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Aquinas College Alumni

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We’re here to help you stay connected with the latest campus updates and alumni events! Questions? Email [email protected]

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Fruit flies are generally not harmful to human health. They do not bite or sting, but they can certainly act as a nuisance. Most people try to eliminate these pests, but one Aquinas student has spent her summer breeding new populations of them.

Her name is Ariana Esquivel-Landero, a biology major, and no, she has no plans to release these into her home or anyone else’s. Instead, she conducted RNA research through an internship at the Van Andel Institute, focusing on a gene in fruit flies that has a human ortholog— a corresponding gene inherited from a common ancestor. Her goal was to better understand its potential role in autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Read the full story: https://www.aquinas.edu/news/2026/ariana-spotlight.html

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Joy Harjo will return to Aquinas College on November 12 at 6 p.m. in the Wege Ballroom!

Joy is a prolific writer, with numerous books, poems, and plays. Her accomplishments have earned her national recognition, including Yale’s 2023 Bollingen Prize for American Poetry. She has also served as the Chancellor of the Academy of American Poets and chair of the Native Arts and Cultures Foundation.

We hope to see you there!

More information at https://www.aquinas.edu/arts-at-aq/contemporary-writers-series/index.html

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A new episode of Tuesdays with Terry just dropped! 🎤

In episode 23, Aquinas College Provost Dr. Terry Keller talks with Tony Farina, Dean of Graduate Studies, Continuing Education, and Dual Enrollment and Associate Professor of English, and Lucas Eussen, Aquinas College Student Senate Academic Affairs Director.

Watch now: https://www.aquinas.edu/academics/tuesdays-with-terry/index.html

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A giant thank you to everyone who joined us last Thursday for Sarah Kay. We captured some amazing moments and heard some incredible poetry!

To view the full photo gallery, head to the Linktree in our bio.

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What a Homecoming!
Thank you to everyone who came out and helped make this year’s Homecoming celebrations so special! From our alumni and families to our students, staff, coaches, and community — we’re so grateful for everyone who showed up, celebrated, and made memories with us.
A special thank you to everyone who helped plan, organize, and bring each event to life. We couldn’t have done it without you!
Thank you for making Homecoming 2026 one to remember. We’ll see you next year, Saints!

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Are you ready for a Haunted Holmdene Tour? 👻

Join Ryan Wendt of the Aquinas College Historical Commission for a spooky journey through the history—and ghost stories— of the 118-year-old Holmdene Manor and gardens!

During this 45-minute tour, Ryan will share the fascinating history of Holmdene Manor, show photographs of former residents, and discuss his research into the stories, legends, and unexplained happenings that have led some to wonder… who (or what) could still be haunting Holmdene today? 😨

💵 Tours are $10 per person (cash only)

⏰ 45 minutes

📅 Tour Dates:
Friday, October 2 at 7:00 p.m.
Friday, October 9 at 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 17 at 7:00 p.m.

⚠️ Spots are limited!

📧 Email HauntedAQ@aquinas.edu to reserve your spot.

Come learn the history. Hear the stories. And maybe… meet one of Holmdene’s former residents.

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Aquinas College has again been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top-performing higher education institution, earning a spot in the Top 20 Regional Colleges in the Midwest. Aquinas earned four notable placements in this year’s rankings:

#20 in Overall Rank - Regional Colleges (Midwest)

#20 in Top Private Colleges - Regional Colleges (Midwest)

#13 in Best Value Schools - Regional Colleges (Midwest)

#21 in Top Performers on Social Mobility - Regional Colleges (Midwest)

Learn more at https://www.aquinas.edu/news/2026/top-20-college-in-michigan.html

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How cool is this?!

Alexa Eden’s dad had his 1999–2000 soccer team inducted into the Aquinas College Hall of Fame last night!

Now, about 26 years later, Alexa is following in his footsteps as a freshman on the Aquinas College Women’s Volleyball Team.

What a special Aquinas connection for the Eden family!

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Congratulations to Katie Dahnke (Vander Meer) on being inducted into the Aquinas College Hall of Fame!

After transferring from Michigan State, Katie became a standout setter for Aquinas from 2008–2010. She earned All-American honors in each of her three seasons, including First Team All-American honors in 2010 (The only 1st Teamer in AQVB history)!

An incredible career and a well-deserved honor for one of the greats in Aquinas Volleyball history. Congratulations, Katie!

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A giant thank you to all our volunteers who came out today to support our annual Hack-a-Thon! Every year, we venture around campus to hunt down invasive species and protect Aquinas’ urban forest.

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Homecoming Weekend is quickly approaching! ☘️

We are so excited to bring our Aquinas Ireland Program Alumni together this Saturday, September 19th to reminisce about Tullycross and connect with their AQ community! Join us at these fun events to make Homecoming 2026 the most memorable!

🎶 11:30am, Ireland Reunion at Nellie’s Corner in Lower Wege, for tunes, snacks, and good craic!

🇮🇪 1:00-8:00pm, Ireland Reunion at the Main Tent. Grab some food from @yesterdoggr or @xavscatering, a cold drink, and meet up with your Ireland cottage mates! Bringing little friends? There is a bounce house, yard games, and caricatures in the Kid Zone!

We can’t wait to see you there!

#aqirelandhomecoming #homecoming

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Svetlana Djirackor never set foot on Aquinas College's campus before she enrolled. She chose it from a website, beautiful forested sights unseen, and built a life there that took her from Kenya to a PhD studying ovarian cancer.

Read the whole story: https://www.aquinas.edu/news/2026/svetlana-spotlight.html

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