St. Thomas Aquinas High School 27th Annual Golf Open to Benefit Athletics

Dover, NH -

This year marks the 27th year of the St. Thomas Aquinas High School Golf Open on Friday, September 21, 2012 at The Links at Outlook in South Berwick, ME.

Proceeds from the Golf Open benefit STA Athletic Programs and will help obtain needed equipment, coaching tools and facility updates required to keep the school and its athletes safe and competitive. In 2011-12 St. Thomas Aquinas High School was awarded ten state athletic championship/finalist trophies!  In celebration of our athletic successes, this year’s guest speaker will be the new St. Thomas Aquinas Athletic Director Ryan Brown.

Registration includes 18-holes of golf with cart (8:00am shotgun start), hole contests, continental breakfast (7:30am), lunch, snacks, a gift, and raffles. In true Downeast style, guests will enjoy a Maine lobster and steak luncheon!

The cost is $155 for individual golfers and $600 for a foursome. We are offering a special discounted rate for St. Thomas Aquinas alumni of $125 per golfer. Please register no later than September 4th.

Call (603) 742-3206 x5241 to register, or for more information, please visit www.stalux.org/golfopen.  Register early – this event will sell out!

Sponsorship opportunities are still available! Contact Golf Committee Chair Scott Rafferty ’04 (srafferty@stalux.org) if your business is interested in supporting St. Thomas Aquinas Athletic Programs.

The St. Thomas community looks forward to this event each year and is extremely grateful for the generosity of sponsors, donors and golfers in providing needed financial assistance to the school’s athletic programs. Thank you for making a difference in the life of St. Thomas students.

See you on Friday, September 21, 2012 at The Links!

Located in Dover, NH, St. Thomas Aquinas High School is a coeducational, Catholic high school community where young people are called to be challenged academically, to stretch their hearts spiritually and to embark on a journey to make a difference.   For more information, visit us atwww.stalux.org or call (603) 742-3206.

St. Thomas Aquinas High School Spanish Students Score Well on National Spanish Exam

From left to right:

Three St. Thomas Aquinas High School students win National Spanish Exam recognition in New Hampshire:  Junior Alison Hiatt of Newington, NH (Level 4) secured fifth place in the state; seniorGabrielle Ouellette of Epping, NH (Level 4) placed third; and senior Matthew Radford of Brentwood, NH (Level 5) came in fourth among New Hampshire participants.

Congratulations to several world language students from St. Thomas Aquinas High School who attained national recognition for excellent performance on the 2012 National Spanish Examinations. 

Students from St. Thomas earned a total of one gold, three silver and seven bronze medals along with 18 honorable mentions.  "Attaining a medal or honorable mention for any student on the National Spanish Examinations is very prestigious," said Kevin Cessna-Buscemi, National Director of the Exams, "because the exams are the largest of their kind in the United States with 143,641 students participating in 2012.”

St. Thomas Aquinas High School students have a long history of high achievement on these exams.  Miriam Hanlon, Jacqueline Dubay and Carlos Paz are the teachers of students honored in the 2012 NSE.

Nationally, Gabrielle Ouellette scored in the “gold” category (in the 95^th to 100^th percentile), while three students—Isabel D’Alessandro,Alison Hiatt and Muriel “Alex” Pollock scored in the “silver” category (in the 85^th to 94^th percentile); those attaining “bronze” level scores (75^th to 84^th percentile) were Nicole Devaney, Timothy Downs, John Gentes, Molly Jones, Emma Keane, Bridget Kelly, andMatt Radford.  Receiving honorable mention were the following:  Gabrielle Benoit, Erin Cabrey, Caragh Collins, Matthew Cornell, Jack Cronin, William Donovan, Aaron Dubois, Michelle Dunbar, Emily Fernald, Eric Gilmore, Amanda Girard, Abigail Hannigan, Jillian Holden, Walter Hutcheson, Anthony Kassas, Jordyn Palmer, Mary-Margaret Quinn, and Barclay Stewart.

The National Spanish Examinations are administered each year in grades 6 through 12, and are sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese.

Located in Dover, NH, St. Thomas Aquinas High School is a coeducational, Catholic high school community where young people are called to be challenged academically, to stretch their hearts spiritually and to embark on a journey to make a difference.   For more information, visit us at www.stalux.org or call (603) 742-3206.

St. Thomas Aquinas High School Announces New Athletic Director Ryan Brown

Principal Kevin Collins and
Athletic Director Ryan Brown 

In the Spring of 2012, St. Thomas Aquinas High School undertook a monumental task: replacing the legendary Jack Leary as Athletic Director.  It was a long and arduous search, but in the end the ideal candidate emerged: Ryan Brown of St. Luke’s School in New Canaan, Connecticut.

Beginning July 1, Ryan will take over from Jack and begin a new era at St. Thomas Aquinas.  Currently Ryan is the Assistant Athletic Director and Head Football Coach at St. Luke’s, where he has served since 2006. 

A three-sport athlete in high school, Ryan is a graduate of Middlebury College (VT) and is also pursuing his Master’s at Quinnipiac University (CT).  In between, Ryan earned 21 credits at Utica College (NY) where he also served as an Assistant Football Coach, Physical Education teacher and Football Recruiting Coordinator.

While at St. Luke’s, Ryan rebuilt the football program, leading them to success in both the 2011 and 2012 seasons. He also created and implemented a program designed to help instill leadership qualities in student athletes both on and off the field.

