St. Thomas celebrated the achievements of its Class of 2024 during the 124th Commencement Weekend with the faculty, family and friends who supported and inspired their extraordinary accomplishments.

One hundred and forty eight graduates who were awarded $16 million in merit-based scholarships to colleges and universities assembled in a stream of Red in the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart.  The Class of 2024, embodying the value of a formative college preparatory education rooted in the Basilian ideal of teach me goodness, discipline, and knowledge, is poised to pursue human aims and define true worth in the eyes of God.

Eagle students, their families and supporters along with St. Thomas faculty and staff saluted achievements from soon to be innovators, motivators, and leaders.  The families celebrated the challenge these men faced as they started their time at St. Thomas during the confines of the pandemic.  They faced their freshman experience with patience and tenacity and finished their time at St. Thomas fully bonded as brothers.  In between the moments of joy and reverence were invitations to take stock with satisfaction for the passion and perseverance in creating the journeys just completed, and to charge confidently for the ones about to be embarked in a shifting world

We are deeply grateful to our speaker Father Tom Rafferty (’75) who shared invaluable insights and testimony with our graduating seniors as they continue on the path to being lifelong learners, embracing the unpredictable world that lies before them while always serving as an example of goodness, discipline, and knowledge.  He urged them to look to the St. Thomas Alma Mater to remember that the world must know they are the Men of St. Thomas High.

We are deeply proud of all in the Class of 2024, for all they have accomplished, all they have become and wish them all the best in whom they will be as they begin this next stage of their journey.

Salutatorian David Neason (’24) will next attend Texas A&M University to study Biomedical Engineering.

Valedictorian and National Merit Finalist Campbell Brown ‘24 will continue his education at the University of Texas at Austin to study Electrical Engineering.

The Class of 2024 left a lasting legacy of academic acclaim, including Brown, Will Wittman ‘24 each earning Semi-Finalist distinction in the National Merit Scholarship Program’s 69th competition.

Collectively the Class of 2024 provided the leadership to fuel yet another phenomenal Round Up, which generated a record-smashing total in raffle ticket sales to benefit St. Thomas tuition assistance, generating more than $922,000.

Multiple Eagle graduates will next attend Vanderbilt University, Texas A&M University, Wake Forest, the University of Houston, the University of Texas-Austin, Auburn University, the University of Arkansas, Baylor University, Louisiana State University, Colorado State University, Trinity University and the University of Alabama.

Eagle scholars will also be attending Rice University, Clemson University, Texas Christian University, Occidental University, the University of Georgia, the University of Mississippi, Sewanee the University of the South, and Oklahoma State University, among many other prestigious institutions.  Of the 148 graduates from the Class of 2024, 63 will be attending colleges out of state.

In addition, three students are embracing opportunities to continue their education at one of the United States military academies.  Boyd Quinlan and Colin Wu will continue at the United States Military Academy West Point, while Pablo Ramirez will attend the United States Air Force Academy.

Congratulations to the Class of 2024 for all of their accomplishments. Every St. Thomas graduate may shape history by following his sense of adventure, discovering the wisdom of history, and understanding how it shapes his life.  The world must know that they are the Men of St. Thomas High.