Aquinas High School (La Crosse, Wisconsin)
Encyclopedia
Aquinas High School is a Roman Catholic high school located in La Crosse, Wisconsin
.
by Bishop Alexander Joseph McGavick
of the Diocese of La Crosse
. The first graduating class of 1929 consisted of four girls. The high school was originally staffed by diocesan clergy and the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration
.
Diocesan Bishop John Joseph Paul
, an Aquinas alumnus of the class of 1935, set aside some rooms at Aquinas High School for the Aquinas Middle School
in 1992. In 1997, the Bishop Burke Hall addition to Aquinas High School was dedicated in honor of Bishop Raymond Leo Burke
, now the Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura
in the Vatican City
and a former religion teacher at Aquinas High School. In 2008, Aquinas High School was named a national Blue Ribbon School.
Aquinas High School is part of the La Crosse Aquinas Catholic Schools.
The cross, which holds the central and most prominent position on the crest, identifies Aquinas High School as Catholic and reflects the importance of the faith and redemption of which it is a symbol.
ΧΡ, the first two letters (chi and rho) of the Greek word for Christ, signify that the life of a Christian should not be egocentric or world-centric but Christocentric, centered around Christ.
The fleur-de-lis, the symbol of sanctity and virtue, symbolizes God, man’s final end, and the Blessed Virgin, model of virtue. The lamp of learning and the books are symbols of knowledge and learning. The laurel over the books symbolizes reward and the lilies of the valley on the other side of the aureole symbolize humility.
La Crosse, Wisconsin
La Crosse is a city in and the county seat of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States. The city lies alongside the Mississippi River.The 2011 Census Bureau estimates the city had a population of 52,485...
.
History
The high school was dedicated on September 2, 1928 in honor of Thomas AquinasThomas Aquinas
Thomas Aquinas, O.P. , also Thomas of Aquin or Aquino, was an Italian Dominican priest of the Catholic Church, and an immensely influential philosopher and theologian in the tradition of scholasticism, known as Doctor Angelicus, Doctor Communis, or Doctor Universalis...
by Bishop Alexander Joseph McGavick
Alexander Joseph McGavick
Alexander Joseph McGavick was an American clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of La Crosse from 1921 until his death in 1948.-Biography:...
of the Diocese of La Crosse
Roman Catholic Diocese of La Crosse
The Roman Catholic Diocese of La Crosse covers an area of west-central Wisconsin, including the city of La Crosse and 19 counties: Adams, Buffalo, Chippewa, Clark, Crawford, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson, Juneau, La Crosse, Marathon, Monroe, Pepin, Pierce, Portage, Richland, Trempealeau, Vernon, and...
. The first graduating class of 1929 consisted of four girls. The high school was originally staffed by diocesan clergy and the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration
Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration
The Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration is a Roman Catholic religious congregation for women whose motherhouse, St. Rose of Viterbo Convent, is in La Crosse, Wisconsin in the Diocese of La Crosse. The Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration founded Viterbo University and staffed Aquinas...
.
Diocesan Bishop John Joseph Paul
John Joseph Paul
John Joseph Paul was a Roman Catholic bishop.Bishop Paul was born in La Crosse, Wisconsin. He graduated from Aquinas High School in 1935. In 1939, he graduated from Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa. John Joseph Paul was ordained to the Roman Catholic Priesthood on January 24, 1943, by Auxiliary...
, an Aquinas alumnus of the class of 1935, set aside some rooms at Aquinas High School for the Aquinas Middle School
Aquinas Middle School (La Crosse, Wisconsin)
Aquinas Middle School is a Roman Catholic middle school in La Crosse, Wisconsin in the Diocese of La Crosse. Aquinas Middle School is part of the La Crosse Aquinas Catholic Schools.- History :...
in 1992. In 1997, the Bishop Burke Hall addition to Aquinas High School was dedicated in honor of Bishop Raymond Leo Burke
Raymond Leo Burke
Raymond Leo Burke is an American Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church. He is the current Cardinal Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, having previously served as Archbishop of St...
, now the Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura
Apostolic Signatura
The Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura is the highest judicial authority in the Catholic Church...
in the Vatican City
Vatican City
Vatican City , or Vatican City State, in Italian officially Stato della Città del Vaticano , which translates literally as State of the City of the Vatican, is a landlocked sovereign city-state whose territory consists of a walled enclave within the city of Rome, Italy. It has an area of...
and a former religion teacher at Aquinas High School. In 2008, Aquinas High School was named a national Blue Ribbon School.
Aquinas High School is part of the La Crosse Aquinas Catholic Schools.
School crest
The Aquinas High School crest, designed in 1942, symbolizes the depth of intent of Catholic education. It first appeared in the yearbook, the Trumpet, and on the 1943 class rings.The cross, which holds the central and most prominent position on the crest, identifies Aquinas High School as Catholic and reflects the importance of the faith and redemption of which it is a symbol.
ΧΡ, the first two letters (chi and rho) of the Greek word for Christ, signify that the life of a Christian should not be egocentric or world-centric but Christocentric, centered around Christ.
The fleur-de-lis, the symbol of sanctity and virtue, symbolizes God, man’s final end, and the Blessed Virgin, model of virtue. The lamp of learning and the books are symbols of knowledge and learning. The laurel over the books symbolizes reward and the lilies of the valley on the other side of the aureole symbolize humility.