When asked about working with student athletes, Ryan indicated “it’s all about making a difference” in the life of a young person. “I had some exceptional role models in my life and I love to share the experiences and lessons I learned from them with young people.”

St. Thomas Aquinas Principal Kevin Collins had this to say about Ryan.  “He’s a big guy with an obvious big heart, ready to take on a big job.  From his first visit, it’s clear he’s going to connect with athletes, coaches and parents.”

The St. Thomas Aquinas High School community welcomes Ryan to the STA “family”.

Located in Dover, NH, St. Thomas Aquinas High School is a coeducational, Catholic high school community where young people are called to be challenged academically, to stretch their hearts spiritually and to embark on a journey to make a difference.   For more information, visit us at www.stalux.org or call (603) 742-3206.

St. Thomas Aquinas High School Seniors Pay It Forward

Photo Caption: These Senior Student Advisory Board members led the charge for the 2012 St. Thomas Aquinas HigH School Senior Gift.  From left:  Anna Hayes, Luke Gabriel, Molly Dwyer, Sam Quirk, and Dylan Pautler (Missing from photograph Allie Scheu).

Fostering a commitment to serve others is an important component of the St. Thomas Aquinas High School mission.  Throughout their four years at the school, students are offered and encouraged to participate in a plethora of community service activities, many of which they initiate and organize.  From the Penguin Plunge, to a canned food drive, to visiting the elderly at St. Ann next door, students learn the importance of giving back and serving others.
The senior gift program at St. Thomas Aquinas High School works to educate students about the importance of annual giving and gives graduating students their first opportunity to show their support of the school by giving back.
This year, with the leadership of the seniors on the Student Advisory Board (SAB), the seniors chose to start an Alumni Scholarship Fund.  

With the rising cost of education, the seniors wanted to leave their legacy at St. Thomas by starting the “Living Legacy Fund” – a scholarship fund designed to help an incoming freshman each year afford to attend the school.  Scholarships and financial aid play a very important role at the school allowing many more students attend than could otherwise.  The school distributes over $500,000 in tuition assistance, helping 1 in 5 families with some level of support.

This year, the senior gift campaign was especially exciting as an anonymous donor challenged the class of 2012 to step up its generosity.  Hoping to inspire the seniors to participate, the challenge was that for each senior who made a donation to the senior gift, the donor would make a donation in that senior’s name to the 2011-2012 Aquinas Fund, the school’s annual giving program.  The donor also hoped to teach and encourage members of the class of 2012 to be philanthropic after high school.

As of today, seniors have achieved a remarkable 60% participation towards their gift.  In fact, alumni, faculty, parents and friends have been so inspired by their leadership and desire to give back, that they have also felt compelled to give.

Located in Dover, NH, St. Thomas Aquinas High School is a coeducational, Catholic high school community where young people are called to be challenged academically, to stretch their hearts spiritually and to embark on a journey to make a difference.   For more information, visit us at www.stalux.org or call (603) 742-3206.

St. Thomas Aquinas High School Spring Open House

Photo Caption:  At a recent visit, St. Thomas sophomore Matthew Webber (right) speaks to two eighth graders about his experiences at the school



St. Thomas Aquinas High School will host a Spring Open House on Monday, June 4 at 6pm.  Prospective students in the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade, or high school transfer students for grades 9-12 are welcome to attend and learn more about the school.

This is a great opportunity to meet the St. Thomas Aquinas High School faculty and staff and take a tour of the campus.  St. Thomas Aquinas is STILL accepting students for the 2012-13 school year.

Please contact the Admissions Office at (603)742-1324 or admissions@stalux.org for more information.

Located in Dover, NH, St. Thomas Aquinas High School is a coeducational, Catholic high school community where young people are called to be challenged academically, to stretch their hearts spiritually and to embark on a journey to make a difference.   For more information, visit us at www.stalux.org or call (603) 742-3206.

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Photo Caption:  At a recent visit, St. Thomas sophomore Matthew Webber (right) speaks to two eighth graders about his experiences at the school

St. Thomas Aquinas High School Senior Jared Dickie to play football for Saint Anselm College

St. Thomas Aquinas High School Senior Jared Dickie of Rochester, NH recently committed to attend and play football for Saint Anselm College.  With his family, teammates, friends and STA administration on hand, Jared signed his letter of intent on Tuesday, May 8, 2012.

Jared was part of an undefeated junior varsity team his sophomore year while also playing varsity.  Jared is a 3-year varsity letter recipient and was a strong contributor to the 2011 undefeated varsity season under first year head coach, Eric Cumba.  The St. Thomas Aquinas varsity football team won the State championship for their division and Jared was named to All State first team offense.   Jared is looking forward to focusing his energy on contributing to the success of the Saint Anselm Hawks.
 
Jared will study in the 3-2 engineering program at Saint Anselm College for the next three years before continuing on to their partner school, the University of Notre Dame, to complete the second half of his education to obtain a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering.

Located in Dover, NH, St. Thomas Aquinas High School is a coeducational, Catholic high school community where young people are called to be challenged academically, to stretch their hearts spiritually and to embark on a journey to make a difference.   For more information, visit us at www.stalux.org or call (603) 742-3206.

Making a Difference in Our Community, the St. Thomas Aquinas High School Canned Food Drives Nets Over 18,500 Cans

CAPTION STA065A: St. Thomas Aquinas High School students and faculty collect and sort cans in the school atrium before delivering to Lazarus House in Lawrence, MA.

