Academy of Holy Angels
Encyclopedia
The Academy of Holy Angels (AHA) is a Catholic
, coeducational high school located in Richfield, Minnesota
. Located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
, Holy Angels educates more than 820 students each year in grades nine through twelve from around the Twin Cities metropolitan area. A nationally recognized college preparatory school, it offers a rigorous, broad-based curriculum and numerous opportunities to excel in co-curricular activities, arts and athletics. Holy Angels welcomes students of all racial and religious backgrounds.
on September 15, 1931, when the newly constructed building was opened. The initial enrollment of 107 students in grades 1-12 grew to 182 by the end of the 1931-1932 school year. The original grounds included a formal English garden in the courtyard, tennis courts, a 9 hole golf course
, and an ice skating rink during the winter.
The school was accredited in 1932, and that same year the school had its first graduating class of 13 members. In 1935 the Alumnae Association was established with most of its efforts directed toward communication, reunions, special events for alumni and the annual alumni phonathon. In 1946, after St. Peter's Parish opened next door and established an elementary parish school, Holy Angels closed their elementary grades. The 1952-1953 school year was the last year for boarders to live at Holy Angels, and 1953 marked the beginning of Holy Angels solely as a day school.
In September 1972, the Academy became a coeducational school. The class of 1976 was the first full four-year co-ed class. Because the school was now co-ed, the Angies became the co*Stars and varsity athletics began. Today the athletic program has grown to 33 teams representing 18 varsity sports for both girls and boys. In 1989 a middle school and theater school were established. In 1996, to enhance the campus and revenues, Holy Angels built the StarDome; a $2 million, year-round athletic facility (the first high school in the United States to have a facility of this type). The complex includes bleachers, a concession
building and a playing field for Holy Angels sports and activities. The playing surface consists of Field Turf and features a removable dome to make the field playable during the winter months. The field is uncovered during the summer.
In 1998 Holy Angels was named a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence by the U.S. Department of Education. That same year, the last group of 8th graders graduated middle school. The school chose to focus instead on just educating high school students. But, despite this closing, the high school was still growing, expanding their classroom space by 15%. In 2003 Holy Angels purchased the 26 acres (105,218.4 m²) campus from its founders, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, at a substantial discount. In that same year, they built and dedicated a new 70000 square feet (6,503.2 m²) addition that included a Convocation Center and classrooms.
, which is part of the Minnesota State High School League
.
With the rise in popularity of private schools in the 1990s, Athletics at Holy Angels started attracting higher talent and began to emerge as a power in certain sports.
In 2005, both the boys and girls hockey teams won the state championship, the first time in Minnesota that the boys and girls hockey championships were from the same school.
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
, coeducational high school located in Richfield, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
. Located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in the United States. It is led by the prelature of an archbishop which administers the archdiocese from the cities of Saint Paul and Minneapolis...
, Holy Angels educates more than 820 students each year in grades nine through twelve from around the Twin Cities metropolitan area. A nationally recognized college preparatory school, it offers a rigorous, broad-based curriculum and numerous opportunities to excel in co-curricular activities, arts and athletics. Holy Angels welcomes students of all racial and religious backgrounds.
History
The Academy of Holy Angels was founded by the Sisters of St. JosephSisters of St. Joseph
The title Sisters of St. Joseph applies to several Roman Catholic religious congregations of women. The largest and oldest of these was founded in Le Puy-en-Velay, France...
on September 15, 1931, when the newly constructed building was opened. The initial enrollment of 107 students in grades 1-12 grew to 182 by the end of the 1931-1932 school year. The original grounds included a formal English garden in the courtyard, tennis courts, a 9 hole golf course
Golf course
A golf course comprises a series of holes, each consisting of a teeing ground, fairway, rough and other hazards, and a green with a flagstick and cup, all designed for the game of golf. A standard round of golf consists of playing 18 holes, thus most golf courses have this number of holes...
, and an ice skating rink during the winter.
The school was accredited in 1932, and that same year the school had its first graduating class of 13 members. In 1935 the Alumnae Association was established with most of its efforts directed toward communication, reunions, special events for alumni and the annual alumni phonathon. In 1946, after St. Peter's Parish opened next door and established an elementary parish school, Holy Angels closed their elementary grades. The 1952-1953 school year was the last year for boarders to live at Holy Angels, and 1953 marked the beginning of Holy Angels solely as a day school.
