Cristo Rey Las Obras Summer/Fall 2022

SUMMER/FALL 2022

CR GRADUATES LARGEST CLASS IN SCHOOL HISTORY On Friday, June 3, Cristo Rey’s 131 seniors - our largest graduating class in school history - graduated with their families and the full student body in attendance. They now join a proud alumni community 2,450 strong. It was the first time our entire school came together in person for graduation since 2019, a truly joyous occasion.

100% of the Class of 2022 was accepted to at least one college or university, and 82% plan to attend 4-year institutions next year. The Class of 2022 submitted more than 1,300 college applications and received more than 900 acceptances to 116 different post-secondary institutions, including: one to Boston University, one Posse scholarship to Middlebury College, 71 to Dominican University, four to Fordham, one to Georgetown, one to St. Olaf, 41 to Loyola University Chicago, six to DePauw, 34 to Marquette University, 68 to University of Illinois Chicago, 24 to University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, three to University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, three to University of Wisconsin-Madison, one to Villanova, and 25 to Arrupe College of Loyola University Chicago...just to name a few!

The graduates have already received close to $18 million in financial awards with an average out-of-pocket expense of just $382.

The Cristo Rey Class of 2022 is ready to set the world on fire!

FOLLOW CRISTO REY See the great works of Cristo Rey as they happen on social media and continue to visit www.cristorey.net.

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Facebook: crjhs Facebook Alumni: cristeros Instagram: @cristoreychi LinkedIn: cristo-rey-chicago T H E WOR KS OF C R I STO R E Y J E S U I T H I G H S C H O OL

STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS & AWARDS

DEAR FRIENDS, I’m constantly reminded how time flies when I look around Cristo Rey. I see so many faces on our faculty and staff who were once our students. I see long-time members of our team transitioning on to new adventures. Yet at the same time, I see others step forward to take on exciting new leadership roles. Change is almost always challenging, but also encouraging and exhilarating.

As the workforce landscape around us continues to shift as corporations navigate our new normal, remote work remains a powerful motivator for the growth of our CWSP this coming school year. I am very proud of the work done by the CWSP and Advancement teams this year, as they partnered in their efforts to synergize opportunities for companies to support our Cristeros.

This summer, we continue our climb back to full employment and appreciate your support with introductions and connections for the program.

Our alumni continue to grow in size and influence in Chicagoland and it was remarkable to see so many join us at VIVA this past May with their companies who all support our mission and employ students. Truly the best example of Cristo Rey in action.

Our Class of 2022 leaves their mark on Cristo Rey as they were our largest graduating class in history – 131 seniors leave us this year and move on to notable colleges and campuses from coast to coast this fall.

Please read on in this latest issue of Las Obras – the works of Cristo Rey – and see how your generosity makes a quantifiable difference in the lives of our students and their families. Because of you, we open the door to a quality education and professional mentorships that are uniquely created for Cristo Rey students and our alumni.

Thank you for your belief in us in Pilsen. We are proud of our work and look forward to continuing to change lives for the better in Chicago and beyond. VIVA Cristo Rey! Gratefully,

Antonio Ortiz, President

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Ahead of the 2022-2023 school year, Cristo Rey says goodbye to several beloved employees, and welcome new faculty and staff. Lucas Schroeder leaves CR after four years of service as Principal. Former Dean of Students, Mayra Gradilla, will be step forward as Interim Principal. President Antonio Ortiz has always seen Mayra’s potential to be a school leader. He recalls, “After much prayer and discernment, Mayra responded to me, ‘If I’m called to serve our community in this way, then I’m honored to do so.’ What I love about her response is she sees this as a call to serve.” We also say a heartfelt thank you to Kate Schulte, Assistant Principal for Student Services and former mathematics teacher, who served the Cristo Rey mission for 15 years.

In May 2022, long-time employees Elizabeth Barron and Maricruz Maynez were presented with Cristo Rey’s prestigious Marquette Award. This award is given to faculty or staff members who continue in a notable way the Jesuit tradition originally brought to the Pilsen/Little Village neighborhood by Jacques Marquette, S.J. in 1673.

This year the Cristo Rey Leadership Team introduced an annual peer-voted award, El Corazon de Cristo Rey, to celebrate and recognize one faculty and one staff member who go above and beyond in living out the Criso Rey values and mission. The inaugural awards were presented to Molly Boyle (faculty) and Lizzie Torres (staff) on June 3, 2022.

Cristo Rey is hiring! Join our team at the School that Works. Visit www.cristorey.net/careers or scan the QR code below to view our latest job opportunities.