CAPTION STA003A: St. Thomas Aquinas High School students and faculty carry in cases of food (or roll them in on skateboards!) during the recent canned food drive which netted over 18,500 cans.

St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Dover, NH recently held its annual canned food drive, collecting more than 18,500 cans in two short weeks. Cases and cases of cans were delivered to Lazarus House in Lawrence, Massachusetts; one of the largest homeless shelters in New England on Saturday October 29 by a host of STA faculty, students and parent volunteers. St. Thomas is the second largest provider of non perishable items to Lazarus House annually, and upon delivery the volunteers unpacked, sorted and arranged the goods on shelves for the staff at Lazarus House before returning to Dover.

Since 1983, Lazarus House Ministries has helped the poor and homeless by providing hot meals, temporary shelter, job training, child care, emergency food, clothing, outreach and advocacy.

"This provides a really nice boost to the folks at Lazarus House as they rely on us to help them help others. So, it is good all around-for us to serve by giving, for the Lazarus staff and all the people that will benefit from this generosity," said Campus Minister Mr. Adams.

The STA canned food drive was held on the heels of the largest all-school day of service, Saints Taking Action, held October 11th. Making a difference in our community speaks to the heart of the mission of St. Thomas Aquinas High School, and as our Dean of Studies Ron Holtz recently pointed out, “It’s what we do.”

Located at 197 Dover Point Road in Dover, NH, St. Thomas Aquinas High School is a coeducational, Catholic high school community where young people are called to be challenged academically, to stretch their hearts spiritually and to embark on a journey to make a difference.

For more information, visit STA at www.stalux.org or call (603) 742-3206.

Carlo Gozzi’s fairy tale The King Stag - November 10

St. Thomas Aquinas High School Drama proudly brings to the stage this fall Carlo Gozzi’s fairy tale The King Stag. Journey with us to the Kingdom of Serendip, a court that is densely populated with plots and counterplots. A king is searching for a queen, and soon we are on a royal hunt in the Forest of Roncislappe where kingly souls mysteriously pass from human to animal form. Gozzi’s magical tale brings to life King Deramo, the faithful Angela who loves him, his treacherous prime minister Tartaglia, several hare-brained members of his court, a magician, a parrot, magical stags, and a giant bear. It’s a morality tale for all ages, a story of love and betrayal, intrigue and mirth, magic spells and pageantry. It is a fantastical and at times satirical look at the destructive vices of ambition, jealousy, and lust, and the power of true love to transform and transcend them all. And like all good fairy tales, The King Stag is not only about enchantment—it’s also enchanting.

Two evening performances will be offered—Thursday, November 10, and Friday, November 11. Curtain for both performances is 7:30 P.M., and admission is $4.00 (children under 7 are free).

Saints Taking Action – All-School Service Day

One of the key aspects of the St. Thomas Aquinas High School mission is to instill in students a heart for service. STA students are encouraged to be active members of their local communities and to make a difference by sharing their talents.

On Tuesday, October 11th the entire St. Thomas community will be living this mission by participating in the 1st annual Saints Taking Action day of community service. Nearly 800 students, faculty/staff and parent volunteers will be going out to parishes, schools, and local organizations to give back to the local community.

From Milton to Portsmouth, York, Maine to Amesbury, Massachusetts, our students, faculty and volunteers will help nearly 60 organizations with landscaping, cleaning, painting and other needed projects.

Responsible for the creation and planning of the day of service, the STA External Relations Committee has worked diligently in the planning of Saints Taking Action, while being mindful of the St. Thomas mission.

“It is our hope that this event is transformational, not only to the many organizations we will serve, but to our students who will have the opportunity to make a difference in our local community,” said Sarah Scheffer, External Relations Director. “The students, faculty and volunteers will work together in teams, hoping to see that their actions changes lives.”

Principal Kevin Collins had this to say about the Saints Taking Action event.

“We often hear the term ‘called to serve’ but we don’t usually get a chance to find out what that means. When this event was first proposed, there was an immediate reaction – sort of a ‘yes, this is the right thing to do.’ At that moment, I think, we finally learned what that phrase truly means.”

Located in Dover, NH, St. Thomas Aquinas High School is a coeducational, Catholic high school community where young people are called to be challenged academically, to stretch their hearts spiritually and to embark on a journey to make a difference. For more information, visit STA at www.stalux.org or call (603) 742-3206.

Two St. Thomas Aquinas High School Seniors Named National Merit Semifinalists

St. Thomas Aquinas seniors Matthew Radford and James Klingensmith have been named National Merit Semifinalists by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.

Matthew is the son of Patti and George Radford and lives in Brentwood, NH. Of being named a semifinalist, Matthew said, "I am pleased to be in this top group. It's nice to be recognized at the national level." While at STA, Matthew has been a three-season runner and a pianist for the Music Ministry Program. After graduation, Matthew plans to pursue Science and Math with a focus on Engineering.

Hailing from Nottingham, NH, James Klingensmith has run the gamut of extracurricular interests at STA. He is in his fourth year playing on STA’s standout Football team and is involved with the Math and Robotics Team. Interested in studying chemistry in college, James is exploring Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute as possible college choices. James is the son of Jim and Jennifer Klingensmith.

"We are very proud of these two fine young men. Each one brings to the school his own unique abilities and both continue to enhance our community in very similar ways. It is a pleasure to recognize the accomplishments of James and Matthew" noted Principal Kevin Collins.

