Senior Paul Fahey has a couple extra reasons to be excited for the May 5, 2012 Commencement ceremony. Graduating cum laude with his Bachelor of Arts in theology and double-minors in history and Catholic studies, Fahey will also take the stage to lead the Benediction during the closing ceremony of Aquinas’ 125th Anniversary.

“I was really honored, and actually kind of surprised [that they chose me],” Fahey said. “I put in somebody else’s name who I thought was qualified, I didn’t even know I was an option in people’s minds.”

Thinking back on his time at Aquinas, Fahey noted his influential involvement with the Students for Life club. An officer for the past three and a half years and president for the last two years, Fahey was in charge of organizing various events and speakers on and off campus. One such event which stood out in Fahey’s mind was the three trips taken by club members to Washington, D.C. for the March for Life over the past four years. Fahey accompanied five other students, along with other members of the Diocese of Grand Rapids, in January 2010.

“I’ve had a lot of fun organizing all this stuff, taking charge, and being a leader in a lot of ways,” Fahey said. “There are over 100,000 people [who attend March for Life]. It was great, we were down there representing the Diocese for a whole weekend - it was a really cool experience.”

Along with leading the Benediction, Fahey is looking forward to celebrating the day with his wife, and fellow theology graduate, Kristina (Starbuck). The couple met at Aquinas their freshmen year, and were married in December 2011.

“Aquinas was a really great experience,” Fahey said. “I’ll be taking away all the growing up and maturing I’ve done over the last four years and a great education. But most of all I’ll be taking away a new wife and family, and a lot of experiences which have made me who I am.”

Fahey hopes to enter law school after a year of working, and then begin a career in education or at a non-profit dedicated to pro-life.