CR ALUMNI: A DECADE OF SERVICE AT THE SCHOOL THAT WORKS

by Rex Ovalle '08 In the fall of 2012, Cristo Rey welcomed two alumni to the faculty and staff for the first time: Carlos Angeles '06, as Program Manager in the Corporate Work Study Program (CWSP), and me from the Class of 2008, as an English teacher through the Jesuit Volunteer Program. Since then, nearly every department of the school has had alumni join their team. Nine alumni have been called to serve through the Jesuit Volunteer (JV) Program, dedicating two years of service to the school after college graduation. This fall, for the first time ever, Cristo Rey will welcome two alumni to the Administration Team: Maria Luevano '02, a longtime Spanish teacher, now serving as Director of School Mission, and Karen Laureano '11, former Counselor and new Director of School Culture.

Guillermo Cruz '03 and Tiffany Luna '06 joining the Board of Directors last year also demonstrates a growing commitment from alumni.

In many ways, alumni presence at Cristo Rey flourishes more every year. I am now old enough to see my former students come back and serve in our JV Program, including three new JVs starting next month, Ailyn Cortez '17, Patrick Reyes '18, and Rachel Romero '18 . While the past two years of the pandemic may have introduced uncertainty into all our lives, I have only become more certain that the mission of Cristo Rey is “working” through the hands of our students and is “at work” in their hearts. In other words, over a quarter of a century into this experiment here in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago, we can say that this school undoubtedly works.

This mission is working because we continue to propel students through college. For the past year and a half, as part of my PhD program, I taught English at University of Illinois at Chicago. It was one of my greatest joys to know that every time I walked onto campus I was going to be greeted by graduates studying and working on campus.

My colleague Maria Luevano says that she acquired the tenacity to finish college here at Cristo Rey and that’s what inspires her to work here, “I think my high school self was very brave, I went to college only 5 years after I arrived from Mexico. I knew very little English then. I am very proud of that, and Cristo Rey helped me become that brave girl that I was/am.”

Above: Lizbeth Delgado '16, Joanna Mena '16, Rex Ovalle '08, Jessica Cervantes '07, Karen Laureano '11, Belen Dominguez '17, Maria Garcia '99, Reina Garcia '07, Maria Luevano-Salazar '02 (not pictured: Rocio Juarez '10) Left: President Antonio Ortiz (right) presents Rex Ovalle '08 with Cristo Rey's 10 Year Employee Recognition on June 7, 2022.

It is this “return” of our alumni that represents the mission “at work.”

Joanna Mena '16, former JV and newly hired College Counselor, echoed this sentiment, “I truly believe that this mission and values are what brought me back home to CR. I wanted to be able to give back to a community that helped raise me.” As the longest serving alumni employee of Cristo Rey, I can say Joanna’s wisdom speaks for my experience and for my alumni colleagues: we feel called to steward this home of ours.

At this point, we alumni working at Cristo Rey find ourselves in the same place as Juan Diego when he was before the bishop in the story of La Virgen de Guadalupe. Our holy mother had asked him to fill his tilma up with roses as a sign that she was his messenger. Here at Cristo Rey, our tilmas have never been fuller of the floral fragrance that represents the promise of this mission.

“ It’s important for me to help all our students find their place in this community and I wanted to see myself represented in the adults that work here. I realized I was going to have to do that myself.”

- Karen Laureano '11, Director of School Culture

“ I think about the times that were most challenging in my education here and it was because I was being pushed to be a leader. I get to do that for the next generation of students.”

- Rocio Juarez '10, Service Coordinator

“I worked at other schools, and after that experience, I knew I wanted to work at a place with a strong identity and community. We celebrate our students here. There’s nothing like día doce here. Other schools don’t do that.”

- Reina Garcia '07, Director of College Counseling

“ As soon as I walked in the doors for my interview, it felt like home. I knew that I was making the right decision.

I personally believe in the Cristo Rey mission, and my return is a great way to give back to the community that opened the doors to so many opportunities.”

- Jessica Cervantes '07, Training and Admissions Specialist

ALUMNI WHO HAVE WORKED AT CRISTO REY:

Laura Aguilar '10 Carlos L. Angeles, Jr. '06 Samuel D. Castro '09 David De La Rosa '98 Octavio Gonzalez '02 Luis A. Narvaez '99 Elizabeth Nieto '14 Jacqueline Orozco '13 David Orta '04 Gabriela Sanchez '14 Christina Valencia '09 Victoria Zavala '09 3

THE WORKS OF CRISTO REY Each day, Cristo Rey students and alumni live our mission as they work to become men and women for others through academics, sports, work study, co-curriculars, and faith.