Klingensmith and Radford are among the 16,000 semifinalists nationally who now have the opportunity to move forward in the competition for a National Merit Scholarship. This group represents less than 1% of the nation's pool of high school seniors. Finalists will be announced in February and from this group, the National Merit Scholarships recipients will be determined.

We wish James and Matthew the very best as they move forward with this exciting process.

Located in Dover, NH, St. Thomas Aquinas High School is a coeducational, Catholic high school community where young people are called to be challenged academically, to stretch their hearts spiritually and to embark on a journey to make a difference. For more information, visit STA at www.stalux.org or call (603) 742-3206.

St. Thomas Homecoming Festivities

Photos: STA vs Stevens AND Saints Taking Action logo (created by student Michelle Dunbar ‘12 from Hampton Falls)

In one of the most exciting events of the fall semester, the St. Thomas Aquinas High School community will come together to celebrate Homecoming Weekend October 7-11th. Rich traditions and a commitment to excellence make STA proud to celebrate as a community.

Homecoming activities kick off Friday, October 7 with a school-wide Pep Rally.

On Saturday, October 8th at 4pm the school will offer school tours to alumni and friends, as well as host a tailgating party with tasty concessions available from The Holy Grill, the school concession wagon, managed by parent volunteers.

On Saturday night at 7pm, the St. Thomas football team takes on rival Stevens High School in a very special sixth game of the season. For the first time in school history, St. Thomas will play a home night game under the lights. In a special ceremony prior to kick off, STA will present the Distinguished Alumni Award. All are welcome!

One of the key aspects of the St. Thomas Aquinas High School mission is to instill in students a heart for service. STA students are encouraged to be active members of their local communities and to make a difference by sharing their talents. On Tuesday, October 11th, Homecoming Weekend will conclude with the highly anticipated all-school service day called Saints Taking Action. Over 650 students, nearly 100 faculty and dozens of parent volunteers will head out into the community to help with a variety of service projects. Serving nearly 60 organizations such as area food pantries, shelters, city parks, community athletic fields and churches, the students will help with painting projects, landscaping, and general cleaning and maintenance.

Located in Dover, NH, St. Thomas Aquinas High School is a coeducational, Catholic high school community where young people are called to be challenged academically, to stretch their hearts spiritually and to embark on a journey to make a difference. For more information, visit STA at www.stalux.org or call (603) 742-3206.

ST. THOMAS STUDENT VOLUNTEERS SOAR TO NEW HEIGHTS AT AIR SHOW

Members of the St. Thomas FIRST Robotics Team helped at the recent air show

Dover, NH - On Saturday, August 13 and Sunday, August 14, twenty-five volunteers from St. Thomas Aquinas High School manned a booth at the Boston-Pease Air Show. Through the efforts of parent Jeff Hiatt, St. Thomas was given an opportunity to raise funds for its programs by assisting at the show.

With over a dozen STA students, faculty and parents assisting each day, the crew sold hats, t-shirts and other novelties to the over 50,000 attendees at the event.

In addition to the benefits to St. Thomas, a group headed by Mr. Hiatt (including St. Thomas students juniors Alison Hiatt, Sarah Wunderlich and Matt Geary, and freshman Melissa Hiatt) earned 3rd place in the event’s “Jet Pull.” His team competed with others by pulling a Jet Blue passenger jet by hand (yes, by hand) against a time clock. Who knew what a St. Thomas education could do?

The biggest surprise of the weekend turned out to be a demonstration of one of Navy’s F-18 Hornets – piloted by alumnus Captain Bob Foley, class of 1998. When he heard that his alma mater was in the area, Capt. Foley made a point of stopping by the booth (and chatting with his former AP English teacher, Mrs. Collins).

Sunday, the booth was manned by Math chairperson and teacher Mr. Strniste and his Robotics team, and though the sky was a bit overcast, the show was just as thrilling, and the volunteers just a committed. (In fact international student Richard Li ’13, came back from Shanghai, China just to help out!)

Thanks to: Mr. and Mrs. Collins, Mrs. Brenda Knapp, Mr. and Mrs. Maskwa, Becca Maskwa, Mrs. NellAnn Hiatt, Alison Hiatt, Melissa Hiatt, Dr. Sue Pike, Matt Geary, Richard Li, Matt Dailey, Sarah Wunderlich, Mr. Jason Strniste, KayeLynn Bernier, Eric Gilmore, Jeremy Hochschwender, John Hume, Connor Jednak, Sean Kates, Scott Lamoureux, Christ Strout, and Dominic Mutter

Located in Dover, NH, St. Thomas Aquinas High School is a coeducational, Catholic high school community where young people are called to be challenged academically, to stretch their hearts spiritually and to embark on a journey to make a difference. For more information, visit STA at www.stalux.org or call (603) 742-3206.

RANDY LARSON ANNOUNCED AS NEW ADVANCEMENT DIRECTOR AT ST. THOMAS AQUINAS HIGH SCHOOL

Dover, NH - St. Thomas is excited to announce the arrival of Randy Larson as Director of its Advancement team. Randy’s primary role at the school will be the focus on annual giving, including the school’s Aquinas Fund, Major Gift development, Planned Giving initiatives and event fund raising through the annual golf open and auction.

Randy holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology and Non-Profit Agency Management from Missouri Valley College in Marshall, Missouri, and has an extensive background with the Boy Scouts of America, holding a number of positions with the organization since 1973, including Development Director, Director of Marketing and Scout Executive. He has served on Board of Trustees at Missouri Valley College, including service as Chairman from 1998-2000. He was the fundraising division captain for the United Way, YMCA, Stephens College, Columbia College and Missouri Valley College.

