Mike Richter, President Of Brightcore Energy & NY Rangers Hockey Legend, To Address Over 335 Graduates

St. Thomas Aquinas College will host its 67th Commencement Ceremony on Friday, May 10, 2024 at 2:00 PM at Clover Stadium in Pomona, NY. Over 335 students will be awarded Master’s, Bachelor’s and Associate’s degrees during the ceremony. 

Mike Richter, President of Brightcore Energy and former New York Rangers hall of fame hockey legend, will deliver the Commencement Address. In recognition of his outstanding contributions as a leader in sustainability and community service, St. Thomas Aquinas College will award Mr. Richter an honorary Doctor of Commercial Science degree.

Additionally, Peter Skae, former Trustee and Board Chair, and his wife Leslie, will be honored with honorary Doctor of Public Service degrees for their exemplary dedication to community service and philanthropy. The Skae family has generously funded the construction and launch of the new SKAE Astronomy Center, to be opened in Fall 2024. 

“We are honored to have Mike Richter deliver the Commencement Address. His unwavering commitment to environmental sustainability and community service is inspiring to our students,” said Ken Daly, President of St. Thomas Aquinas College. “We are also delighted to confer honorary degrees upon Peter and Leslie Skae, whose dedication to philanthropy at the College perfectly embodies the values we cherish at St. Thomas Aquinas College. Our honorees’ contributions, both to our Institution and to our larger community and society, are truly commendable. We eagerly anticipate celebrating the achievements of our graduates and their families, as well as honoring these exceptional individuals, at this year’s ceremony.”

Mike Richter
Richter is the leading force behind Brightcore Energy, a pioneering powerhouse in the realm of clean energy solutions. From spearheading innovative technologies like renewable heating and cooling systems to revolutionizing commercial solar, LED lighting, and smart building controls, Richter’s visionary leadership has set the standard for sustainability in the industry.

As a legendary goaltender for the New York Rangers, Richter cemented his place in hockey history by leading his team to a triumphant Stanley Cup victory in 1994. His stellar performance on the ice earned him accolades both at home and abroad, representing the United States with distinction in international competitions. Following his illustrious hockey career, Richter pursued his education at Yale University through the prestigious Eli Whitney Students Program. With his unparalleled drive, determination, and vision, Richter stands as a towering figure in both the worlds of sports and sustainability, inspiring others to follow in his footsteps and make a lasting difference in the world.

Peter and Leslie Skae
Peter Skae established Skae Power Solutions, LLC in 1998 along with his business partner John McPartland. The company is recognized as a leader in engineering services, specializing in mission-critical infrastructure and has successfully undertaken significant projects across various sectors, including commercial, financial, and government agencies nationwide. Peter served on the Board of Trustees of St. Thomas Aquinas College from 2010 to 2023, holding the role of Chair from 2019 to 2023. Leslie Skae (née Costello) initially carved out a career with Art News Magazine after completing her degree. However, she later decided to focus on family life and support her husband Peter in his business endeavors. They follow the legacy of Leslie’s parents, James, Trustee Emeritus of St. Thomas Aquinas College, and Gloria Costello, in their commitment to the Institution, demonstrating a deep-rooted passion for furthering education and community engagement.

One of the Skaes’ most ambitious contributions to St. Thomas Aquinas College is the planned ‘Eye to the Sky’ SKAE Astronomy Center. This project will establish a state-of-the-art Telescope Observatory and dedicated classroom facilities to enhance the college’s astronomy and astrophysics programs. The Center is envisioned as a research and learning hub that will enable detailed observation and study of celestial bodies, thereby enriching the academic resources of the College.

Ceremony
Various student awards will be presented, including the Terence Cardinal Cooke Award (presented to a student who has demonstrated outstanding and meritorious service); the Cindy Hsu Mental Health Champions Award (presented to a student who has demonstrated outstanding and meritorious service in the area of advancing mental health awareness); the Francis Cardinal Spellman Award (presented to students for the highest academic excellence in the undergraduate program); and the Sr. Regina Rosaire Dolan Award (presented to the student with the highest academic excellence in the Teacher Education graduate program). 

For further details about the St. Thomas Aquinas College Commencement Ceremony, please visit stac.edu/academics/2024-commencement/.

After-Party Appreciation Night at the NY Boulders Game
The College will host an After-Party Appreciation Night for graduates, families, employees, alumni, and friends with a reception from 5:00-8:00 PM at Clover Stadium and the NY Boulders game beginning at 7:00 PM. For more information about the event contact James Errico at jerrico@stac.edu.

About St. Thomas Aquinas College
St. Thomas Aquinas College is an independent liberal arts college located on 76 acres in Rockland County, NY, providing education at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The College’s diverse student body of approximately 2,000 full and part-time students can choose from over 100 majors, minors, and specializations across four Schools: Arts & Social Sciences, Business, Education, and STEM. The College is recognized by U.S. News & World Report in the Top-Tier for Regional Universities, and by Colleges of Distinction in its New York edition for Business, Education, and Career Development. The College is also recognized as a Yellow Ribbon Program institution. St. Thomas Aquinas College is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools; its School of Education is accredited by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP), and its School of Business is accredited by the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE). For more information, visit www.stac.edu.