Introducing Cristo Rey’s latest mural installation! We are honored and grateful to have artist Anne Heisler, along with Sam Kirk and Provoke Culture, create this piece which leads into Cristo Rey’s gymnasium. Anne and Sam worked with students to vision what needed to be expressed in the space. Freshman Juan J., sophomore Kathy H., and juniors Heidy R. and Anahi I. helped Anne to vision and paint this amazing work of public art.

Special thanks to the donors who made this piece possible.

Through the generosity of Ann and Richard Carr, the Ann Kenny Carr Cristo Rey Scholarship was established to support one graduate of Cristo Rey Jesuit High School to attend Marquette University. This full-tuition and room and board scholarship will be awarded every four years. The Carrs are long-time donors and friends of Cristo Rey who have given more than a decade of support to the school. The inaugural scholarship was awarded to senior Athziri Garcia. Cristo Rey’s College Counseling team, Athziri’s family, and a Marquette representative all surprised Athziri with the exciting news in April.

As part of an Alternative Kairos retreat, a panel of Cristo Rey alumni to spoke to juniors about how they navigated their college application process, how their transition to college went, and how they leveraged their CWSP experience after high school. Thanks to Wester Camacho '03, Trinity Marillo '18, Yesenia MayaHernandez '13, Adamaris Sanchez '19, Adrian Munoz '15, Erika Sanchez-Pale '19, Victor Blas '08, Gabriela Coronado '12, Liz Chavez '16, Osbaldo Garcia '18, Evelin Alanis '09, Janet Luna '10.

Cristo Rey Boys Volleyball teams wins the Chicago Prep Conference Championship!

Right: In April, Cristo Rey’s softball team played Horizon McKinley at The Ballpark at Rosemont. The Cristeras were cheered on by faculty, staff, and students who rode the 'fan bus' to watch the game - an exciting evening for all! Far Right: Seniors enjoyed inperson Prom and skyline views at Lacuna Lofts in Pilsen.

Visit us at www.cristorey.net and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn for more news about our students!

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CORPORATE WORK STUDY PROGRAM CWSP Supervisors Celebrate Senior Workers

CWSP Highlights

The Corporate Work Study Program honored 131 seniors and their supervisors at the CWSP Senior Luncheon this spring. The luncheon returned in an expanded fashion after the pandemic hiatus, bringing nearly 250 students, supervisors and mentors together to recognize their contributions to the CWSP. At the luncheon, president Antonio Ortiz acknowledged the commitment of some special job partners. In attendance were 44 job partners celebrating 10+ and 20+ years of partnership, 33 partners who continued working with students remotely throughout the pandemic, 7 partners who began partnership during the pandemic and the dozens partners who have alumni working full time, truly completing the circle for workforce development.

We are so grateful for the time that supervisors dedicate to mentoring and developing their student workers, and for the countless lessons, both professional and personal, that they deliver through their relationships. For some seniors working remotely for their companies in the Purcell Innovation Center, it was their first time seeing their supervisor in person since the start of the year. In attendance were some professionals who, because of the pandemic, were unable to continue working with their students, but wanted to support the students they knew as freshmen and sophomores.

Thank you to our steadfast job partners and the supervisors and advocates who allow students to have this unique opportunity to develop as professionals and gain valuable work experience and mentorship.

Left to Right: Axel with supervisors from Insurance Auto Auctions, where Axel will also be interning this summer; Nancy and Lisette with their supervisor, alumna Nancy Salgado-Hurtado '18 from McAndrews, Held & Malloy; Alejandra with her supervisor from Merkle. Nancy, Lisette, and Alejandra all continued work with their companies through the pandemic.

After working remotely for Google from Cristo Rey’s Purcell Innovation Center for most of this year, seniors Jose, Jenni, and Alina went to work in person in April. The students were welcomed to Google’s Fulton Street location by their supervisors, CR alum Maria Ortega '02 and Rashad Robison.

Despite being unable to resume work for the last two years, William Blair continued their sponsorship and robust engagement, including monthly meetings with former student workers Brianna and Ernesto.

Remote Student Workers Thrive in the Purcell Innovation Center At the beginning of the 2021-2022 school year, we pivoted our former media center into a multi-purpose, flexible, open concept office for our students to work remotely and engage in professional development courses. The technology secure space includes a dedicated computer lab, technical training space, conference abilities, collaborative space and even classroom seating. In the 2021-2022 school year, 86 students worked remotely for 33 companies from Cristo Rey’s Purcell Innovation Center.

