Recently, the St. Thomas Aquinas High School’s International Thespian Honor Society troop 5-9-9-9 went to Tampa and participated in states. At states, the judges score the students using a rubric, with ratings ranging from Fair to Superior. Those earning Superior ratings are eligible to advance to the International Thespian Festival. 

The rubric assesses various aspects of the performance, including acting, technical theatre, film, musical theatre, and dance. Thespian performances are rated as Fair, Good, Excellent, and Superior. Entries earning a Superior rating at a qualifying event (chapter, regional, or alternate qualifier) are invited to the final round of adjudication at the International Thespian Festival. At the International Thespian Festival, superior-rated Thespians who earn the highest scores in each category are presented with a Thespy Award. Students earn Thespian points by participating in theatre productions, competitions, and events. After induction, members can continue earning points to move up through the International Thespian Society ranking system. Ranks include Honor Thespian (60 points), National Honor Thespian (120 points), and International Honor Thespian (180+ points).

Alexi Arocho received straight superiors for her makeup design from The Great Gatsby. Victoria Mendez received straight superiors for her solo musical theater performance. Alana Rutigliano received straight superiors for her costume construction from Steel Magnolias, Alexi Arocho and Cole Christenson scored a superior on their duet musical theater performance. Victoria Mendez, Anaelle Jean-Jacques, Avery Patterson, Ellison Howard, Harley Rojas, Juliana Bohm, Alexi Arocho, Rebecca Hilbert, Sofia Gonzalez-Granda, and Valentina Clemente  Scored an excellent on their large group musical theater performance  from Legally Blonde. Presley Dean, Dylan Saito, Cody Straka, and Cole Christianson scored an excellent for their student-directed scene performance from Death of a Salesman.