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At its second Commencement in New England, ���ϲ����� distributed 28 diplomas, as well as one of its most prestigious awards, membership in the Order of Saint Albert.

The College established the Order of Saint Albert in 1998. Named for St. Thomas Aquinas’s own teacher, membership in the Order recognizes those benefactors whose generosity to ���ϲ����� has been exceptional. In addition to a cast bronze bust of St. Albert, the names of the Order’s members are engraved on the plinth of the statue of St. Albert the Great that occupies one corner of the California campus’s academic quadrangle.

This year, the College extended membership to one of its most outstanding partners in realizing its mission of Catholic liberal education in New England: Daniel T. Flatley, a full-time trustee of the Flatley Foundation — which his parents founded — and this year’s Commencement Speaker.

“Taking to heart Our Lord’s declaration, ‘To whom much is given, much will be expected,’ Charlotte and Thomas Flatley became philanthropists,” said Dr. Paul J. O’Reilly, president of the College, of Mr. Flatley’s parents. “As a trustee of the foundation they established, Dan Flatley is continuing his parents’ noble legacy. Both individually and through the Foundation, he has made numerous contributions to Catholic institutions throughout the country.”

In particular, Dr. O’Reilly emphasized Mr. Flatley’s contributions to ���ϲ�����, New England. “When we approached Mr. Flatley, he asked serious and hard questions about our program and why we were worthy of support,” said Dr. O’Reilly. “As a result of those conversations and Mr. Flatley’s commitment to education and to the Catholic faith, the Foundation has given financial aid to 70 students. Among those 70, two are now in the seminary, and several are working in the Archdiocese of Boston. … Those of you who have received scholarship support from the Flatley Foundation should know that it is because of Mr. Flatley’s intercession that you have been so blessed.”