Throughout this year’s six-week season of Round Up raffle sales, the students of St. Thomas High School broke the fundraising record and reached new heights with a historic $1,002,640 total raised. The funds will go directly toward tuition assistance and financial aid, enabling the school to remove the barriers to a Basilian education for current and future young men at St. Thomas.

“Round Up is more than just a fundraiser,” Alumni Director and Round Up sponsor Steve Cummings (’07) said. “It’s brotherhood; it’s a communal effort; and it’s hope. Round Up provides hope for prospective students and their families, and it allows them to see their future at St. Thomas High School.”

St. Thomas students, faculty, and staff enjoyed the culminating Round Up Reveal on February 28, where Tom Eagle and Toro of the Houston Texans entertained the school with their mascot antics and the whole school reveled in the success of Round Up. At the moment the million dollar total displayed on the Granger Stadium screen, the entire student body cheered and celebrated, knowing that their hard work had paid off.

“The student board members always do an incredible job each year in leading the student body, and we could not be prouder of their time and commitment that they give to Round Up outside of their classes and extracurricular activities,” Cummings said. “A huge credit goes to members on our Round Up team – Vice President for Advancement, Mark deTranaltes (’83) and Annual Fund Coordinator, Kenny Martin (’01). Their sense of creativity backed by hard efforts help make Round Up achieve its goal every year.”

Reaching the million-dollar milestone would not have been possible without the tremendous efforts of this year’s top 10 sellers:

  1. Jonathon King (’25), of House Roche, with $110,570
  2. Anthony Hill (’25), of House Schwenzer, with $32,175
  3. Max Moore (’26), of House Allnoch, with $26,280
  4. Andres Levaro (’26), of House Magee, with $25,240
  5. Manrique Campos (’26), of House Magee, with $23,090
  6. Charles Madden (’27), of House Allnoch, with $21,380
  7. Michael Richards (’25), of House O’Rourke, with $15,660
  8. Thomas Rzasnicki (’25), of House Magee, with $11,880
  9. Travis Ruch (’27), of House O’Rourke, with $11,260
  10. Jacob Quinlan (’26), of House Cooper, with $11,260

“Throughout my four years at St. Thomas, Round Up has been the cornerstone of my success,” top seller King shared. “I thought about the true meaning of Round Up and saw it as a great business and networking opportunity, but most notably, a chance to give back to the school community and serve others. Jesus taught us to uplift and provide for our brothers and sisters. I felt the need to raise as much as possible, seizing every day and opportunity.”

The following Sunday, March 2nd, the school hosted the annual Round Up Sunday celebration. The day served as a moment for the community to rally behind the school’s mission, celebrating Round Up’s success and continued legacy with carnival games, shopping local businesses at the Big Red Market, and enjoying live music performances. These performances included a preview of the Spring Musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (March 28-30), a showcase from the St. Thomas Jazz Ensemble, and a headline act from faculty band No Late Work, who wrapped up the evening with their take on some classic rock and jazz anthems.

 

With the support of generous donors, alumni, and local businesses, the event welcomed many friendly faces to campus, demonstrating the strength of the St. Thomas community. This year’s Round Up was a testament to the commitment of everyone involved – from the students who broke records, the volunteers who helped set up, to the generous guests and alumni who contributed to the auction, to the staff who worked tirelessly to make the event a success. Together, they are making a difference in the lives of current and future students, ensuring that St. Thomas remains accessible to all who wish to be part of its tradition of excellence.