Kevin Collins, Principal, says of his arrival, “We couldn’t have asked for a more qualified and personable Advancement Director. With his years of dedication to the Boy Scouts, Randy Larson clearly brings the kind of expertise, knowledge and commitment to a mission that will help St. Thomas Aquinas move into the future.”

Randy is also excited about his role at St. Thomas. “St. Thomas Aquinas High School is a special place with a great history. It’s exciting to work for a school with such an outstanding faculty and student body, and high standards for excellence. I’m looking forward to getting acquainted with everyone in the St. Thomas Aquinas family.”

Randy resides in Merrimac, Massachusetts with his wife Janet.

Located in Dover, NH, St. Thomas Aquinas High School is a coeducational, Catholic high school community where young people are called to be challenged academically, to stretch their hearts spiritually and to embark on a journey to make a difference. For more information, visit STA at www.stalux.org or call (603) 742-3206.

STA 26th Annual Golf Open

This year marks the 26th year of the St. Thomas Aquinas High School Golf Open on Friday, September 23rd, 2011 at the Portsmouth Country Club in Greenland, NH.

Proceeds from this year’s event will support the STA athletics program to assist in obtaining the needed equipment, coaching tools, and facility updates required to keep the school and its athletes safe and competitive.

Registration includes 18-holes of golf with cart (8:30am shotgun start), hole contests, continental breakfast (7:30am), lunch, snacks, gift, and raffles. This year’s guest speaker will be St. Thomas varsity football coach and former UNH football player Eric Cumba.

The cost is $155 for Individual Golfers, $620 for a Foursome and $500 for the Alumni Foursome Special - a group of 4 STA alumni golfers – register by August 20th.

Call (603) 742-3206 to register or for more information, please visit www.stalux.org/golfopen. Sponsorship opportunities are still available. Contact Golf Committee Chair Paul Kennedy if you are interested pkennedy@madllc.net. Register early – this event will sell out!

Our community looks forward to this event each year and we are keenly aware of how your generosity provides needed financial assistance to our student programs, in this case, our athletics programs. Thank you for your dedication to St. Thomas as we celebrate our 51st year of making a difference in the life of our students.

Located in Dover, NH, St. Thomas Aquinas High School is a coeducational, Catholic high school community where young people are called to be challenged academically, to stretch their hearts spiritually and to embark on a journey to make a difference. For more information, visit STA at www.stalux.org or call (603) 742-3206.

St. Thomas Aquinas High Receives Unexpected $250,000 Gift

From left to right: Sullivan family attorney Anthony McManus, family friend Paul Boucher, STA Dean of Students Gordon Quimby, Vice-Chairperson of the STA School Board Dominique MacDonald, Dean of Studies Ron Holtz and Principal Kevin Collins

For several years, St. Thomas Aquinas High School’s largest benefactor lived next door at St. Ann’s Home…only the school never knew it. Last October, 99-year-old Alicia Sullivan passed away after an extended illness. A resident of Somersworth and later of Dover, and a daily communicant at St. Mary’s Parish, Ms Sullivan was the last surviPublish Postving member of a family that included two other unmarried sisters, Ruth and Melanie Sullivan.

Together, the sisters invested their financial resources wisely, and when the time came to consider who would benefit from their foresight, their thoughts turned to education. The oldest of the three, Ruth, was a woman who had earned a college degree at a time when such an occurrence was extremely rare. Combined with their devout Catholic faith and deep understanding of the needs of Dover residents, the sisters designated St. Mary Academy and St. Thomas Aquinas High School as the beneficiaries of their largesse.

On Tuesday, July 12, 2011, Sullivan family attorney Anthony McManus, and longtime family friend Paul Boucher presented a check to St. Thomas in the amount of $250,000 – by far the largest single donation ever bestowed on STA. According to Mr. Boucher, the sisters were a remarkable trio whom he and his late wife had come to know when the oldest Sullivan sister was stricken with ovarian cancer. Alicia, he said, “had a sharp wit and a ready quip” and along with her sister Melanie, had been a Supervisor with the telephone company with a reputation for toughness.

It is clear, however, that the sisters had a soft side as well. Their legacy to St. Thomas Aquinas designates that the bequest be invested, and the income used to provide scholarships for needy students from Dover or Somersworth who attend STA. For Principal Kevin Collins, this legacy helps fulfill one of his chief goals: making a St. Thomas Aquinas education accessible for as many deserving students as possible. “This gift couldn’t have come at a better time,” said Principal Collins, “the opportunity to experience an STA education should not be a faraway dream, but a reality.”

St. Thomas Aquinas has long been committed to this goal, and is particularly focused on maintaining affordability in the current economic downturn. A little-known fact about STA is its financial aid program which provides nearly a half-million dollars annually in grants and scholarships. In fact, nearly 1 in 5 students at the school receives some level of aid. “Many of our top students could not have attended St. Thomas without help,” Collins noted.

“However, perhaps even more important than the benefit they receive from us is the way in which these students – like all our students – enrich our lives.”

The Sullivan legacy check was accepted on behalf of the school community by Dominique MacDonald, Vice-Chairperson of the St. Thomas Aquinas School Board -- and someone who understands the impact of this gift more than most. She and her husband Tim are both members of the STA class of 1982, her children are recent grads, and she was recipient of the 2009 Distinguished Alumni Award. “The sisters have given us a tremendous gift,” she remarked upon accepting the gift, “In this economy, I’ve seen how an STA education has become more difficult to attain. This will help so many families.”

