04 Classof2023Scholars
With 1,300+ high school seniors across the country, the Cristo Rey movement celebrates our 25 Posse and QuestBridge scholarship recipients.
Deloitte 06
Two extraordinary female leaders are expanding their global footprint and opportunities for impact through Deloitte's partnership and support.
Q+A
JesseJovel
This exclusive interview commemorates Jesse’s experiences and reflects upon his continued journey in growing the next generation of leaders at his alma mater, Verbum Dei Jesuit High School.
In honor of Women's Month, we have elevated alumnae stories and their dedication to empowering fellow women to dream big.
CONTENTS TABLE OF
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Classof2023
For more than 25 years, Cristo Rey alumni have been instrumental in driving our mission forward. As the home to some of the nation's most inspiring and influential individuals, the National Alumni Association looks forward to inviting the Class of 2023 into this remarkable story The National Alumni Association welcomes the newest members joining our community from 35 Cristo Rey schools.
5,100+ TOTAL NATIONAL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION MEMBERS
ALUMNI REPRESENTED FROM ACROSS 39 STATES
20+ ALUMNI PARTNERS BACKING GRADUATE SUCCESS
Within our Network, 25 students from the Class of 2023 will join thousands of scholars ahead of them who have mobilized the programs’ offerings:
QuestBridge Match Scholarship recipients are granted a full four-year scholarship and early admission to one of the organization’s prestigious college partners. Awards are offered to students who have demonstrated academic achievements that meet or exceed the admissions standards of the partners, which includes being within the top 10% of their high school graduating class.
The Posse Program focuses on the tenacity, ambition, and extraordinary talent needed to become the next generation of leaders. With over 10,000 scholars to date, Posse Scholars receive full-tuition leadership scholarships from the nation's top colleges and universities, engagement in a robust campus support program, and professional development opportunities through a career program.
AL U M N I A S S
CRISTOREYNETWORKNATIONAL
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QuestBridge Match Scholarship Recipients
Cristo Rey Atlanta Jesuit High School | 5 Scholars Washington University in St. Louis, Boston College, University of Notre Dame (2), Boston University
Cristo Rey Columbus High School | 2 Scholars Denison University, Brown University
Cristo Rey Fort Worth College Prep | 2 Scholars Rice University, Boston College
Verbum Dei Jesuit High School (Los Angeles) | 1 Scholar University of Notre Dame
De La Salle North Catholic High School (Portland) | 1 Sch College of the Holy Cross
Cristo Rey OKC Catholic High School | 1 Scholar University of Notre Dame
Cristo Rey Jesuit High School (Twin Cities) | 2 Scholar Carleton University, Yale University
Cristo Rey Dallas College Prep | 1 Scholar University of Notre Dame
Cristo Rey Jesuit High School (Chicago) | 1 Scholar University of Chicago
Cristo Rey New York High School | 2 Scholars Williams College, Boston University
Posse Scholarship Recipients
ICA Cristo Rey Academy (San Francisco) | 2 Scholars Boston University (2)
Notre Dame Cristo Rey High School (Methuen, MA) | 1 Scholar Rutgers University
Cristo Rey Jesuit High School (Chicago) | 2 Scholars Middlebury College, Hobart & William Smith Colleges
Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep (Waukegan, IL) | 1 Scholar Middlebury College
Cristo Rey Jesuit High School (Twin Cities) | 1 Scholar Macalester College
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WITHOUT LIMITS
On the path toward becoming a leader, it is imperative to build, maintain, and grow relationships.
Asia Riley aspired to lead and be led by those who have traveled the path she wished to pursue. Asia, a graduate of Cristo Rey Columbus High School’s inaugural class of 2017, understood the value of quality education and being a voice for others, all of which are essential in building a foundation for her pathway to leadership.
Even before Asia stepped foot on Cristo Rey’s campus, she knew she was destined for college. With her family’s influence and support from her school leaders, she set her sights on Spelman College, a historically black liberal arts college for women located in Atlanta.
With a plan to excel in academics and extracurriculars, little did she know how her efforts and the connections she would create within those engagements would cultivate endless opportunities for growth in her future. Asia’s leadership skills developed rapidly as Student Council President and the Captain of the girls’ varsity basketball team.
Her identity was blossoming into a newfound leader, one her fellow student body relied on and trusted to lead the way toward impactful change. As an indication of that respect, Asia was given the opportunity to speak on behalf of her class at two of Cristo Rey Columbus’ most attended events.
During Cristo Rey Columbus’ Annual Garden Party, one attendee was so moved by her story that they offered to pay for her room and board upon her college acceptance. At that moment, Asia realized the power of connections and the influence they may have on her life.
Upon graduation from high school, Asia never lost sight of her ambitious goal of attending Spelman College. In the spring of 2017, she was on her way to earning a Bachelor of Arts in English.
“I was an independent student, so it was 100% on me to find scholarships. And by the grace of God, my senior year, I worked diligently to accumulate enough scholarship, so that I didn't have to work my entire senior year.”
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To no surprise, Asia continued to refine her leadership skills with her extensive involvement in the English Honor Society, Executive Leadership Council, and Pre-alumnae Council at Spelman. In a flash, she was once again walking across the stage and embarking on her next chapter as a Spelman College alumna, yet never forgetting her roots and her passion for creating personal connections.
