Saint Thomas Aquinas Regional Catholic High School (STA) emerged from years of dedicated planning and hard work. The vision was to provide quality Catholic education in Tangipahoa Parish and southeastern Louisiana. What began as a concept for a small regional school evolved into a multi-purpose facility situated on a 30+ acre tract north of Hammond.
The school’s establishment was made possible through:
Support from numerous families
Backing of community leaders
Cooperation of church officials, including:
Bishop Stanley Ott of Baton Rouge
Father Mark Leuer, OP
Date: August 27, 1986
Event: First Orientation Day
Namesake: Saint Thomas Aquinas, patron saint of Catholic schools
Initial Staff:
Dominican Sisters of Springfield, Illinois
Lay men and women
First Freshman Class: 35 students (1986)
First Graduating Class: 29 students (1990)
Since its inception, STA has:
Built a remarkable reputation for excellence
Fostered a unique sense of pride among students
Grown to an enrollment of over 300 students
Main Building (designed by Holly and Smith)
Classrooms
Laboratories
Library
Administrative offices
Gymnasium Complex
Weight room
Locker rooms
Coaches’ offices
Outdoor Athletic Facilities
Baseball field
Football field
Soccer field
Field house
All-weather track
Chapel
Serene worship space
Venue for spiritual upliftment through music and prayer
Although the Dominican Sisters are no longer on staff, their traditions continue to thrive:
Prayer
Community
Study
Service
The Dominican influence is further nurtured through the presence of a Dominican co-chaplain from Holy Ghost Church.
Saint Thomas Aquinas Regional Catholic High School stands as a testament to the power of community, faith, and dedication to education. From its humble beginnings to its current status as a beacon of academic excellence, STA continues to shape the lives of students in southeastern Louisiana.
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