The gift of the Sullivan sisters – Ruth, Alicia and Melanie – will help secure the future of STA students for years to come. There is a play by Anton Chekov which includes this line: “…our sufferings will pass into joy for those who will live after us, happiness and peace will be established upon earth, and they will remember kindly and bless those who have lived before.”

The name of the play? The Three Sisters.

Located in Dover, NH, St. Thomas Aquinas High School is a coeducational, Catholic high school community where young people are called to be challenged academically, to stretch their hearts spiritually and to embark on a journey to make a difference. For more information, visit STA at www.stalux.org or call (603) 742-3206.

St. Thomas Aquinas High School Student Receives Full Scholarship to Spend Two Weeks in South Korea

CIEE: The Council on International Educational Exchange, a world-leader in international education and student exchange, has announced the acceptance of St. Thomas Aquinas High School student Phoebe Rafferty (class of 2013) of Durham, NH to a prestigious Scholarship to South Korea from August 9-22 2011. Phoebe is one of 100 high school students selected to participate in the third annual South Korea Scholarship Program for high school students, which is referred to in Korea as the Korea – US Youth Network. Students will be hosted by Yonsei University South Korea’s oldest and most acclaimed university located in Seoul, South Korea. Participants will attend academic lectures, tours, and cultural excursions throughout the program, with the intention of fostering understanding and diplomacy between the U.S. and South Korea.

In August, Phoebe will set off to represent the United States and St. Thomas Aquinas High School. The program begins in one of five U.S. gateway cities, where students will be met by CIEE representatives who will provide them with a pre-departure orientation to prepare them for their experience abroad.

As part of the application process, Phoebe wrote an essay describing how she will contribute to the process of building an amicable and cooperative relationship between Korea and the United States. In her essay she noted that, if she were to be chosen as a participant, she would share with young people her experiences and adventures in Korea. As a member of the STA International Club, Phoebe will have plenty of opportunity to share her experiences. She, along with fourteen members of the International Club, have been able to share personal experiences with fellow St. Thomas students, as well as have had the opportunity to share their own cultural experiences with other local schools.

“I love adventure,” said Phoebe. “I like to visit new places and experience new cultures.”

St. Thomas is thrilled that Phoebe was awarded this Scholarship from CIEE. CIEE and St. Thomas have worked together over the past year to develop a successful international student program at the school. If you are interested in learning more about the St. Thomas program or hosting an international student, please contact Admissions Director Patty Krupsky.

Located in Dover, NH, St. Thomas Aquinas High School is a coeducational, Catholic high school community where young people are called to be challenged academically, to stretch their hearts spiritually and to embark on a journey to make a difference. For more information, visit STA at www.stalux.org or call (603) 742-3206.

Sister Georganne Pearson, SSND to Retire: Another Chapter Comes to a Close at St. Thomas Aquinas High School

In 1961, John F. Kennedy was inaugurated as President, the Berlin Wall was built, the Peace Corps was established, and Sister Georganne Pearson came to St. Thomas Aquinas High. Sister watched numerous students pass through her classroom doorway, grow as young men and women, and then graduate to leave a mark on the world. It was an era of great change, from a moon landing to a shuttle disaster, from the birth of the Beatles to the death of Michael Jackson, from a school staffed by many School Sisters of Notre Dame to a time when she would be the sole remaining member of her order.

And so, an era has come to an end. After 50 years as a classroom teacher and librarian, beloved St. Thomas Aquinas High School faculty member Sister Georganne Pearson has announced that will retire at the end of the 2010-11 school year.

To the delight of many, Sister Georganne will stay in the Dover after her retirement – in a community she loves and a place where she has an abundance of friends. In spite of retirement, however, she says she is not finished at the school quite yet. While Sister is ready to close this chapter of her life, she plans on keeping her reserved parking space, indicating she is looking forward to volunteering at the school after her official retirement.

Sister Georganne grew up in Rhode Island. She became a Postulant with the School Sisters of Notre Dame in Baltimore, MD and during this time earned a college degree in Education from Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey.

Her first teaching job was at St. John the Evangelist School in Leonia, New Jersey where she taught elementary and middle school students for 13 years. Her journey changed in 1961, when she was sent to the newly opened St. Thomas Aquinas High School by the School Sisters of Notre Dame (SSND).

Much has changed since Sister Georganne joined the St. Thomas Aquinas community in 1961. Tuition was $100 a year; the school was staffed by seven SSNDs, two priests, and one coach, welcomed nearly 300 freshmen students and by the time the first graduating class received their diplomas, the school was filled to capacity with nearly 900 students.

Sister Georganne taught five classes a day and most of those classes had 40 students in them. She taught Biology, Chemistry, Theology, US History and whatever was asked of her…and if she wasn’t trained in a particular subject, she went to summer school to learn. She attended Fordham University in New York and Randolph-Macon Women’s College in Virginia to further her education and eventually received her Master’s from Union College in New York.

“We did whatever was needed,” said Sister Georganne. “We made it work. Every day was different – I enjoyed what I did.”

The nuns lived on the fourth floor of the main building (now occupied by Science, Music and Social Studies) until the Notre Dame Convent was built a year later. For a number of years, this building would house the religious faculty. Eventually, however, the school was bursting at the seams, and the convent would be needed for additional classroom space. With the help of several friends and alumni, Sister Georganne and colleague Sister Catherine Goodell relocated to an apartment in Dover, close to campus.

