AQ freshman Meaghan Farrell certainly had some inspiration when choosing to attend Aquinas this fall. Meaghan, a Grand Rapids Catholic Central grad, comes from a long line of Aquinas alumni, including her mother (’84), two aunts, three uncles and three cousins.

“I was tentative because I originally wanted to go away from home, but my family and friends helped me decide that it is a very good school,” Meaghan said. “I am really looking forward to meeting a ton of new people, and starting a whole new part of my life.”

Meaghan also plans on contributing to the Aquinas women’s lacrosse team, and will don the maroon and white as they continue their legacy of success.

“I am really excited to get started, I already know most of the team and a couple of my best friends are on the team, so I am really looking forward to starting practice and having team functions,” Meaghan said. “We should have a very good year.”

Meaghan will also be joining her cousin, Laura Farrell (pictured above with her parents), who is currently going into her sophomore year at Aquinas after transferring from James Madison College at MSU last spring. Laura will be continuing her studies in English secondary education and learning disabilities this fall.

“I hoped Aquinas would be a more personal learning experience with a deep community, and it definitely has been.” Laura said. “Everyone in my family chose Aquinas for their own reasons, yet we have all acquired a sincere connection and love for it. It is unique, for me, to share some of the same experiences that my parents and aunts and uncles did years ago.”

Laura’s parents, Mary and Dan Farrell, met at Aquinas in 1983, just before Dan graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology. The following year, Mary graduated from Aquinas, and they were married that summer. Meaghan’s mother, Robin Farrell, was Mary’s roommate at Aquinas for three years, and through her met future husband Robert Farrell, Dan’s brother.

“My four years at Aquinas were probably the most fun times of my life,” Mary said. “When I walk through Regina and throughout the campus, it is as if I never left. I think anyone who graduates from Aquinas really never leaves. There is always a piece of it with us. I think back on my Aquinas experiences often and am so grateful that I was able to attend.”

Laura and Meaghan hope to be the beginning of a long line of Farrell students in the coming years. With 21 younger cousins, they are confident that the Aquinas tradition will remain a strong family tie.

“When your community becomes a family, I think that it becomes a part of you, a second nature, that you carry on with you for the rest of your life. So naturally, the tradition of Aquinas only gets stronger with age,” Laura said.