• When educators in the Cypress-Fairbanks and Aldine areas learned they could earn a Master in Education degree from the University of St. Thomas without the drive into town, they applied in record numbers.

• In these tough economic times, one of the top questions on a college student’s mind is, “Will I be able to afford this school?” In fact, Stamats, Inc., an integrated marketing and communications company that provides services for university admissions, recently found that the new No. 1 factor for students deciding on a school is affordability over a school's reputation.
  

• Catching a break in the film industry is no easy task. It can often take years for an independent filmmaker to get his work noticed. But University of St. Thomas graduate Josh Bass, ’01, recently earned his first big break when his short film was accepted into a major North American independent film festival, the Slamdance Film Festival.
  

• Well acquainted with the deadline-driven pressures of student print journalism, Michelle Gautreau traded her seat behind the keyboard for a spot in front of the news cameras during a six-week winter break internship at Salt + Light Catholic Media Network in Toronto.
  
  

• During his time at the University of St. Thomas, 2009 graduate Thomas Méndez took on numerous leadership roles on campus.
  
  
• The National Science Foundation has awarded the University of St. Thomas a $575,000 grant to provide scholarships to undergraduate students obtaining degrees in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) over the next five years.
  
  
• Twelve years ago, Silvia Mintz came to America with little more than a dream and the desire to earn a living and support her family.
  
  
• A liberal arts education provides the versatility to find success in a wide range of careers.
  
  
• Internal struggles, personal moments and fears are usually kept secret and maybe only shared with a confidant, but University of St. Thomas junior Melissa Binstock had reason to tell the world about her journey.
  
  
• Senior volleyball player Heather Hardy believes her No. 6 jersey should be retired and become a part of St. Thomas athletics history.
  
  
• When German native Lukas Simon first came to the University of St. Thomas in 2007, it was the inaugural year for official intercollegiate play in men’s soccer.
  
  
• To meet the growing demand of Spanish-speaking media, the University of St. Thomas creates opportunities to educate uniquely qualified bilingual graduates.
  
  
• The average Houstonian wouldn’t believe what it takes to run this city, but a few University of St. Thomas graduates could give them a back-stage tour.
  
  
• From the first day of freshman orientation, Drew Wilson, a University of St. Thomas 2002 alumnus, experienced the University’s emphasis on social justice and service learning.
  
  
• When a last-minute opportunity arose for United States Coast Guard Lieutenant Edward Lacy and his wife Christie to pursue degrees concurrently at the University of St. Thomas, the family possessed the adaptability and received University support to make it all happen in less than 45 days.
  
  
• As the University of St. Thomas continues to integrate service learning into curriculum across the disciplines, two biology professors – Dr. Rosie Rosell and Dr. Maia Larios-Sanz – provided opportunities for 37 biology students to learn science through community service at underserved Houston area clinics.
  
  
• Taking the time to strengthen her English skills at ELS Language Center, Louanne Honrado, an international student from Venezuela, was poised to begin her education at the University of St. Thomas.
  
  
• The U.S. Department of Education awarded the School of Education a $2.8 million Title V Grant to fund the Promoting Postbaccalaureate Opportunities for Hispanic Americans (PPOHA) Program.
  
  
• The University of St. Thomas has been named as one of 21 top Catholic colleges and universities by the Cardinal Newman Society for the second time.
  
  
• After applying for the third time to the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) National Internship Program, Martinez thought his application and resume were forgotten.
  
  
• For the 16th consecutive year, the University of St. Thomas has been named to the top tier of the U.S. News & World Report’s, “America’s Best Colleges” list of universities offering master’s degrees in the Western region of the United States.
  
  
• The University of St. Thomas was named as one of the best colleges and universities in the West by The Princeton Review.
  
  
• For the first time, the University’s Ireland Study Abroad Program focused on students interviewing over 40 leading governmental officials, as well as political, religious and community leaders and people from all walks of life in Dublin, Ireland, and Belfast, Northern Ireland.
  
  
• At a moment’s notice, Dr. Alexandra Simmons, University of St. Thomas assistant professor of biology, eagerly jumped in the car with two freshman biology students in hot pursuit of dairy cow blood samples.
  
  
• Interweaving elements of her heritage and her University of St. Thomas education, Ximena Murillo developed an internationally, award-winning humanitarian project.
  
  
• The University of St. Thomas Center for Irish Studies and its director, Lori Gallagher, JD, have experienced a banner year, earning an impressive round of international, national, state and local accolades.

But, hey, who’s counting?

We are.