Stonehill College from A to Z

Grotto

Located by Stonehill’s tennis courts, the Lourdes Grotto and Shrine offers a respite from the hustle and bustle of life on campus. Dedicated in 1954, this sacred space is a place where community members can light votive candles to express their prayerful intentions. 

Hill Card

This all-access pass to student life at Stonehill is used to enter residence halls and other facilities. It also stores meal plan balances and Hill Card Points, the latter of which can be used to make purchases at a variety of on- and off-campus locations. 

Intercultural Affairs

This office honors Stonehill’s commitment to creating a more diverse, equitable and inclusive world by supporting students academically, culturally and personally. They accomplish this through the creation of fun and thought-provoking programming such as the DiverCity Festival, the IGNITE Conference on Diversity and Inclusion and more. 

Justice

The College offers many opportunities for community members to explore how they can help create more just and compassionate world. Each semester, the Joseph W. Martin Institute for Law & Society, named after a former Speaker of the House of Representatives with ties to Stonehill, hosts events designed to bridge the theory and practice of active citizenship. Likewise, the Center for the Study of Race, Ethnicity and Social Justice oversees programming focused on social justice while also supporting faculty and student research that examines how race, ethnicity, and other categories of difference are infused in structures of power. 

Kruse Way

This pathway leads from the Sally Blair Ames Sports Complex to the Holy Cross Center. Like all streets at Stonehill, it is named in honor of a Holy Cross priest. Rev. Robert Kruse, C.S.C., was a specialist in 19th and 20th century religious thought who helped guide the College through many decades of change and growth. 

Lux et Spes

Latin for “Light and Hope,” the College’s motto reminds us of our educators’ ongoing mission to help students think, act and lead with courage to create a more just and compassionate world.

Meehan School of Business

Opened in August 2019, Stonehill’s business school offers cutting edge technology to connects students with high-impact opportunities and thrive in a fast-changing global economy. 

Northeast Conference

In March 2022, Stonehill’s student-athletes soared to new heights as the College joined the NCAA Division I conference. This move followed years spent investing in state-of-the-art facilities and developing innovating programs that support students’ academic and athletic growth.  

Orientation Leaders

These Stonehill students play a vital role in helping first-years transition from high school to college. During sessions hosted in the summer and fall, incoming students are placed in groups with two orientation leaders, who are responsible for guiding their younger peers as they become familiar with all the wonderful things Stonehill has to offer. 

President's Cup

Awarded annually during the Student Life Awards, this honor is given to a senior who embodies Stonehill’s values, is committed to intellectual excellence, and remains dedicated to serving others.  

Queen of the Summit

Composed by Stephen Warner, former director of sister school Notre Dame’s Folk Choir, Stonehill’s alma mater was first adopted by our campus community in 1998 during our 50th anniversary celebration. The song’s title refers to the statue of the Blessed Mother outside of Donahue Hall. 

Research

The popular Stonehill Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) program was established in 1996. As part of this initiative, one of many that promotes scholarship among our student body, participants gain valuable new skills while spending the summer conducting professional research alongside our faculty.   

Skyhawks

Stonehill’s team name refers to early aviators who used an airfield on the former Ames estate. Ace is the Skyhawk’s mascot. The beloved purple and white bird first took flight on September 10, 2005, during the dedication of W.B. Mason Stadium. 

Thomas and Donna May School of Arts & Sciences

Opened in Fall 2018, this building features modern technology and collaborative workspaces designed to empower students as they pursue interests in in law and government, the STEM fields, education, the arts, or humanities. 

Unity Graduation

Hosted by the Office of Intercultural Affairs each spring, this celebration honors seniors’ achievements by gifting stoles and pins to students of color, as well as first-generation and LGBTQ+ students.  

Village

The O’Hara Village consists of eight modular homes named for places along the Massachusetts seacoast. This campus residence is one of several where Skyhawks forge memories that will last long after they graduate. Approximately 90% of Skyhawks choose to live on campus.

W.B. Mason Stadium

Home to Stonehill field hockey, football, lacrosse, and track & field, this campus landmark, which seats 2,400, was named in recognition of a business products company run by President & CEO Leo J. Meehan ’75. 

X (Roman Numeral)

Whenever community members enter the lobby of the May School of Arts & Sciences, one of the first things they may notice is a large wall made of blue marble. Featured on the wall is advice from Pope John XXIII that is applicable to all who pass through this hallowed hall: “Do not walk through time without leaving worthy evidence of your passage.”

Yearbook

The College celebrates graduating classes through the annual publication of the ACRES yearbook. This keepsake ensures that the memories made here last a lifetime. 

Zeal

Defined as an “ardent interest in pursuit of something,” this virtue fills the hearts and minds of all who attend Stonehill. As we seek to educate the whole person so that graduates learn to think, act and lead with courage, we encourage them to pursue their passions so that they may lead fulfilling and impactful lives.