The dedication of Thomas Aquinas College's final student residence, St. Monica Hall for women, took place Oct. 5 at the Santa Paula campus with Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, Archbishop of Vienna, presiding.

This was the third visit to the campus for Cardinal Schönborn, who was general editor the Catechism of the Catholic Church. He was awarded Thomas Aquinas College's highest honor, the Saint Thomas Aquinas Medallion, when he spoke at the college's commencement ceremony in 2002.

"The dedication of St. Monica Hall is a milestone in the history of the College," said Dr. Thomas Dillon, president of Thomas Aquinas. "With the completion of this residence, the college is now prepared to accommodate its maximum enrollment of 350 students. This is the first time we have all of our students --- 329 this year --- in permanent housing."

The 20,000 square foot residence hall is the second largest on campus, providing housing for 84 women. Mindful that the college location was once part of Mission San Buenaventura, architect Scott Boydstun of Rasmussen & Associates in Ventura designed the building in the California mission-style, similar to that of the other campus buildings. Features include arched wooden doorways and a private courtyard with a central fountain and a second-story balcony. The residence hall also incorporates architectural features drawn from the historic Doheny Hacienda, built for the Doheny family on the property in 1929 by famed architect Wallace Neff.