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The California High School Great Books Program neared its end Friday afternoon as students exited St. Gladys Hall after their final class. As they wandered up toward the residence halls, prefects gifted them with TAC tote bags and Summer Program t-shirts. With a few hours to go before the farewell banquet, students kicked around soccer balls, played volleyball, and relaxed in the sun by the pool. 

 

 

 

At 5:00 p.m., the gentlemen, clad in their best attire, arrived outside of St. Monica Hall to escort the ladies to St. Joseph Commons for the banquet. The ladies, sporting lovely dresses, thanked their partners as they walked arm in arm to the feast. 

 

 

The kitchen went all out for the final dinner, with fancy table dressings and a delicious meal of warm bread rolls, strawberry salad, pasta and rice, and salmon — with rich chocolate cheesecake for dessert. 

 

 

At the end of the dinner, Dr. John Finley, the program’s director, rose to deliver a final speech. “How much has happened for you in the last 12 days,” he remarked. “The program you have just completed, at its heart, has enabled you to seek the truth in a very special way. In other words, this Summer Program has somehow enabled you to become more human.” 

Following his remarks, Dr. Finley received thunderous applause and a standing ovation. Executive Director of Admissions Jon Daly then took to the podium to offer a few words of gratitude. “The Summer Program is always the high point of the summer, and you all have definitely continued that. You are a fantastic group!”

 

 

 

After the speeches concluded, students made their way to Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel, where they prayed one last evening Rosary before the Blessed Sacrament. At the end of Adoration, a prefect choir, led by Anthony Santine (’25), moved the programmers with some beautiful chant and polyphony.

 

 

 

With the stirring music still in their hearts, students made their way to St. Cecilia Hall for the pre-dance entertainment, a TAC tradition. The entertainment included a hilarious skit performed by the prefects to the song “Big Iron” by Marty Robbins. Some students who had performed at Open-Mic Night also returned to the stage for an encore performance, and the evening concluded with a rap from everyone’s favorite prefect boy band, The Renaissance Boys!

 

 

 

At the close of the entertainment, upbeat music poured in from the St. Gladys Patio. The dance had begun! Under twinkling lights, students spun and twirled, snacking on veggies and ranch, chips and pico, and chocolate-covered strawberries. All the practicing from the prior days had paid off, and everyone looked like a pro on the dance floor. 

 

 

 

But the night was not over yet! After a few hours of dancing, students returned to St. Cecilia Hall to a photo slideshow of sweet memories from the program. Then it was time for curfew, and students hugged each other goodbye, tears in their eyes.

Once all had returned to their residence halls, many programmers stayed up late into the night, chatting, laughing, and holding onto the last precious moments with each other. Somehow, these past two weeks have made new friends feel like old ones, creating many dear memories. 

 

 

 

Today, the residence hall rooms will be emptied, and students will make their departures throughout the day. Come back to the Summer Program Blog this afternoon to say goodbye and wish all our programmers well as they journey home!

 

More photos from the High School Summer Program

Tap on the right center edge of the image to scroll through the album.