Impacting thousands of students in the classroom, Sister Georganne also made a difference outside the classroom by leading the Student Council and National Honor Society groups. She also ran the Community Service program, a program that is still alive and well today where every student is required to perform 40 hours of community service before they graduate.

Above all, Sister Georganne is most proud of the activities where she and her students had the opportunity to serve others; organizing one of the first blood drives at school, helping build homes with Habitat for Humanity, fundraising for the school, and creating Christmas baskets for needy families in the area.

In 2009, Sister Georganne and Sister Catherine, a fellow STA faculty member of thirty years who retired in 2009, were named the recipients of the school’s Lux in Tenebris Award. The Award, which means “light in darkness” was established in 2006 to honor members of the St. Thomas Aquinas High School community who have made significant and enduring contributions to humanity. Few have given back to the world all that the sisters have given by devoting their lives to the service of others.

In 2010, St. Thomas celebrated 50 years. Sister Georganne served as 50th Jubilee Committee Honorary Chair. As a member of the committee, she provided insight, shared stories, and helped to plan the festivities. To open the 2010-11 school year, the entire school community, along with some alums from the first graduating class of 1964 joined Sister Georganne on the front steps, re-enacting the first day of school in 1960, including a special ribbon-cutting, opening the school for its 50th Jubilee year.

Looking back, Sister Georganne is reflective and notes how many parents and alumni helped make the journey special. “It’s gone by so fast,” said Georganne. “It’s been wonderful though. The community of St. Thomas Aquinas High School is like no other. There is a cohesiveness that bonds us together like a family. Everyone cares about you.”

Being at St. Thomas Aquinas High School was more than a job, it was a calling, and her devotion to the students and to the mission has always been evident. One of the greatest joys is when alumni contact her. Alumni and friends interested in reaching out to Sister Georganne can send correspondence to the school (St. Thomas Aquinas High School, 197 Dover Point Road, Dover, NH 03820) and it will be forwarded to her.

In honor of her years of dedication, and because she began her career at St. Thomas Aquinas as a chemistry teacher, the school will name its to-be-renovated Chemistry Lab in honor of Sister Georganne. As the school continues to move into the 21st century, it also looks back to its beginnings, and the role that Sister played in contributing to the school’s academic success.

The community of St. Thomas Aquinas High School is grateful for the many years of service to our school and students. The School wishes Sister Georganne a happy retirement filled with relaxation and joy.

Located in Dover, NH, St. Thomas Aquinas High School is a coeducational, Catholic high school community where young people are called to be challenged academically, to stretch their hearts spiritually and to embark on a journey to make a difference. For more information, visit STA at www.stalux.org or call (603) 742-3206.

Survivor of Rwandan Tragedy named Recipient of St. Thomas Aquinas Lux in Tenebris Award

The St. Thomas Aquinas High School Lux in Tenebris (“Light in Darkness”) Award was established in 2006 to honor members of the St. Thomas Aquinas High School community who have made significant and enduring contributions to humanity. Humanitarian acts aimed at alleviating suffering and helping to build a just world lie at the heart of this award.

This year’s recipient is Beata Umugwangwali, parent of three St. Thomas Aquinas graduates, Roger ’99, Gloria ’02 and Doris ’08. A native of Rwanda, Beata and her children fled their homeland during the genocide of 1994. Her husband had been killed on his way to the hospital; he had been transporting his father who had suffered a heart attack. After a year in Burundi and Kenya, Beata and her children and her sister – with no more than the clothes on their backs – came to New Hampshire in March 1995. Their arrival was made possible by Catholic Charities and the parish of St. Thomas More in Durham.

Almost alone, Beata knew she simply had to start over. But starting over was not easy – she didn’t speak English and her nurse’s credentials were not recognized here; she kept her family together by cleaning rooms in hotels.

Understanding the importance of education, Beata went back to school, learned English, earned her LPN license and made a life for herself and her family in the United States.

However, Beata’s story is not merely one of survival, nor even of overcoming the odds…her accomplishments are far more than that. In 2005, she returned to Butare, Rwanda to show her children where she grew up. She was devastated to see the condition of the school she attended as a child, and at that moment, she committed herself to restoring the school to its previous glory.

Through Habitat for Humanity, Beata and friends raised nearly $100,000 in two years. They repaired abandoned and destroyed school buildings, creating new classrooms, fixing bathrooms and equipping some schools with a computer lab to teach English using the Rosetta Stone computer program.

Even after the graduation of her children, Beata has continued to share her experiences with the students of St. Thomas Aquinas. A few years ago, STA Social Studies teacher Jennifer Duprat asked Beata to give a presentation to one of her classes.

“She is such a compassionate person,” said Jennifer. “She never focused on placing blame for the genocide, but instead her focus was on moving forward and helping people rebuild. She first worked incredibility hard to give her family a new life here in the United States. She faced incredible adversity, but new gave up. Then she set about helping to rebuild in her home country, Rwanda.”

These days, Beata is a nurse in the Endoscopy Department at Wentworth Douglass Hospital, and in 2009, she was honored with WDH’s President’s Award for her contributions to the hospital and to others. Her three children all graduated from St. Thomas Aquinas High School and have since gone on to college. Beata made great sacrifices to send her children to St. Thomas Aquinas; she wanted her children to grow in their Catholic faith, and the continuity of a Catholic education was important to the lives of her children -- children who themselves had suffered the great tragedy of the Rwandan genocide.