As an Atlanta resident, she took it upon herself to engage with a fellow Cristo Rey school leader, Camille Naughton, the President at Cristo Rey Atlanta Jesuit High School, to further her relationships towards a life fulfilled in leadership.
“In an effort to meet Cristo Rey alumni living in Atlanta, I had the good fortune of meeting Asia Riley. She accepted my invitation to visit the school. I was extremely impressed with her composure and maturity. She has been integral in getting that effort off the ground, and in addition, has been an active mentor for one of our students. Asia encompasses all that we want every Cristo Rey alum to be, and it has been a joy to get to know her,” said Naughton.
This newfound connection brought a piece of her history back into her present. She credits Cristo Rey Columbus for planting the seeds of confidence within her and introducing her to a life-long community of supporters.
Thus far, Asia has garnered invaluable relationships, one of which led her to Deloitte. Asia now works in the Peachtree Towers, home to Deloitte’s Atlanta office. Her time with Deloitte began within the Training Enabling Areas Campus Hires (TEACH) program. This three-year program allows recent college graduates to experience working with a variety of teams across Government and Public Services Operations to determine where their passions lie within the workplace. In her first rotation, she learned how to properly handle contracts and business acumen to build a strong skill set for whichever path she chose.
Her exposure to the human relations department sparked her inner curiosity and allowed her passion for personal connections to flourish. She had found her fit within talent acquisition.
As the first Cristo Rey Columbus High School graduate to join Deloitte’s team, she has paved the trail for future Cristo Rey alumni to pursue their passions at Deloitte. Her goals for college persistence and building lifelong connections within her community have led her to where she is today - a trusted leader to many. She is encouraging the next generation of trailblazers and, just as she set forth to do, is being led by those who have traveled the path she continues to pursue.
“Cristo Rey Columbus better prepared me for the professional world because I had that confidence to know that I could achieve and excel at anything I put my mind to.”
“I’m able to interact with people with a focus on HR and DEI, which is everything I love.”
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THE PAST PROPELS HER FUTURE
SUSANAFLORES'19 SUSANAFLORES'19
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Her experience at Deloitte started with Luis Castro, Managing Director at Deloitte, who supervised her as a student at Cristo Rey and is now a trusted mentor. “Luis knew about my interest in accounting and since then has been a great guide and mentor for the past three years of college to this day. He provided me with several great tips on how to further succeed in my career, and for that I am extremely grateful,” stated Flores.
As a student associate, Susana worked within the One Team Department delivering a full range of administrative services and support to Deloitte professionals, clients, and guests. This workplace exposure helped her build fundamental skills that have propelled her early career and confidence going forward. Her success in high school and the Corporate Work Study Program resulted in an acceptance to the University of St. Thomas, where she currently attends and is majoring in a Bachelor’s of Business Administration Degree and Master’s of Business Administration.
When selecting a field of study in college, Susana took it upon herself to take several career aptitude quizzes to explore her options. The results ultimately led her right back to her mentor, Luis, whose guidance helped her navigate and find success in her college experience.
During her sophomore year in college, Luis introduced Susana to the Pioneer Internship at Deloitte where she worked side-by-side with professionals from practice areas such as audit, tax, and advisory sectors. Upon completion of the internship, the Deloitte team invited her back, yet again - this time for the Discovery Internship, where she gained experience with hands-on projects that made a real impact for the global company.
by the Firm’s clients,” stated Flores.
This year, Susana celebrates another milestone as she completes her third college internship with Deloitte. Susana is currently pursuing the five-year BBA and MBA program at her alma mater while challenging herself to graduate a semester early this upcoming December.
Upon her final year in college before entering the workforce, she continues to lean on Luis for mentorship and advice as she embarks upon a fourth internship with Deloitte in summer 2023. Her story continues in Suite 4500 with her optimistic mindset, but this time, without sweaty palms.
I was given the task of creating flowcharts for policies… I felt confident in my work because I was trusted and acknowledged
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I hope that each student that goes through our program is able to value the lessons and healthy habits they’ve learned at home and embrace the CWS as an opportunity to supplement and expand on their abilities. It’s important to me that our students see their families and histories as rich and valuable, and see the CWS as a golden
ty mean to you?
Verbum Dei and the Cristo Rey Network mission have meant love to me. An ambitious mission and program can only be moved by the power of love. I transferred to Verbum Dei in the summer of 2005, and after a troubled start to high school, they opened their doors despite what my transcript read.
ce, and have d But one as to be love
Upon his closing remarks, Jesse reminisced about the people who made the greatest impact on the trajectory of his education and career - a path that may not have been destined for him otherwise. His crucial decision to transfer to Verbum Dei transpired into far more than a high school diploma, it became his vocation. His invaluable perspective validates the work being done at Verbum Dei and all Cristo Rey schools, to open the doors of opportunity through the Corporate Work Study program experience. Jesse’s leadership continues to help guide the Cristo Rey mission, leaving a lasting impression on the students of Verbum Dei Jesuit High School.
l December 2022 Full circle visit to TCW Group
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Cristo Rey Network National Alumni Association exclusively serves alumni from Cristo Rey Network schools from across the nation, including 38 schools, by fostering relationships among all Cristo Rey graduates, nationwide. CRNNAA promotes mutually beneficial engagements between alumni partners and alumni, with career-driven opportunities to continue to support alumni through college and throughout their careers
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