Michael and Lisa Beckley '91

Mike and I met when we were Freshmen at Aquinas. We were both 14. We hung around different friend groups the first 2 years but started becoming close friends Junior year. Mike was (and still is) a friend to everyone. He’s kind and thoughtful but most importantly has a great sense of humor. He can make me laugh and that’s what I love about him the most. He asked me to the Prom our Junior year. We went as friends and had a blast! We had a few classes together and would talk a lot. Our senior year we talked quite a bit more and would joke in the hallways between classes and attend each other’s games when we could. He played soccer and I played basketball. We were still only just friends. When it came time for Senior Prom, we ended up going together again. This time however, it was a little different. Our friendship started growing and after graduation we started dating. We dated 8 years before we got married. We went to different colleges and even lived in different countries. He studied glassblowing in England and I was in Dental School in San Francisco. We never broke up and told ourselves if it was meant to be, it was meant to be. We have been married for 24 years. We have 3 daughters, our oldest daughter Lauren is a Junior in College at Missouri State University and graduated from Aquinas in 2020. Our middle daughter Claire is a Senior at Aquinas and our youngest daughter Audrey is a Junior. Mike has returned to Aquinas to teach Ceramics and has been teaching there for 4 years. Our lives have completely come full circle at Aquinas High School and we are blessed to be a part of the Falcon famil

David '98 and Sarah '00

Our story starts with a simple smile! He was walking up to the locker room after football practice and I was on my way to visit my father (Mark Robert)...who was part of the football coaching staff at Aquinas. It would be several months before he actually worked up the nerve to ask me on a date, but I knew from that first smile this was going to be something amazing! We started dating in December 1996 and we married in August 2006. In between we both graduated from college (Sonoma State University & University of San Diego), Dave graduated from University California Hastings School of Law and passed the Bar Exam! We had our son, future falcon Jackson Colella, in April 2009! We both believe that Catholic school education has contributed to the success we have experienced in both our personal and professional lives. We will forever be thankful for our time at Aquinas! GO FALCONS!!

Celebrating 5 Years of Artistic

Brilliance: The San Manuel Performing Arts Center at Aquinas High School

The San Manuel Performing Arts Center at Aquinas High School is all set to commemorate its 5th-year anniversary, marking half a decade of nurturing creativity, talent, and passion for the performing arts among the students and the community. Since its inception in 2018, this 17,000square-foot, 336-seat center has been a beacon of artistic brilliance, providing an invaluable platform for aspiring performers to shine and for the community to revel in the magic of the arts.

The journey of the San Manuel Performing Arts Center started with a transformative gift of $3 million from the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, the J.F. Shea Company, Shea Family Charities, and 200 individual donors, including enthusiastic alumni of Aquinas High School. This generous donation made the dream of a state-of-the-art performing arts center a reality.

One of the primary objectives behind the establishment of the center was to provide students with a passion for the arts an opportunity to grow, develop, and gain confidence It aimed to break the stereotype that only athletes or scholars could flourish and prove that the performing arts are equally essential for self-development and community vitality. The center aimed to bring together like-minded students, fostering a sense of camaraderie and collaboration among aspiring performers

Over the past five years, the San Manuel Performing Arts Center has witnessed remarkable growth and achieved numerous milestones Packed house productions of timeless classics such as "The Little Mermaid," "A Christmas Carol," "Little Women," "The Wizard of Oz," "Seussical," and many others have left audiences captivated and spellbound. Students have demonstrated their exceptional talents in various performing arts showcases, showcasing their skills in drama, painting, saxophone, and even break dancing just to name a few.

Notable among the center's accomplishments is the Performing Arts Scholarship, made possible by an endowment from the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians Since it's establishment, this scholarship has paved the way for eight deserving students to attend Aquinas High School and become part of the esteemed Performing Arts Academy. These talented scholars have brought diverse talents to the fore, illustrating the power of the arts in transforming lives.

The San Manuel Performing Arts Center has not only enriched the local community but has also opened doors to the world stage This past Winter, The Performing Arts Academy and the choir had the incredible opportunity to travel to Rome and perform during Mass at St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican. This once-in-a-lifetime experience left an indelible mark on the students, and their voices resonated through the hallowed halls of one of the world's most iconic religious sites.

Additionally, the performing arts students were able to travel to New York City in 2020 on a "Spotlight on the Arts" educational tour. This enriching trip exposed the students to the vibrant arts scene of the city, immersing them in Broadway shows, museums, and workshops, further igniting their passion for the performing arts

The impact of the San Manuel Performing Arts Center extends beyond its walls Since its establishment, the center has witnessed an exponential rise in student interest in the arts. Participation in drama productions, backstage crew, choir, and band has soared, proving that the center has inspired a newfound passion for the performing arts among the student body.

The spirit of collaboration is one of the cornerstones of the San Manuel Performing Arts Center's success Aquinas High School joined forces with Junior University Musical Theater, a group that has been entertaining the Inland Empire with family productions for over five decades. Together, they brought spectacular productions like "A Christmas Carol" and the recent "Cinderella" to life at the San Manuel Performing Arts Center.

As the San Manuel Performing Arts Center marks its 5th-year anniversary, it stands as a testament to the power of the arts in transforming lives and fostering creativity. With unwavering support from the community, donors, and the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, the center continues to nurture artistic brilliance and empower students to chase their dreams fearlessly.

Here's to the past five years of exceptional performances and unforgettable moments at the San Manuel Performing Arts Center, and to a future filled with even more artistic magic and triumphs!