School News

Record amount of financial aid to be distributed in 2012-2013

Tuesday, 03 July 2012

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Accompanying a record number of Freshmen in the Class of 2016, a record amount of Financial Aid will be distributed in the 2012-2013 school year.Raymond Bourgeois '70 and Anton Poral, Basilian Fathers and Aquinas ScholarRaymond Bourgeois '70 and Anton Poral, Basilian Fathers and Aquinas Scholar  Over $1.65 million has already been allotted for both merit and need-based assistance.

“The Basilian Fathers are committed to ensuring that financial reasons will not deny a prospective student access to a St. Thomas education,” Rev. Patrick Fulton, Principal, said. “Throughout the long and storied history of St. Thomas High School, a large and diverse group of students have been educated here and we plan to keep it that way.”

Of the 757 students enrolled for the 2012-2013 school year, 269 are receiving some type of Financial Aid.  That is roughly 35% of the student population.  Better than 14% of the overall Financial Aid that will be distributed is strictly merit-based ($232,000).

When recently retired President, Rev. Ronald Schwenzer, C.S.B., arrived at St. Thomas for the 1998-1999 school year, the total amount of aid distributed was just over $400,000.  He considers the steady increase a major achievement for the school.

“We had an ambitious goal when I arrived at St. Thomas and I am proud of the progress that was made,” Schwenzer said.  “The amount of students who are now able to participate in the St. Thomas experience who otherwise would not have is terrific.”

Proceeds from the sale of raffle tickets for Round-Up go directly towards tuition assistance.  The record for raffle tickets sold has now been broken for 8 consecutive years.  Rev. Kevin Storey, C.S.B, the incoming President of St. Thomas, served as Round-Up Coordinator between 2004 and 2010.

“The students have really embraced the fact that their ticket sales for Round-Up enable a number of their classmates to be at St. Thomas,” Storey said.  “That show of support and camaraderie is what truly makes this school community such a special place.”

In recent years, increased aid has gone to students from inner city schools who have shown aptitude both in junior high and on the HSPT entrance exam.  This aid has come in the form of Basilian Fathers Scholarships, of which there was over $131,000 worth awarded.  Raymond Bourgeois ’70 was among the presenters of these scholarships at various inner city schools around the Archdiocese.

“It was an honor to present deserving students with a scholarship that made it possible for them to attend St. Thomas,” Bourgeois said. “I have never been prouder as an alumnus of this school.”