Alejandra '22

Jeovanny '22

“I work in the creative department at Merkle.

“My work adds value to the company We are a marketing team and I review because I am responsible for managing banners, emails, zip files, weblinks, and important communication and ensuring the landing pages for Quality Assurance. I test company has all the information they need to these products through an array of devices properly document the assets they custody. to assure that they will work for our customers.

My work for Millennium Trust Company I am proud of my work because it is one of the final steps before any of has helped me improve daily skills. I am much more organized with my work these products are sent out to customers. My team is one of the final which prevents falling behind on other things like schoolwork. I have also review teams which makes my work equally as important as step one.” learned how to manage my time to ensure I get all my work done on time.”

Learn more about how you can become involved in the future of work with our students at Cristo Rey. Contact Maureen McInerney, Director of Business Development & Strategy, at mmcinerney@cristorey.net or (773) 890-6820.

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¡VIVA! 2022 May 5, 2022 Cristo Rey’s ¡VIVA! event returned in May and was a resounding success.

The room was filled with supporters, job partners, and most significantly, our alumni, who made up over 10% of attendees. Guests were entertained

by Cristo Rey’s student Ballet Folkloric group, who performed traditional dances, and alum Martin Arredondo '12, aka DJ Mayhem.

Cristo Rey leadership was honored to present two distinguished awards, the Rey of Hope Award to Lynn and Royal Martin, and the Crown of Cristo Rey Award to Dr. Donna M. Carroll, longtime advocates and former Board members, for their contributions to the school’s mission. ¡VIVA! raised over $550,000 towards the Annual Fund, which supports all aspects of school operations and programming.

Scan to view more event photos on Flickr.

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“Being involved in such incredible work lifted our whole family and still does.”

“Together we represent a continuum of care accompanying students from high school to college to career.”

- Lynn & Royal (Rob) Martin 2022 Rey of Hope Award Recipients

- Dr. Donna M. Carroll 2022 Crown of Cristo Rey Award Recipient

For more information on Cristo Rey events visit www.cristorey.net/events or contact Taylor Sticha, Sr. Manager of Corporate & Foundation Relations, at tsticha@cristorey.net or (773) 890-6816.

RUN THE REY HYBRID 5K April 2, 2022 The Run the Rey returned this year as a Hybrid 5K, with runners gathering on campus on a chilly spring morning and many more joining virtually from across the country.

In-person runners were cheered by Cristo Rey students along the route. Race entries for the Track & Field team were underwritten by generous supporters, and those athletes ran alongside our donors, alumni, and friends in attendance. In just it’s second year, the Run the Rey 5K earned $5,000 for Cristo Rey. The exclusive Run the Rey t-shirt was designed by nationally-renowned artist Sentrock. Sentrock’s “Fly Higher” mural was proudly designed and painted, with help by students, in the Counseling Hub of the school building.

SAVE THE DATE Save Date for SOX GAME

Cristo Rey Night at Guaranteed Rate Field Friday, September 23, 2022 7:10 p.m. vs. Detroit Tigers

Thursday, July 21, 2022 | 5 - 7:30 p.m.

Catch up with our community and learn about how you can boost the CWSP through your own connections.

Hosted by the John Buck Company, Guillermo Cruz '03 of Aon Corporation, and president Antonio Ortiz.

Drinks and apps will be served on the beautiful rooftop of the CNA building. All alumni and friends are welcome! RSVP at bit.ly/3roB496 or scan code.

All are invited to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Night at the Chicago White Sox game on Friday, September 23.

A portion of each $30 ticket sold will be donated back to Cristo Rey, and the first 500 ticket purchasers will receive a co-branded White Sox/Cristo Rey hat! Stick around after the game for post-game fireworks. Buy tickets at whitesox.com/cristorey or scan code.

WAYS TO GIVE Online www.cristorey.net/donate Phone (773) 890-6800

Mail Cristo Rey Jesuit High School Attn: Advancement Office 1852 West 22nd Place Chicago, IL 60608

For More Information Morgan Collier Executive Vice President mcollier@cristorey.net (773) 890-6818

Scan QR code to donate now!

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SUMMER/FALL 2022

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

• The Class of 2022 • Faculty/Staff Recognitions • A Decade of Service:

Cristo Rey’s 4th Annual Giving Day

Alumni Working at CR • Student Highlights • CWSP: Senior/Supervisor Luncheon & Remote Workers • Events: Recent Highlights & Upcoming Events

T H E WOR KS OF C R I STO R E Y J E S U I T H I G H S C H O OL