In September 1972, the Academy became a coeducational school. The class of 1976 was the first full four-year co-ed class. Because the school was now co-ed, the Angies became the co*Stars and varsity athletics began. Today the athletic program has grown to 33 teams representing 18 varsity sports for both girls and boys. In 1989 a middle school and theater school were established. In 1996, to enhance the campus and revenues, Holy Angels built the StarDome; a $2 million, year-round athletic facility (the first high school in the United States to have a facility of this type). The complex includes bleachers, a concession
Concession stand
A concession stand , snack kiosk or snack bar is the term used to refer to a place where patrons can purchase snacks or food at a cinema, fair, stadium, or other entertainment venue. Some events or venues contract out the right to sell food to third parties...
building and a playing field for Holy Angels sports and activities. The playing surface consists of Field Turf and features a removable dome to make the field playable during the winter months. The field is uncovered during the summer.
In 1998 Holy Angels was named a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence by the U.S. Department of Education. That same year, the last group of 8th graders graduated middle school. The school chose to focus instead on just educating high school students. But, despite this closing, the high school was still growing, expanding their classroom space by 15%. In 2003 Holy Angels purchased the 26 acres (105,218.4 m²) campus from its founders, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, at a substantial discount. In that same year, they built and dedicated a new 70000 square feet (6,503.2 m²) addition that included a Convocation Center and classrooms.
Athletics
The Academy of Holy Angels is in the Missota ConferenceMissota Conference
The Missota Conference is an athletic conference for high schools in the greater Twin Cities area in Minnesota. There are currently 8 member schools....
, which is part of the Minnesota State High School League
Minnesota State High School League
The Minnesota State High School League is a voluntary, non-profit association for the support and governance of interscholastic activities at high schools in Minnesota, United States. The association supports interscholastic athletics and fine arts programs for member schools...
.
With the rise in popularity of private schools in the 1990s, Athletics at Holy Angels started attracting higher talent and began to emerge as a power in certain sports.
In 2005, both the boys and girls hockey teams won the state championship, the first time in Minnesota that the boys and girls hockey championships were from the same school.
| State Championships | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Sport | Number of Championships | Year |
| Fall Autumn Autumn is one of the four temperate seasons. Autumn marks the transition from summer into winter usually in September or March when the arrival of night becomes noticeably earlier.... |
Soccer, Girls | 1 | 2003 |
| Winter | Hockey Hockey Hockey is a family of sports in which two teams play against each other by trying to maneuver a ball or a puck into the opponent's goal using a hockey stick.-Etymology:... , Girls |
1 | 2005 |
| Hockey, Boys Minnesota high school boys hockey The Minnesota High School Boys Hockey program is a high school ice hockey program in the State of Minnesota. Based on tournament attendance, ice hockey is the most popular high school sport in the state... |
2 | 2002, 2005 | |
| Cheerleading Cheerleading Cheerleading is a physical activity, sometimes a competitive sport, based on organized routines, usually ranging from one to three minutes, which contain the components of tumbling, dance, jumps, cheers, and stunting to direct spectators of events to cheer on sports teams at games or to participate... |
6 | 2003, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2011 | |
| Basketball Basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules... , Girls |
1 | 1975 | |
| Spring | Golf Golf Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes.... , Boys |
3 | 1994, 1998, 1999 |
| Softball Softball Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand... , Girls |
1 | 2000 | |
| Total | 15 | ||
Notable alumni
- Kathleen A. BlatzKathleen A. BlatzKathleen A. Blatz is a former Minnesota judge and politician.Blatz was born in Minneapolis to Kay and Jerome Blatz. She attended high school at the Academy of Holy Angels in Richfield, Minnesota, and received her B.A. from the University of Notre Dame...
, retired Minnesota Supreme CourtMinnesota Supreme CourtThe Minnesota Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of Minnesota and consists of seven members. The court was first assembled as a three-judge panel in 1849 when Minnesota was still a territory. The first members were lawyers from outside of the region who were appointed by...
Justice, 1996-2006 (Chief Justice 1998-2006) - Troy BellTroy BellTroy Delvon Bell is an American professional basketball player formerly of the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies. He played at Boston College and finished as one of the greatest players in the program's history....
, a professional basketballBasketballBasketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player - Kelly CarlsonKelly CarlsonKelly Lee Carlson is an American actress and model. She is best known for her role as Kimber Henry on Nip/Tuck. In 2001 she was listed on Tear Sheet Magazines 50 Most Beautiful list.-Career:...
, actress - Susan KingSusan King BorchardtSusan King Borchardt is an American professional basketball player.She grew up in a family of collegiate basketball players. Her father, Gary King, played at the University of Nebraska at Kearney...
, professional basketballBasketballBasketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player in the WNBA - T. R. KnightT. R. KnightTheodore Raymond "T. R." Knight is an American actor. Knight's most high-profile role to date was his role as Dr. George O'Malley on ABC's medical drama Grey's Anatomy.-Early life:...
