Academy of Holy Angels

For the school in Demarest, New Jersey, see Academy of the Holy Angels.

Academy of Holy Angels
Address
6600 Nicollet Avenue South Richfield , (Hennepin County) , Minnesota 55423 United States
Coordinates	44°52′57″N 93°16′47″W
Information
Type	Private, Coeducational
Motto	Confident. Prepared. Connected in faith.
Religious affiliation(s)	Roman Catholic
Established	October 2nd, 1877
Founder	Sisters of St. Joseph Carondelet
President	Tom Shipley
Principal	Heidi Foley
Faculty	68
Grades	9–12
Enrollment	820 (2008)
• Grade 9	194
• Grade 10	208
• Grade 11	223
• Grade 12	220
Average class size	24
Campus type	suburban
Color(s)	Royal Blue and Vegas Gold
Athletics conference	Missota Conference
Team name	Stars
Rival	Benilde St. Margrets, Richfield High School, Shakopee High School
Accreditation	North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
Publication	Astronomer (Arts magazine)
Newspaper	StarGazer
Tuition	$11,260
Athletic Director	Michael Kautzman
English Director	Kathy Hanley
Mathematics Director	Donna Poshusta
World Languages Director	Verena Luthy-Clay
Website	www.academyofholyangels.org

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.

History

The Academy of Holy Angels was founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph 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. Known for awful parties and the bear lounge on the 3rd floor, Holy Angels has a proud history.

notable sloots- Alison Friendshuh, Meri Santos and Sally Keis

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-acre (110,000 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 70,000-square-foot (6,500 m²) addition that included a Convocation Center and classrooms.

Athletics

The Academy of Holy Angels is in the Missota Conference, which is part of the Minnesota State High School League.

The official mascot of Holy Angels is Shiner the Angel.

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	Soccer, Girls	1	2003
Winter	Hockey, Girls	1	2005
	Hockey, Boys	2	2002, 2005
	Cheerleading	6	2003, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2011
	Basketball, Girls	1	1975
Spring	Golf, Boys	3	1994, 1998, 1999
	Softball, Girls	1	2000
Total		15

Notable alumni

• Kathleen A. Blatz, retired Minnesota Supreme Court Justice, 1996-2006 (Chief Justice 1998-2006)
• Troy Bell, a professional basketball player
• Carl Lobely, a professional trill hood rat
• Mike Santos, Part-time cop, full time bro
• Kelly Carlson, actress
• Susan King, professional basketball player in the WNBA
• T. R. Knight, actor, Grey's Anatomy
• Erin Pearson, music artist
• Paul Thissen, Minnesota State Representative
• Emily Carlson, Anchor/Reporter
• William Easton, Co-Founder of Today's Groom Magazine
• Paul Peterson, musician
• Matt Kirby, musician, Quietdrive
• Gavin Kaysen, internationally-known chef
• Jack Hillen, hockey defenceman, New York Islanders (2008–present)
• Tyler Duckworth, Castmate on Real World Key West, 2011 Challenge:Rivals Champion,
• Ryan Hurley, professional lacrosse player, attack

College athletes

Football

• John Stocco, football quarterback, University of Wisconsin (2003–2006)
• Marcus Fitzgerald, football wide receiver, Marshall University (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)

Ice hockey

• Jimmy Kilpatrick, hockey forward, Colorado College (2004–2008)
• Dan Kronick, hockey forward, St. Cloud State (2005–2007), University of Minnesota-Duluth (2002–2004)
• Tyler Howells, hockey defenceman, Michigan State (2003–2007)
• Mike Carman, hockey forward, University of Minnesota (2006–2010)
• Jay Barriball, hockey forward, 2006-2007 leading scorer, University of Minnesota (2006–2011)
• Bryan Brutlag, hockey defenceman, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (2007–present)
• Chase Polacek, hockey right wing/centre, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (2007–present)
• Taylor Matson, Forward (ice hockey), University of Minnesota (2008–2012)

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 Hogan, 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)}

Soccer

• Olivia Schultz, Midfielder, [University of San Diego] (2011–Present)

Attended, but not alumni

• Erik Johnson (transferred to US National Team Development Program), hockey defenseman, Colorado Avalanche, 2006 NHL 1st overall draft pick by the St. Louis Blues. 2010 USA Olympian and Silver Medalist
• Larry Fitzgerald (transferred to Valley Forge Military Academy), a professional football player in the NFL.
• Christopher William Smith (transferred to public school), convicted spammer, notorious internet drug kingpin.

See also

• List of high schools in Minnesota

External links

• Official Website