CHAMPAIGN — The High School of Saint Thomas More has been named a National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education. It is one of 50 private schools — and one of only six private secondary schools — to be honored in 2014.

Officials from the Champaign school will travel to Washington, D.C., Nov. 10-11 for the awards ceremony, which will also recognize 287 public schools.

“On behalf of the Office of Catholic Schools, I am so very proud of The High School of Saint Thomas More being named a 2014 National Blue Ribbon School,” said Dr. Sharon Weiss, superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Peoria. “Congratulations to Mr. Ryan Bustle, principal, and to the entire school community on receiving this tremendous honor! Go, Sabers!”

Bustle said when he made the announcement to the students before sixth period on Sept. 30, “you could hear the roar.”

“I couldn’t be happier for our school community and to get to celebrate this as a community,” he said. “I’m delighted to be able to represent the Diocese of Peoria, too.”

Saint Thomas More is the fourth school in the Diocese of Peoria to be designated a National Blue Ribbon School in recent years. The others are St. Vincent de Paul School in Peoria (2010), Epiphany School in Normal (2011) and St. Patrick School in Washington (2012).

“These great schools are fulfilling the promise of American education — that all students, no matter their name or zip code, can flourish when school provide safe, creative, and challenging learning environments,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.

“National Blue Ribbon Schools are models of consistent excellence and a resource for other schools and districts. We celebrate them for their tireless effort and boundless creativity in reaching and teaching every student.”

EDITOR’S NOTE: More to come in the next print edition of The Catholic Post.