, actor, Grey's AnatomyGrey's AnatomyGrey's Anatomy is an American medical drama television series created by Shonda Rhimes. The series premiered on March 27, 2005 on ABC; since then, seven seasons have aired. The series follows the lives of interns, residents and their mentors in the fictional Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital in... - Erin Pearson, music artist
- Paul ThissenPaul ThissenPaul Thissen is a Minnesota politician and a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from District 63A, which includes south Minneapolis and Richfield in Hennepin County, which is in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. He is the current Minnesota House Minority Leader. He was first elected...
, Minnesota State Representative - Emily CarlsonEmily Carlson-Television:Carlson is a reporter at WHO-TV in Des Moines, Iowa. Before that she reported for TV30 in the Bay Area of California until it stopped doing news in June 2008. In 2006 and 2007 she reported for WICD in Champaign, Illinois. In 2005 and 2006 she was a reporter and news anchor at KEYC in...
, Anchor/Reporter - William Easton, Co-Founder of Today's Groom Magazine
- Paul PetersonPaul PetersonPaul Peterson, also known as St. Paul, is a musician best known for his memberships in the bands The Family and The Time and the single "Intimacy."...
, musician - Matt Kirby, musician, QuietdriveQuietdriveQuietdrive is an alternative rock band based in Minneapolis, Minnesota that formed in 2002. Quietdrive released their debut album When All That's Left Is You on May 30, 2006 on Epic Records. In April 2008, Quietdrive parted with Epic Records and released their album titled Deliverance on October...
- Gavin KaysenGavin KaysenGavin Kaysen is executive chef at noted French chef and restaurateur Daniel Boulud's New York City restaurant, Cafe Boulud....
, internationally-known chef - Jack HillenJack HillenJack Hillen is a professional ice hockey defenseman who is currently a member of the Nashville Predators.-Academic Honors:* 2008 ESPN the Magazine Academic All-America University Division At-Large All-District VII Team...
, hockey defencemanDefenceman (ice hockey)Defence in ice hockey is a player position whose primary responsibility is to prevent the opposing team from scoring...
, New York IslandersNew York IslandersThe New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
(2008–present) - Tyler Duckworth, Castmate on Real World Key West, 2011 Challenge:Rivals Champion ,
- Ryan HurleyRyan HurleyRyan O'Neal Hurley is a former West Indian cricketer who played nine ODIs in 2003–04. He made his ODI debut in May 2003 against Australia where he took 1 for 57 and was run out without facing a ball....
, professional lacrosse player, attack
Football
- John StoccoJohn StoccoJohn Stocco is a former collegiate American football quarterback. Stocco played football for the University of Wisconsin–Madison, starting at quarterback for the Badgers during his sophomore, junior and senior seasons...
, football quarterbackQuarterbackQuarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
, University of WisconsinWisconsin Badgers footballThe Wisconsin Badgers are a college football program that represents the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and the Big Ten Conference. They play their home games at Camp Randall Stadium, the fourth-oldest stadium in college football...
(2003–2006) - Marcus Fitzgerald, football wide receiverWide receiverA wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
, Marshall UniversityMarshall Thundering HerdThe Marshall Thundering Herd are the intercollegiate athletic teams that collectively represent the Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. Thundering Herd athletic teams compete in Conference USA, which are members of the NCAA Division I...
(2004–2007) and younger brother of Larry Fitzgerald - Rob Hollway, Defensive Line, Wyoming Cowboys, University of Wyoming (2004-2008)
- Brendan Kelly, Defensive End, Wisconsin Badgers football, University of Wisconsin (2008–present)
- Vincent Kelly, Linebacker, Sun Devil Football, Arizona State University ( 2009–present)
- Andy Jirik, Defensive End, Vikings Football, Augustana College ( 2010-present)
Ice hockey
- Jimmy KilpatrickJimmy KilpatrickJimmy Kilpatrick is an American professional ice hockey player who is currently playing with the Stavanger Oilers of the GET-ligaen....
, hockey forward, Colorado College (2004–2008) - Dan Kronick, hockey forwardForward (ice hockey)In ice hockey, a forward is a player position on the ice whose primary responsibility is to score goals. Generally, the forwards try to stay in three different lanes, also known as thirds, of the ice going from goal to goal. It is not mandatory however, to stay in a lane. Staying in a lane aids in...
, St. Cloud State (2005–2007), University of Minnesota-Duluth (2002–2004) - Tyler HowellsTyler HowellsTyler Howells is an American ice hockey defenceman. He is currently enrolled at Michigan State University finishing his degree and playing hockey for the Flint Generals of the International Hockey League....
, hockey defencemanDefenceman (ice hockey)Defence in ice hockey is a player position whose primary responsibility is to prevent the opposing team from scoring...
, Michigan StateMichigan State Spartans men's ice hockeyThe Michigan State Spartans men's ice hockey team is the college ice hockey team that represents Michigan State University . The team plays at the Munn Ice Arena in East Lansing, Michigan, on the MSU campus. The current head coach is Tom Anastos, who took over coaching duties on March 23, 2011,...
