St. Thomas Aquinas High School (Fort Lauderdale, Florida)

Infobox School
name = St. Thomas Aquinas High School


streetaddress = 2801 SW 12TH ST
city = Fort Lauderdale
state = FL
zipcode = 33312-2953
country = USA
coordinates = 26°6.5'N, 80°10.9'W
denomination = Roman Catholic
oversight = Archdiocese of Miami
head_label = Supervising Principal
head = Monsignor Vincent T. Kelly
principal = Mrs. Tina Jones
dean = Mr. Robert Biasotti
faculty = 118
ratio = 18:1
SAT = 572 Critical Reading
570 Mathematics
568 Writing
ACT = 23 (mean composite score)
gender = Coeducational
schooltype = Private
tuition = $10,200
$8,400 for students and families participating and contributing in a Catholic Parish
students = 2,152
campus size = 20 acres (8 hectares)
campus type = Urban
motto = "Vita. Deo. Veritas."
(Latin: Life. God. Truth.)
accreditation = Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
nickname = Raiders
yearbook = Veritas
publication = Spectrum Literary Magazine
newspaper = Raider Review
established = 1936
homepage = [http://www.aquinas-sta.org/ www.aquinas-sta.org]
free_label = School Colors
free_text = Blue & Gold
free_label1 = College Placement
free_text1 = The most recent graduating class had 99% of the students matriculating to college directly from St. Thomas Aquinas High School. Four-year colleges were attended by 86%, and 13% attended two-year colleges.
free_label2 = Phone Numbers
free_text2 = 954-581-0700 (Voice)
954-581-8263 (FAX)
954-581-0700 ext. 8626 for Balloon Room Orders

St. Thomas Aquinas High School (also known as STA) was established in 1936, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA as St. Anthony Catholic High School. In 1952, it was renamed Central Catholic High School. Finally, in 1961, it was renamed St. Thomas Aquinas High School. Sponsored by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Miami and accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the school has 2,152 students on its 20 acre campus in southwest Fort Lauderdale. The school is well-known in both Florida and the United States for excelling in academics and athletics.

Academic achievements

*In 1985 and 1996 the school was recognized by the Department of Education initially as a "School of Excellence" and later was awarded the Blue Ribbon Award.
*In 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 the Catholic High School Honor Roll named STA as one of "the Top 50 Secondary Schools in the nation." STA is unique in that it is one of only 11 high schools in the nation to have received this honor in four consecutive years. It is also the only high school in the state of Florida to have this distinction.

National Merit achievements

Arts achievements

An impressive element of St. Thomas Aquinas is the weekly episodes of the school's news television show "Raider 1". Massively popular among the student body, the program features student broadcasters from two teams (Blue and Gold, the school's colors) who deliver information on campus news, sports events, and activities around the campus. These broadcasts made the anchors local celebrities and invigorated the school with a sense of pride and fun as a Friday morning diversion to the school's rigorous courses.

An annual film festival also bolsters the school's dedication to the performing arts. STAsis (St. Thomas Aquinas script into screen - the school's film organization) sponsors the festival which is in its third year in 2007. Held in the last week of April, the festival showcases student films and offers prizes for the top three films. The festival is open to any students of the school and will be open to surrounding schools in the next year.

Both the Film and Television Programs are run by STA graduate Carl Boehm, M.A., M.A.T.E.(class of '92).

The St. Thomas Aquinas Choir, traveled to Rome, Italy in the spring of 2007 to sing for Pope Benedict XVI.

Violinist Katherine "Kate" Johnson was a recipient of the 2008 Bob Weaver Award, presented to a musician in Florida who has shown exceptional commitment as well as the 2006 Lois Deicke award for outstanding performance as a musician in Florida. She was selected to play for the Queen Of England and President George W Bush in Jamestown, Virginia for the 400th Anniversary of Jamestown in Spring 2006, and also Jeb Bush and Donald Trump.

There is also a drama program. They are in the process of building a new performing arts center which is set to open in the beginning of 2008.

Athletic Achievements

*In 2005, the school was recognized by "Sports Illustrated" as the third [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/magazine/05/11/top.high.school0516/] "Best High School Athletic Program" in the nation.
*STA has won the Broward County All-Sports Trophy for 27 consecutive years.
*STA has won the Dodge Sunshine Cup FHSAA All-Sports award for 12 consecutive years.

tate Championships

Men

*"Football" - 1992, 1997, 1999, 2007
*"Baseball" - 1995, 2003
*"Basketball" - 2001
*"Soccer" - 1996, 1997, 1998, 2005
*"Swimming" - 1993, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004
*"Tennis" - 1989, 1994
*"Track and Field" - 2008
*"Wrestling" - 1985
*"Ice Hockey" - 2006, 2008

Women

*"Golf" - 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 2001
*"Soccer" - 1990, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2004, 2005
*"Softball" - 1986, 1993, 2002, 2003
*"Swimming" - 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004
*"Tennis" - 1972, 1985, 1986, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008
*"Track and Field" - 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005
*"Volleyball" - 1985, 2004
*"Lacrosse" - 2007

Notable alumni

Athletics

*Foluke Akinradewo - collegiate volleyball player, 2007 NCAA Player of the Year
*Joe Castiglione - athletic director, University of Oklahoma
*Jeremy Cain - professional football player, Tennessee Titans
*Audra Cohen - professional tennis player, 2007 NCAA Women's Singles Champion
*Chris Evert - former professional tennis player, member of International Tennis Hall of Fame
*Sean Gallagher - professional baseball player, Oakland Athletics
*Tavares Gooden - professional football player, Baltimore Ravens
*Stefan Humphries - former professional football player, Chicago Bears, Denver Broncos
*Michael Irvin - former professional football player, Dallas Cowboys, member of Pro Football Hall of Fame
*Mark Merklein - former professional tennis player, competed in men's doubles at 2004 Summer Olympics
*Chad Mottola - former professional baseball player, Cincinnati Reds, Toronto Blue Jays, Florida Marlins, Baltimore Orioles
*Sterling Palmer - former professional football player, Washington Redskins
*Brian Piccolo - former professional football player, Chicago Bears, inspiration for the film Brian's Song
*Vladislav Polyakov - Olympian, gold medalist in 200m Breaststroke at 2006 FINA World Championships
*Daryl Porter - former professional football player, Detroit Lions, Buffalo Bills, Tennessee Titans
*Sanya Richards - U.S. Olympian, Bronze medalist in Women's 400m at 2008 Summer Olympics
*Shawn Riggans - professional baseball player, Tampa Bay Rays
*Twan Russell - former professional football player, Washington Redskins, Miami Dolphins, Atlanta Falcons
*Nate Salley - professional football player, Carolina Panthers
*Mike Stanley - former professional baseball player, Texas Rangers, New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox
*Seilala Sua - U.S. Olympian, placed 10th in the Discus at 2000 Summer Olympics

Arts and Entertainment

*Steven Conrad - American screenwriter and producer, The Weather Man, The Pursuit of Happyness
*Chris Conrad - American Actor, The Next Karate Kid,
*Michael Connelly - American author, The Black Echo, Blood Work
*Billy Crudup - American actor, Without Limits, Almost Famous, Big Fish
*C. Dale Young - American poet and author, finalist 2004 James Laughlin Award

Law

*William J. Zloch - former U.S. District Court Judge, Southern District of Florida

References

External links

* [http://www.aquinas-sta.org/ Official School Website]
* [http://www.aquinasathletics.com/ School's Athletic Website]
* [http://www.aquinasfootball.com/ School's Football Website]
* [http://www.raiderpressbox.com/ School's Football Blog]