Sports
The school took the Division III state championship in boys' basketball in 2008 and again in 2011and the Division II state title in boys' basketball in 2003. In 2007 it won the Division III state championship in boys' spring baseball, Division III state championship in cross country, and the Division 5 state championship in football. The girls' soccer team was Division III state runner-up in 2005 and state semi-finalists in 2010. The girls' tennis team was runner up in 2000 and the boys' was runner up in 2002. In 2000, the boys' alpine ski team won the state championship.Affiliation
- Aquinas Catholic Schools (formerly Coulee Catholic Schools)
- National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA)
- Greater La Crosse Area Chamber of Commerce
- Mississippi Valley Conference (MVC)
- Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA)
- North Central Accrediting Association
Principals
- Father Hilary Leuther, 1928–1936
- Father Joseph Kundinger, 1936–1940, 1946–1951
- Father John Prizl, 1940–1946
- Father Alfred Hebert, 1951–1952
- Father Robert Hansen, 1952–1960
- Father Richard Rossiter, 1960–1964
- Father James O'Connell, 1964–1972
- Father Robert Altmann, 1972–1990
- James Vail, 1990–1997
- Jeffrey Brengman, 1997–2001
- Father John McHugh, 2001–2002
- Joan Leonard, 2002–2004
- Philip Hahn, 2004–2006
- Patrick Burkhart, 2006–2007
- Ted Knutson, 2007–present
Notable faculty
- Ann Walsh BradleyAnn Walsh BradleyAnn Walsh Bradley is a justice on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. She was elected to the Supreme Court in 1995.Justice Bradley was born in Richland Center, Wisconsin. She earned her bachelor's degree from Webster University in St. Louis...
, Wisconsin Supreme CourtWisconsin Supreme CourtThe Wisconsin Supreme Court is the highest appellate court in the state of Wisconsin. The Supreme Court has jurisdiction over original actions, appeals from lower courts, and regulation or administration of the practice of law in Wisconsin.-Location:...
justice, former religion teacher at Aquinas High School - Raymond Leo BurkeRaymond Leo BurkeRaymond Leo Burke is an American Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church. He is the current Cardinal Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, having previously served as Archbishop of St...
, teacher of religion at Aquinas High School prior to becoming bishop, archbishop, and cardinal. - George Albert HammesGeorge Albert HammesGeorge Albert Hammes was the eighth Roman Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Superior, Wisconsin from 1960 to 1985. Bishop Hammes was born in St. Joseph, Wisconsin in the town of Greenfield, in La Crosse County, Wisconsin. He was ordained to the Roman Catholic priesthood on May 22, 1937 for the...
, teacher at Aquinas High School prior to becoming bishop
Notable alumni
- Sylvester G. ClementsSylvester G. ClementsSylvester G. Clements is an American Republican politician, dairy farmer, and businessman.Born in La Crosse, Wisconsin, Clements graduated from Aquinas High School in 1954 and served in the Wisconsin National Guard. Clements was a dairy farmer, truck driver, and businessman...
, 1954, former member of the Wisconsin State Assembly - Charles DierkopCharles DierkopCharles Dierkop is an American film and television character actor.Dierkop was born in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and attended Aquinas High School in La Crosse...
, actor, attended Aquinas High School - Steve DoyleSteve Doyle (Wisconsin politician)Steve Doyle is a lawyer and Democratic member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, first elected to represent the 94th district in 2011. He represents suburban La Crosse County including Onalaska, Holmen, West Salem and Shelby....
, member of the Wisconsin State Assembly - Robert E. KreutzRobert E. KreutzRobert Edward Kreutz was an American composer of Roman Catholic liturgical worship music. He graduated from Aquinas High School in 1940. Robert Kreutz studied music at the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago, Illinois and at the University of California-Los Angeles...
, composer, 1940 - John MedingerJohn MedingerJohn Donald Medinger is a La Crosse, Wisconsin area politician and lecturer at the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse. He served as the 39th mayor of La Crosse from 1997-2005.-Political life:...
, former mayor of La Crosse, Wisconsin, former member of Wisconsin State Assembly, 1966 - John Joseph PaulJohn Joseph PaulJohn Joseph Paul was a Roman Catholic bishop.Bishop Paul was born in La Crosse, Wisconsin. He graduated from Aquinas High School in 1935. In 1939, he graduated from Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa. John Joseph Paul was ordained to the Roman Catholic Priesthood on January 24, 1943, by Auxiliary...
, 1935 graduate of Aquinas High School who served as Bishop of the Diocese of La Crosse, 1985–1994 - John OestreicherJohn Oestreicher (Wisconsin politician)John Oestreicher was an American Democratic politician and lawyer from Wisconsin.Born in La Crosse, Wisconsin, he graduated from Aquinas High School and studied political science at University of Wisconsin–La Crosse. Oestreicher served in the United States Marine Corps and got his law degree...
, 1954, former member of the Wisconsin State Assembly - Andrew P. WittAndrew P. WittAndrew Paul Witt is a former Senior Airman in the United States Air Force who was convicted and sentenced to death for the murders of a fellow Airman and his wife while he was an avionics technician in the 116th Air Control Wing at Robins Air Force Base.-Early life :Witt grew up in West Salem,...
, graduated in 2000, a convicted murderer
External links
- Aquinas High School La Crosse
- Diocese of La Crosse
- Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration La Crosse
- Dan Simmons. "The Archivist: Aquinas alum collects 80 years of school's history in one office," La Crosse Tribune, September 21, 2006.