(2003–2007) - Mike CarmanMike Carman (ice hockey)Mike Carman is an American professional ice hockey player who is currently playing with the Lake Erie Monsters of the American Hockey League...
, hockey forwardForward (ice hockey)In ice hockey, a forward is a player position on the ice whose primary responsibility is to score goals. Generally, the forwards try to stay in three different lanes, also known as thirds, of the ice going from goal to goal. It is not mandatory however, to stay in a lane. Staying in a lane aids in...
, University of MinnesotaMinnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockeyThe Minnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockey team is the college ice hockey team at the Twin Cities campus of the University of Minnesota. They are members of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association and compete in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I ice hockey...
(2006–2010) - Jay Barriball, hockey forwardForward (ice hockey)In ice hockey, a forward is a player position on the ice whose primary responsibility is to score goals. Generally, the forwards try to stay in three different lanes, also known as thirds, of the ice going from goal to goal. It is not mandatory however, to stay in a lane. Staying in a lane aids in...
, 2006-2007 leading scorer, University of MinnesotaMinnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockeyThe Minnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockey team is the college ice hockey team at the Twin Cities campus of the University of Minnesota. They are members of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association and compete in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I ice hockey...
(2006–2011) - Bryan Brutlag, hockey defencemanDefenceman (ice hockey)Defence in ice hockey is a player position whose primary responsibility is to prevent the opposing team from scoring...
, Rensselaer Polytechnic InstituteRensselaer Polytechnic InstituteStephen Van Rensselaer established the Rensselaer School on November 5, 1824 with a letter to the Rev. Dr. Samuel Blatchford, in which van Rensselaer asked Blatchford to serve as the first president. Within the letter he set down several orders of business. He appointed Amos Eaton as the school's...
(2007–present) - Chase PolacekChase PolacekChase Polacek is an American professional ice hockey player who is currently playing for the Peoria Rivermen in the American Hockey League....
, hockey right wingWinger (ice hockey)Winger, in the game of hockey, is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play on the ice is along the outer playing area. They typically work by flanking the centre forward. Originally the name was given to forward players who went up and down the sides of the rink...
/centreCentre (ice hockey)The centre in ice hockey is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play is the middle of the ice, away from the side boards. Centres have more flexibility in their positioning and are expected to cover more ice surface than any other player...
, Rensselaer Polytechnic InstituteRensselaer Polytechnic InstituteStephen Van Rensselaer established the Rensselaer School on November 5, 1824 with a letter to the Rev. Dr. Samuel Blatchford, in which van Rensselaer asked Blatchford to serve as the first president. Within the letter he set down several orders of business. He appointed Amos Eaton as the school's...
(2007–present)
Baseball
- Billy Johnson, pitcher [pitcher at University of Minnesota Gopher Baseball Team ](2002–2007)
- Joe Loftus, OF [outfielder at Vanderbilt University Baseball Team] (2008-Present)
- Steve Maher, P University of St. Thomas(2011-Present) [pitcher at Illinois State University Baseball Team] (2009-2010)
- Kris Kwak, U [utility player at University of North Dakota Baseball Team] (2009-Present)
- Jack HoganJack HoganJack Hogan is an American actor, born November 25, 1929 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. He was born Richard Roland Benson, Jr. He is most notable for the role of PFC William G...
, OF University of St. Thomas (2011-Present) [pitcher at St. Louis University Baseball Team] (2010) - Mark Tatera, INF/C [infielder/catcher at University of Minnesota Baseball Team] (2011-Present) {formerly of Duke University (2010-2011)}
Attended, but not alumni
- PrincePrince (musician)Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...
(alleged by Prince, not yet confirmed), popular musician. - Erik JohnsonErik JohnsonErik Robert Johnson is an American ice hockey defenseman playing for the Colorado Avalanche in the National Hockey League . He was formerly with the St Louis Blues. Johnson, the number one overall pick in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, was drafted by the Blues from the U.S...
(transferred to US National Team Development Program), hockey defenseman, St. Louis Blues, 2006 NHL 1st overall draft pick. 2010 USA Olympian and Silver Medalist - Larry FitzgeraldLarry FitzgeraldLarry Darnell Fitzgerald, Jr. is an American football wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League, and currently ranks fourth all-time in league history in receiving yards per game for a career , behind Andre Johnson, Torry Holt, and Marvin Harrison...
(transferred to Valley Forge Military Academy), a professional football player in the NFLNational Football LeagueThe National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. - Christopher William SmithChristopher William SmithChristopher William Smith was a prolific e-mail spammer, and sold drugs online from his illegal Xpress Pharmacy Direct in Burnsville, Minnesota, United States...
(transferred to public school), convicted spammer, notorious internet drug kingpin.