Your Impact

Music and song are undeniable cultural fixtures at Thomas More College. Whether it is casual guitar-strumming, choir rehearsal, or a meeting of the Saint Philip Neri Sacred Music Guild or the Saint John Ogilvie Folk Music Guild, it is practically impossible to go through a whole day on campus without experiencing some form of music.

Mrs. Leila Lawler, along with her husband, Visiting Fellow Phil Lawler—both long-time friends of the College—recognized this element of life at TMC. After their daughter Bridget Lawler ’18 graduated from the College, Mrs. Lawler conceived the idea of the scholarship. Mr. Lawler explained, “One of the things that my wife and I noticed about the College was that there was always someone playing music on campus. We appreciated that and wanted to give it a boost.” So, in the fall of 2018, Mr. and Mrs. Lawler established a fund—now known as the Ogilvie Scholarship—to promote the performance and growth of musical culture on campus.

The Ogilvie Scholarship, named after the Folk Music Guild, is awarded to an incoming freshman who demonstrates an interest in, experience with, and ability to lead music. Scholarship applicants write a brief essay describing their musical talents and past experience leading others in song, which they submit alongside their college application. The essays are reviewed by the Admissions team in cooperation with Mr. Fred Fraser, Teaching Fellow, and Guildmaster.

This year, the school finds itself in the unique position of having an Ogilvie Scholarship recipient in each class for the first time. These recipients are Benjamin Wassell ’23, Elias Wassell ’24, Alexander Tapsak ’25, and Sarah Carter ’26. Mr. Elias Wassell and Miss Carter were kind enough to share a few thoughts on their relationship with music and how that plays into their life as a student.

For his entire upbringing, a crucial part of Mr. Wassell’s education was learning and singing folk music. Mr. Wassell grew up listening to and singing songs such as “Minstrel Boy,” “Star of the County Down,” and other such classic folk songs. He explained that the method used by Mr. Fraser in the Folk Music Guild to teach songs is very similar to the method his mother employed when teaching his family. Because of this, for Mr. Wassell, “The Folk Music Guild is enjoyable, feels very familiar, and is a refreshing reminder of home. I feel extraordinarily blessed,” he continued, “to be at a school that values my passions as much as my family, who first introduced me to the joy of the oral tradition of folk music.”

Miss Carter has maintained a relationship with music throughout her life, even from a very young age. When she was just four years old, Miss Carter started studying classical music. She spent several years learning to fiddle and play the mandolin; additionally, she has performed Scottish country dancing at various cultural events. Growing up, her family would have folk music jam sessions at home on a regular basis. When asked about folk music at TMC, Miss Carter stated, “I think that folk music is really important for the community. Folk music is great for building good culture, and good culture is necessary for building a solid Christian community. I’m excited to have an opportunity to contribute more fully to the College in this regard.”

When asked his thoughts on the subject, Mr. Fraser stated, “I am honored to support the folk music culture on campus and specifically those young people who have an interest in this wholesome entertainment.” His comment reflects, in part, the goal of the Ogilvie Scholarship. Good music is crucial to a healthy, wholesome community. Thomas More College recognizes this and continually seeks to support those interested in making music a consistent part of campus life.

Dr. Michael Dominic Taylor, Teaching Fellow at Thomas More College of Liberal Arts, has accepted an Expanded Reason Award from the Francisco de Vitoria University (Madrid) and the Ratzinger Foundation (Vatican). The award ceremony was held on May 24, 2022 in Madrid, Spain as part of the Expanded Reason Congress.

Dr. Taylor won in the Research category for his 2020 publication, The Foundations of Nature: Metaphysics of Gift for an Integral Ecological Ethic. This work, according to the Francisco de Vitoria’s press release, “confronts the fact that practically all modern and postmodern thought has lost the ability to hold together both our intrinsic relationality with all other created beings and the radiant unity of the truth, goodness, and beauty of creation.”

“It is a tremendous honor to be recognized by the Expanded Reason Institute. I am grateful to the Institute for the work that they do to promote the fundamental human quest for truth, goodness, and beauty,” Dr. Taylor stated. “Rather than a recognition of my personal achievement, this award is a testament to the enduring power and relevance of the Catholic intellectual tradition to apply perennial truths and methods to current conundrums. It is also a call to continue to build on that foundation rather than abandon our roots.”

Dean Walter J. Thompson remarked, “In his Regensburg Address, Pope Benedict XVI challenged our contemporaries to have ‘the courage to engage the whole breadth of reason.’ We are proud to see Dr. Taylor recognized for his Catholic insistence on the integral truth of man in his relation to the natural world.”

Thomas More students and faculty alike were able to retreat from the brisk, cold air typical of February in New England to enjoy refreshments and each other’s company during the opening reception for the newly-renovated student lounge. Everyone entered the room to find a space that had been elevated and renewed. 

This project was brought to completion thanks to the dedicated work of our Buildings and Grounds team, especially Tom Ford and Clark Ingram; Drs. Denis and Sara Kitzinger, who took charge of the decorations and furnishings; and chief carpenter Bill Desrosiers and his team. These individuals, among others, worked together to create a space that would best meet the needs of the College and serve students and faculty alike.

Thomas More College students can now be found writing papers and playing chess on tables that were handmade by a local woodworker. Others gather on the couches and armchairs surrounding the fireplace for quiet reflection and friendly conversation. Best of all is the new pool table, where students (and the occasional faculty or staff member) come to enjoy a sense of camaraderie tested and strengthened by healthy competition. 

The lounge was designed to serve as the perfect place for homework, discussion, and relaxation and refreshment in the midst of hard work. The space helps further the College’s intent to provide a congenial home for all kinds of intellectual and leisurely pursuits. Faculty and students can enjoy the lounge together as conversation extends outside the walls of the classroom. One thing is certain: this space promises to be a staple of campus life.

“I love the new lounge! …You’ll find students from every class gathered around the pool table, reading quietly on the couches, or studying and conversing around every table. It’s a busy but comforting vibe, allowing friendships to grow amongst students that wouldn’t otherwise be formed.”

–Ashley Bryant ’22

“The pool table is certainly the most popular aspect of the new lounge. I noticed, however, the other day, while some students were huddled around the table debating from which angle to strike the cue in order to most efficiently hit the most billiard balls, that there seemed to be quite a bit of unintentional Euclidean geometry playing a heavy part in every turn.”

–Torrey Culbertson ’22