Spring Has Sprung at STAC Earth Day

Last Saturday, hundreds of families, vendors, and students gathered together to celebrate the 5th annual Earth Day Celebration at Saint Thomas Aquinas College on the front lawn. The lawn was decked out with entertainment for all ages – face painting, basketball hoops, bubbles, live music, and even puppies up for adoption filled the space as people came and went throughout the day. The Pfiziscians, sponsored by Pfizer, played soothing tunes to keep the good vibes up. 

Of the 47 vendors, there were various food trucks, satisfying every and any craving that might occur. Whether it be mini doughnuts at Mostly Dough, seafood at Cousins Maine Lobster, or a classic burger with B&B Bites Food Truck, STAC had it covered. There were also a large variety of boutique stands, plants for sale, and vendors selling handmade wares. 

“We really like to support small businesses and budding entrepreneurs,” said Angela McDonnell, Assistant Professor in the School of Business and organizer of the event. “In fact, we have one little girl here today who is only eleven years old and already has her own business.”

That young entrepreneur was Khariye Hayes, owner of Khariye Chanel, who sells rubber band and beaded jewelry. A student at Riley Elementary School, Hayes said she hopes to grow her business in the future. “I’m inspired by my mom,” she said. Her mother, Shaika Hayes, explained that the opportunity came through social media. “I posted her work on Facebook for Small Business Saturdays, and Miss Angela reached out and invited us.”

The event also highlighted meaningful causes. Be Kind for Kayla is a nonprofit that raises funds for the Kayla Fitzpatrick Foundation, a foundation that provides a scholarship to a Saint Thomas Aquinas College education major who shows academic promise and personifies Kayla’s kindness. The initiative honors Fitzpatrick’s memory by promoting kindness, mental health awareness, and community support.

At the center of the event was McDonnell’s Hospitality Program, where students gain hands-on experience through event planning. The Earth Day Celebration is entirely student-run, providing participants with real-world responsibility. “I’m passionate about experiential learning,” McDonnell said. “Students have told me they’ve discussed this event in job interviews. It pushes them out of their comfort zone, but in a safe way.”

Each student takes on a specific role, ranging from marketing and finance to human resources and project management, all working collaboratively to execute the event. 

One particularly devoted student was Nick Simonetta, a senior Hospitality major, who acted as Project Manager for the event. Having worked at the Winter Wonderland, another STAC student run event the previous semester, Simonetta stepped up as a mentor figure for his peers, showing up to the greens at 8am the day before and working for hours to make sure everything was set for the big day. 

“Everytime [McDonnell] needed me to step in, I was there to help the class… It’s a great experience. You really get to what it’s like to throw an event, no matter your role,” Simonetta said. Regarding what the class has taught him as Project Manager, he said, “You have to be organized. You always have to check emails, reaching out to people during unexpected hours.” 

McDonnell first pitched the idea to President Daly five years ago, and asked for a $5,000 startup, vowing to never ask for money again. “President Daly made a promise to us all that STAC is going to strive into the future, and it has,” she said. “My original idea was the German markets for Winter Wonderland. And he was like ‘Okay!’, and I decided to make it happen. It went amazing. I got called to the third floor and he said, ‘That was brilliant, what can we do for the spring?’ And that’s how we got Earth Day.”

Three years ago, McDonnell was juggling getting the project off the ground in addition to marketing. While venting to a class, she explained how difficult it was to get the word out. One marketing student, Mairead Byrne, came to her after class with a Gen-Z solution: social media marketing.

McDonnell worked with Bryne as a work-study, and Byrne took a different approach compared to the conventional lawns signs and fliers. She made FaceBook posts, Instagram posts, and joined as many FaceBook groups as possible to spread the word, taking advantage of her marketing skills to bring more people together.

Now, McDonnell is responsible for FaceBook, but every semester one of her students runs Instagram. “We barely use any printed posters anymore… It’s all Facebook and Instagram.”

That shift has paid off. Many attendees said they discovered the event online, including Lindsay Donlon of Tappan. “We came last year for Winter Wonderland, and now we come to everything,” she said. “It’s a great family event, and we love that the college is so involved in the community.”

Victoria Baron, also of Tappan, echoed that sentiment, “We love supporting the college and everything they offer for families.”

The event is free to enter, a deliberate choice to embrace the community. “It’s never going to be ticketed,” McDonnell said.

Her ultimate goal as a professor and mentor is clear: “I’m passionate about getting our students jobs. An education system can no longer just take fees from students without making them a promise… We want a pathway for students into jobs.”