For Hospitality Management major Jude Petersen ’29, one of the most rewarding parts of the St. Thomas Aquinas College experience so far has been discovering new opportunities and learning new skills.
One course that stands out to Jude is Astrophotography, which he admits he likely would never have explored without the College’s new SKAE Astronomy Center: “I had never been exposed to that sort of programming, and because of the new SKAE Astronomy Center, I was able to learn and grow in a field that I had never had a direct interest in before.” The willingness to step outside his comfort zone has helped shape Jude’s journey as a Spartan.
Jude’s advice to students starting their college journey is to take advantage of opportunities on campus: “There is so much to do here. The more open you make yourself and the more you engage with the community, the more opportunities will come your way.”
As a student-athlete, Jude has found a second home as a member of the Spartan Track & Field team. One of his favorite memories is from this past year when the team captured the East Coast Conference Championship. The Men’s Track and Field team dethroned three-time defending champion Roberts Wesleyan University by a single point to capture STAC’s sixth East Coast Conference Outdoor title in program history, and first crown since 2022. The final tally had the Spartans beating the Redhawks by a score of 195 to 194, and Jude noted how this win was definitely a highlight: “It came down to one point, and the energy was incredible. We were all nervous and excited, but once we realized we were champions, everyone erupted. It was such a great feeling.”
This summer, Jude has contributed to several campus initiatives. He has been working on a redesign of the College’s Facilities Rentals webpage by updating photography and content, helping develop new summer camp concepts, and is currently collaborating with the Office of Student Engagement on a new student app.
Whether exploring a new academic interest, competing for a conference championship, or learning new skill sets, Jude has embraced a wide-range of opportunities at STAC early on in his college career. Jude notes how saying “yes” to new experiences can truly open doors you never knew existed.