Beata’s children have inherited more than their mother’s courage. They, too, have also committed themselves to aiding the schoolchildren of their mother’s home. Over the years, they have raised money for school renovations, uniforms and school supplies in Rwanda.

Principal Kevin Collins spoke of Beata’s passion for serving others.

“There have been few tragedies as overwhelming as the Rwandan conflict, certainly in my lifetime – indeed in the history of humankind. For someone to have survived the horrors of that event is evidence of courage; to have returned to help rebuild is evidence of compassion. The world has too little of either…and to possess both is proof positive of God’s goodness in the world,” said Collins.

The Lux in Tenebris Award will be presented at the St. Thomas Aquinas High School graduation ceremony on June 5th at noon.

Previous St. Thomas Aquinas Lux in Tenebris Award recipients include: Erin Mone-Marquez (class of 1989), Skip DeVito (parent of three STA graduates), Sister Catharine Goodell (past faculty member), Sister Georganne Pearson (current faculty member) and Gregg Hayward (class of 2000).

Located in Dover, NH, St. Thomas Aquinas High School is a coeducational, Catholic high school community where young people are called to be challenged academically, to stretch their hearts spiritually and to embark on a journey to make a difference. For more information, visit STA at www.stalux.org or call (603) 742-3206.

Seat Belt Challenge T-Shirt Design Contest Winners

PDF of winning design by senior Meaghan Morrison of York, ME

Left to right, Chris Meyer, Outreach officer, Dover PD; STA Art Teacher Paula Maskwa, Abbey Raiche, Meghan Williams, Meaghan Morrison, Howard Hedegard, NH Traffic Safety rep. from the Injury Prevention Center at Dartmouth.

Students from St. Thomas Aquinas High School submitted all three of the winning entries for the 2011 Seat Belt Challenge t-shirt design contest. Howard Hedegard from the Injury Prevention Center at Dartmouth presented senior Meaghan Morrison of York, ME with this year's first place prize, junior Meghan Williams of Greenland, NH with the second place prize, and freshman Abbey Raiche of Dover, NH with the third place prize. The students received cash prizes for their winning entries which were chosen from over 150 entries received from high schools throughout the state.

Paula Maskwa, art teacher from St. Thomas Aquinas and Officer Chris Meyer of the Dover Police Department also participated in the awards ceremony.

The contest is this year’s graphic design effort of the Buckle Up New Hampshire Coalition. The Coalition is a group of highway safety advocates who are committed to improving seat belt usage rates statewide through educational efforts.

Meaghan Morrison, as first place winner, had her design printed on t-shirts given to students from over 40 high schools who participated in this year’s seat belt challenge. The challenge is an annual effort to remind high school students that it only takes a brief moment to buckle up and that seat belts save lives and reduce the risk of injury.

The three winning entries were displayed at the NH traffic safety conference and will be used throughout the coming year at various highway safety events designed to educate people on the importance of wearing their seat belts.

The Buckle Up New Hampshire Coalition and the Seat Belt Challenge are programs funded and promoted by the New Hampshire Highway Safety Agency.

Located in Dover, NH, St. Thomas Aquinas High School is a coeducational, Catholic high school community where young people are called to be challenged academically, to stretch their hearts spiritually and to embark on a journey to make a difference. For more information, visit STA at www.stalux.org or call (603) 742-3206

ST. THOMAS SPANISH STUDENTS SCORE WELL

Congratulations to several world language students from St. Thomas Aquinas High School who attained national recognition for excellent performance on the 2011 National Spanish Examinations.

Students from St. Thomas earned a total of one gold, two silver and four bronze medals along with 18 honorable mentions. "Attaining a medal or honorable mention for any student on the National Spanish Examinations is very prestigious," said Kevin Cessna-Buscemi, National Director of the Exams, "because the exams are the largest of their kind in the United States with 140,373 students participating in 2011.”

STA students have a long history of high achievement on these exams. Richard Rainville, Erin Murphy, Kristin Carmichael, Miriam Hanlon and Jacqueline Zick are the teachers of students honored in the 2011 NSE.

Nationally, junior Chelsea Flanagan of York, ME garnered a “gold” recognition (95th percentile or higher); freshman Jake Jermyn of Dover, NH and junior Eric Gilmore of Exeter, NH scored in the “silver” category (in the 85th to 94th percentile); those attaining “bronze” level scores (75th to 84th percentile) were sophomore Jay Carmody (Exeter, NH), sophomore Alison Hiatt (Newington, NH), junior Gabrielle Ouellette (Epping, NH), and junior James Klingensmith (Nottingham). Receiving honorable mention were Michelle Dunbar, Blaire Fenniman, Jordyn Palmer, Julia Robison, Sarah Gianino, Anna Whitham, Bridget Kelly, Hayley Lewis, Amanda Girard, Alex Pollock, Jack Quinn, Matt Radford, Hae Min Park, Katherine Foster, Katherine Duncan, Emily Antaya, Justin Corriss, and Kelsey Gallagher.

Three students also won recognition in state of New Hampshire – all at the Advanced Level: Chelsea Flanagan attained first place, while Senior Sarah Gianino of Eliot, ME and senior Anna Whitham of Stratham, NH secured fifth and sixth places respectively.

The National Spanish Examinations are administered each year in grades 6 through 12, and are sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese.

Located in Dover, NH, St. Thomas Aquinas High School is a coeducational, Catholic high school community where young people are called to be challenged academically, to stretch their hearts spiritually and to embark on a journey to make a difference. For more information, visit STA at www.stalux.org or call (603) 742-3206.