(Hammond, LA) – (March 21, 2016) – Saint Thomas Aquinas Regional Catholic High School’s yearbook, Veritas, has been recognized for excellence and featured in the 2016 Jostens Look Book, celebrating the best-of-the-best in yearbook design and coverage. The Jostens Look Book is a collection of spreads and photos from outstanding yearbooks and their creative themes, cool covers, dazzling designs, relevant coverage, storytelling copy and action-packed photography. Along with design excellence, the annually published Look Book honors the important role well-crafted yearbooks play in helping schools chronicle the experiences, stories and achievements most relevant to students and that academic year.

STA Principal José Becerra recognizes junior Julia Rossano for her composite score of 30 on the ACT College Placement Test.  The Veritas ACT 30+ Award at STA is given to all students who receive a composite score of 30 or above on the ACT.  Julia is the daughter of Dr. Matt and Rhonda Rossano of Independence.

In late January, STA graduate Collin Rougeau Thomas '05 and her family lost their home in a fire. As part of Catholic School's Week, the STA student body held a Spirit Dress day in order to raise funds to assist the Thomas Family.  This week, with the massive and historic flooding in our area, the Thomas Family is paying those funds forward. 

STA Principal José Becerra recognizes senior Jimmy “Kitch” Taylor for his composite score of 30 on the ACT College Placement Test.  The Veritas ACT 30+ Award at STA is given to all students who receive a composite score of 30 or above on the ACT.  Kitch is the son of Jimmy Taylor and Rosamaend Oglesbee.

Several STA students excelled at the District Literary Rally held last weekend at Southeastern Louisiana University and will advance to the State Literary Rally in April. They are Alexis Theriot, 2nd, Biology II; Madison Perez, 2nd, Fine Arts Survey; Gretta Rukaber, 2nd, Spanish I; Logan Thompson, 3rd, Physics; Jaylen Jackson, 3rd, Health; and Julia Rossano, 3rd, English III. Benjamin Drummond won the Spelling competition, with Nick Falcon placing 3rd and Rachael White placed 3rd in Art. Those categories do not compete on the State Level. Drummond and White also both received a Southeastern Scholarship.

Congratulations to junior Daniel Fox, recipient of a $500 scholarship from the Ancient Order of Hibernians, West Florida Parishes Division. Students in grades 9-12 who are practicing Catholics were eligible to compete for the scholarship. Winners were chosen by the AOH. Daniel completed the application process, as well as a 500-word essay on "What the Corporal Works of Mercy Mean to Me." Pictured are Mr. Bill Moran, Ancient Order of Hibernians with Daniel and his sister, Elizabeth Fox. 

STA's Starlettes recently returned from Orlando, FL where they competed in the Universal Dance Association’s National Dance Team Championship.  The Starlettes competed against nearly 100 small varsity teams from across the country who qualified to compete at the NDTC.  They advanced to finals in their Jazz division and also advanced to Small Varsity Hip Hop semi-finals, finishing the weekend with an eighth-place national trophy in the Small Varsity Jazz category and an eleventh place finish in Small Varsity Hip Hop.