For generations, St. Thomas and its scholars have connected throughout the Houston community and beyond borders to promote partnerships that enrich lives.

And in the face of the coronavirus outbreak, two-sport student-athlete Adam Desroches ‘21 is among many Eagles living the standard of goodness, discipline, and knowledge through emphatic action.

During June and July, Desroches raised $6,000 to create 100 antimicrobial kits for St. Thomas faculty and staff to facilitate a healthy return to campus in response to COVID-19.

More recently, Desroches secured $40,000 in pledges to partner with Comp-U-Dopt to place technology and computers in the homes of underserved students in the Spring Branch School District to facilitate virtual learning.

Desroches secured the funding for his initiatives by researching potential corporate sponsors and donors, then cold-calling to gauge their financial interests. Many passed on the opportunity, but he was relentless in his pursuit to achieve his goals.

“I discussed the possibilities with owners or executives through email or on the phone,” Desroches says. “I did my best to present the options, learned to accept the responses, and move to the next candidate. When I contacted (Comp-U-Dopt executive director) Colin Dempsey, he was thrilled with the potential. We coordinated every two weeks to monitor the status, confirm the dollars coming in, determine how to move forward. There’s great satisfaction knowing you’re helping others. Giving back is what these projects are all about.”

St. Thomas launched the 2020-21 academic year with Virtual Eagle August 17. Tentative plans are for the transition to on-campus hybrid instruction beginning September 14. Desroches recognized a chance to promote health, safety, and wellbeing when the campus community resumes in-person courses and classes for the first time since March.

“I wanted to give our teachers and staff confidence in coming back,” Desroches says. “We created 100 boxes with sprays, face coverings with St. Thomas logos, disinfecting wipes, and protectants. We packaged the materials, and now they’re available when we all return.”

Desroches is an exploratory college preparatory student with an ACT score of 31. He’s dual dynamo inside Eagle Athletics, a maven for malice in the defensive trenches for Eagle Football, plus a power-packing first baseman and pitcher for Eagle Baseball.

Desroches has designs on extending his career in one sport at the collegiate level. He also earned his Eagle Scout rank through Troop 825 chartered by Holy Spirit Episcopal Church.  But most revealing to his character is his growth as a global citizen, his demonstrative efforts in fulfilling the St. Thomas Catholic Basilian mission of nurturing concern for the common good.

“One of the realities during the coronavirus for our students is how they respond to restrictions and available time, how to invest,” President Fr. James Murphy, CSB says. “Adam chose to turn outward and help those in need. He seized an idea, extended outside his comfort zone, engaged businessmen in a professional setting, and delivered results. At the root was pure compassion for those who are vulnerable. It’s a tangible example of God at work at that moment.”

Catholic.  Basilian.  Teaching Goodness, Discipline and Knowledge since 1900.