huge blessing that our gorgeous villa in Rome, Villa Magnolia, is just a short walk from the Vatican. This central location provides students with the opportunity to attend daily Mass in St. Peter’s, or any of the many surrounding churches, and to go to cafes, museums, ruins, and piazzas. The curriculum offered to students in Rome befits the place they are in: they study Art and Architecture by seeing Rome’s greatest churches and art in person; they read St. Thomas Aquinas and study his proofs for God’s existence in Latin; they read Dante’s Divine Comedy and study the writings of St. Paul while visiting the church that houses his remains and the places where he was imprisoned. Amid some anecdotal stories, those are some of the things I shared with the Open House guests!”
When asked what impressions she hoped attendees would take home with them, Mrs. Moorman responded, “I hope they come away with a clear understanding of the rigorous education that TMC provides. This education is broad rather than narrow—it is truly an enlargement of the mind—so I hope attendees leave with a realization of how essential this kind of education is to the human person.” The care the Admissions Department devoted to providing an enjoyable experience was evident in every aspect of the Open House. The weekend was a resounding success, and a wonderful time was had by all—guests, students, and faculty alike.
Our next Open House will be held on November 13, 2021. Click here for more information and to register.
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