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Saint Thomas Academy

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}

{{more citations needed|date=January 2013}}

{{Infobox school

| name = Saint Thomas Academy

| image =

| caption =

| streetaddress = 949 Mendota Heights Road

| city = Mendota Heights, Minnesota

| zipcode = 55120

| country = United States

| coordinates = {{coord|44|52|5|N|93|8|14|W|region:US-MN|display=inline,title}}

| religion = Roman Catholic

| oversight = Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis

| founder = John Ireland

| headmaster = Brian Ragatz{{Cite web|url=https://www.cadets.com/who-we-are/headmaster-welcome|title = Headmaster Welcome |website=Saint Thomas Academy |access-date=November 23, 2022}}{{self-published source|date=November 2022}}

| chaplain =

| faculty = 108

| type = Private military high school

| gender = Boys

| established = {{Start date and age|September 8, 1885}}

| tuition = {{Ubl

| $24,200 (grades 9-12)

| $21,500 (grades 7-8)

| $18,500 (grade 6)

}}

| grades = 6–12

| campus size = {{convert|88|acre|m2}}

| sports = 15 sports

| fightsong = "Kaydet Rouser"

| motto = {{Lang|la|Ex Umbris In Veritatem}}

| motto_translation = Out of Darkness into Truth

| accreditation = {{Ubl

| North Central Association of Colleges and Schools,{{cite web |url=http://www.advanc-ed.org/schools_districts/school_district_listings/? |title=NCA-Council on Accreditation and School Improvement |access-date=2009-06-23 |author=NCA-CASI |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090429033455/http://www.advanc-ed.org/schools_districts/school_district_listings/ |archive-date=April 29, 2009 }}

| Independent Schools Association of the Central States{{Cite web |url=https://members.isacs.org/membership/directory |title=Membership Directory |publisher=Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS) |via=members.isacs.org |access-date=October 9, 2022}}

}}

| rival = {{Ubl

| Cretin-Derham Hall Raiders

| Two Rivers Warriors

}}

| mascot =

| conference = {{Ubl

| MSHSL Metro East{{Cite web |url=http://www.metroeastconference.org/g5-bin/client.cgi?G5genie=14 |title=Metro East Conference |website=metroeastconference.org |access-date=October 9, 2020 |language=en}}

| (formerly Classic Suburban)

}}

| patron = Saint Thomas Aquinas

| team_name = Cadets

| nickname =

| colors = Royal Blue and White {{color box|royalblue}}{{color box|white}}

| yearbook = Kaydet

| newspaper = Citation

| publication = Cadence

| sister_school = Convent of the Visitation

| enrollment = 624

| enrollment_as_of = 2016

| homepage = {{URL|cadets.com}}

}}

Saint Thomas Academy (abbr. STA), originally known as St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary and formerly known as St. Thomas Military Academy, is the only all-male, Catholic, college-preparatory, military high school in Minnesota. It is located in Mendota Heights near Saint Paul. The academy has a middle school (grades 6–8) and a high school (grades 9–12). The high school students are required to participate in military leadership classes, as the school was previously part of Army JROTC. Its sister school, Convent of the Visitation, is located across the street. Many classes and after-school activities involve both schools. It is located within the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis.

History

Saint Thomas Academy was first founded as Saint Thomas Seminary by Archbishop John Ireland on September 8, 1885.{{Cite web |url=https://www.cadets.com/about-sta/history/ |title=History |website=Saint Thomas Academy |access-date=November 23, 2022}}{{self-published source|date=November 2022}} STA became a U.S. Army school in 1905, and, in 1916, part of the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC). In 1922, the Seminary's Academic Department separated into College of St. Thomas and St. Thomas Military Academy. Later, in 1965, the school moved to its current campus in Mendota Heights (though in a smaller iteration). A middle school was added in 1971, composing of seventh and eighth grades. STA closed its boarding school program in 1974. In 2015, the school separated from the JROTC, though it retained its military curriculum and required courses. The inaugural sixth grade class joined the academy in 2017.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

Traditions

{{unreferenced section|date=November 2022}}

Each year, on the Wednesday preceding Thanksgiving, one senior is awarded the rank of Cadet Colonel, the brigade commander, and is presented with the Fleming Saber, in honor of Richard E. Fleming.

The Corps of Cadets, as the high school students are sometimes referred to, is inspected by representatives from the National Guard in the springtime. This day is called the Brigade Formal Inspection, or BFI. In addition to checking their formal uniforms, the representative asks a few questions, most of which concern the school, its history, or U.S. Army. A score out of 600 is given to the school. If the score is high enough, the students get to remove their ties for the remainder of the year. Usually, this announcement is accompanied by a celebratory throwing-of-ties during the formation time.

In the spring, the high school student body dons their formal uniforms (Class A1) for the Archbishop's Review, in which the students march around the school's track while being watched by the Archbishop of Minneapolis and St. Paul.

Sports and activities

Saint Thomas Academy was a member of the Classic Suburban Conference (now Metro East). They participate in all 14 Minnesota State High School League sports as well as orienteering. Saint Thomas Academy also has various co-curricular activities such as band, a chess team, a debate team, VISTA Theater Company, a math team, Quiz Bowl, Knowledge Bowl, Table Tennis Club, Experimental Vehicle Team (2005 Dell-Winston School Solar Car Challenge Champions, 2006 Solar Bike Race champions, and two-time Shell Eco-marathon champions), Mock Trial, and rifle and drill teams. 83% of students participate in at least one sport.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cadets.com/athletics |title=Athletics |website=Saint Thomas Academy |access-date=November 23, 2022}}{{self-published source|date=November 2022}}

class="wikitable"

! colspan=4|State Championships

SeasonSportNumber of ChampionshipsYear
rowspan=1|FallFootballalign="center"| 31969, 1971, 1975
rowspan=1|FallSocceralign="center"| 12016
rowspan=1|WinterAlpine skiing, Boysalign="center"|71993, 1997, 2001, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2011
rowspan=1|WinterHockey, Boysalign="center"|81926, 1951, 1955, 2006, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013
rowspan=1|WinterSwimming and Diving, Boysalign="center"| 261951, 1952, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1995, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2025
rowspan=1|WinterBasketball, Boysalign="center"| 111923, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1953, 1960, 1967, 1970, 1998, 2007
rowspan=1|WinterRifle team, Boysalign="center"| 52008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
rowspan=1|SpringBaseball, Boysalign="center"| 31952, 1960, 1969, 2019
rowspan=1|SpringGolf, Boysalign="center"| 51957, 1958, 1959, 1969, 2014
rowspan=1|SpringTennis, Boysalign="center"| 41922, 1961, 1963, 1972
rowspan=1|SpringTrack and field, Boysalign="center"| 21958, 1972

Notable alumni

{{alumni|date=November 2022}}

References

{{reflist}}

External links

{{Commons category}}

  • {{Official website|www.cadets.com}}

{{s-start}}

{{succession box | before = Horace Greeley High School | title = {{Ubl | National Academic Quiz Tournaments }} | years = 2004 Champion | after = Holland Hall (Tulsa, Oklahoma)}}

{{s-end}}

{{Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis}}

{{Metro East Conference Teams}}

{{Dakota County, Minnesota}}

{{Association of Military Colleges and Schools of the United States}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Boys' schools in the United States

Category:Schools in Dakota County, Minnesota

Category:Military high schools in the United States

Category:Private middle schools in Minnesota

Category:Catholic secondary schools in Minnesota

Category:Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis

Category:Educational institutions established in 1885

Category:1885 establishments in Minnesota