Cristo Rey Network Alumni Magazine | Fall 2023

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C R I S T O R E Y N E T W O R K

Fall

2023

UNDER FORTY THE HONOREES

For more than two decades, Cristo Rey Network high schools have been dedicated to nurturing the academic and intellectual curiosity of high school students from across the nation. Today, 39 campuses

enroll 12,300+ students and celebrate 25,700+ graduates who once filled their classroom seats. To no surprise, their alumni applied grit and determination to maximize their Cristo Rey experience, which propelled them towards achieving their bold dreams and aspirations.

In this special edition of the Alumni Magazine, we showcase just the tip of the iceberg as we highlight 40 distinguished alumni under the age of 40. These men and women have risen as leaders in an array of industries, including Business, Education, Banking and Finance, Healthcare, Nonprofit organizations, Law, Technology and more. More notably, their personal stories serve as powerful reminders of how education, perseverance, and support can bring about transformative change in the lives of young people today and the generations of tomorrow. We know their words will inspire you as they inspire us at the Cristo Rey Network National Alumni Association.

Therefore, it is our privilege to commemorate the success of Cristo Rey Network’s inaugural 40 Under 40 cohort, profiled within.

As you read through the list of honorees, be on the lookout for a gray banner, which signifies those who have completed a full circle as they work at their former high school Corporate Work Study employer.

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"Cristo Rey's commitment to creating men and women for others acted as a vessel and equipped me to be a catalyst for driving change. It led me to my personal passion of advancing health equity in Chicago’s South and West sides and leveraging the skills I acquired through service as a means to mobilize greater collective engagement in these endeavors. The Corporate Work Study program specifically contributed to my early access in social capital, exposure to careers that create positive impact and opened the doors to my city's civic engagement sector.

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Cristo Rey Jesuit High School (Chicago) ‘10 Enterprise Social Responsibility Manager, American Medical Association KAREN AGUIRRE

GISELA CARDENAS

San Miguel High School (Tucson) ‘14 Coordinator of Outreach and Training, University of Arizona

AMANDA DREW

DePaul Cristo Rey High School (Cincinnati) ‘17

Sample Management Technician, CTI

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MABEL DOMINGUEZ

I was given so many opportunities and took away so many life lessons on hard work, accountability, planning, networking, and so much more. Saint Martin never let me forget that I was a part of their familyeven well past graduation - that they loved me and there was nothing I could do about it. All of this contributed to me returning to Saint Martin after all of these years to work with the next generation of Cristo Rey and Saint Martin graduates!”

TIANA ELLINGTON

Saint Martin de Porres High School (Cleveland) ‘11

Manager of Donor Relations, Saint Martin de Porres High School

VIRIDIANA FAJARDO

Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep (Waukegan) ‘10

Operations & Finance Director, Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep

ALEXANDER BONANO

Cristo Rey Boston High School ‘13

Health in All Policies Project Manager, Boston Public Health Commission

“The Cristo Rey Corporate Work Study program paved the way for me to be where I am today. Through this program, I learned the importance of professionalism, dedication, and discipline.”
- Alexander Bonano
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BRANDON FORD

DePaul Cristo Rey High School (Cincinnati) ‘15 Admissions and Financial Aid Coordinator, Wilmington College

“Cristo Rey will forever be the moment in which I understood my career path. As I traverse the fields of policy, government administration, politics, research and workforce development, I will always remember the 14 year old young intern in a blue and gold tie working side by side with the Mayor of Philadelphia.

KRISTIN GARRETT

Holy Family Cristo Rey Catholic High School (Birmingham) ‘13

Special Projects Manager, Southern Research

ADRIAN GONZALEZ

Cristo Rey Jesuit High School (Chicago) ‘07 School Counselor, Sarah E. Goode Stem Academy

PAOLA GUTIERREZ

Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep (Waukegan) ‘17

College Access Associate, College Bound Opportunities

RISHAUN HALL

Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School ‘ 16 Policy Associate, The Pew Charitable Trusts

I am the change that I want to be.”
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- Rishaun Hall

SAUL HERNANDEZ

Cristo Rey Jesuit High School (Twin Cities) ‘13

Bank Manager, BMO

JONATHAN HERRERA

Verbum Dei Jesuit High School (Los Angeles) ‘16

Political Strategist, University of Pennsylvania

Owner, Herrera Management

MIREYA IGELESIAS AYALA

San Miguel High School (Tucson) ‘15

MBA Candidate, Harvard Business School

IVÁN JESÚS HERRERA

Cristo Rey Sacramento High School ‘10 Lighting Programmer, IATSE Local 728

“The motto at Cristo Rey was Persistence Overcomes

Resistance. Our gym teacher taught us this and made us persevere through the tough times we have always had. There was always a bright side and a mentor from Cristo Rey staff and faculty to help navigate life. Cristo Rey made me look at the world as it is today from a very young age even though during that time I didn't know it. For that, thank you tremendously.”

ARIEL (AJ) JIMENEZ

Cristo Rey New York High School ‘09 Founder, The EmpanadaShack NYC Founder, HonestFoode

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Without a doubt, I know that I would not be the man that I am today if not for having attended such an outstanding high school.”

JULIUS L. JON

De La Salle North C

(Portland) ‘08

Assistant Professor

University of North

MAYRA LUNA

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“Attending De La Salle experiences of my life service have remained
Cristo Rey San José Jesuit High School ‘18
Human Resource Senior Representative, PepsiCo

OUTHE

High School ‘15 Counselor, ey High School

VILLA igh School

al Aid Coordinator, gh School

ZA ey High School 14 Development, DC

SA MORA

Rey Columbus hool ‘17

r of Advancement, eb Center

“San Miguel High School and the Cristo Rey Network have played a considerable role in my life both personally and professionally. This network has helped me grow into a wellrounded individual by allowing me the opportunity to obtain a quality education, participate in extracurriculars such as clubs and athletics, hone my communication skills as a student ambassador, and build a strong professional foundation by introducing me to a corporate work environment at the age of fourteen. Thank you, San Miguel and Cristo Rey teachers, administrators, coaches, and peers for being a driving force for every student that walks through those doors.”

JAVIER MADRID

San Miguel High School (Tucson) ‘14

Relationship Manager / Analyst, Goldm

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The academic program at Cristo Rey Dallas provided me with a high-quality education with high standards of academic rigor which made my transition from high school to college relatively easy. The Corporate Work Study program helped me build an understanding of what its like to work in a corporate office and contributed to my decision to pursue career in Business. Being part of a Cristo Rey school means growth, opportunity, and family. I did not get to where I am without Cristo Rey, family, and everyone who was part of this process.

EMMANUEL MORENO

Cristo Rey Dallas College Prep ‘19 Field Engineer, Moss Construction
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“We, Cristo Rey students, are one-of-akind. We come with a drive to succeed regardless of what life throws in our way, we give it our all, in anything and everything we do. The academic rigor, opportunities, and unconditional love and support from faculty, staff, and my classmates made me who I am today.”

TUMELO MUSAMALI

“Cristo Rey Jesuit in Chicago became a second home for my family and I. The culture of the school and the high expectations that were set for me allowed me to flourish early in my professional career. The exposure to a corporate environment that I received during my years in the Corporate Work Study program helped me develop my confidence which helped with taking risks as I advanced in my career.”

CESAR MUÑOZ

Cristo Rey Jesuit High School (Chicago) ‘07

Founding Principal, Cristo Rey Miami High School

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Cristo Rey Kansas City High School ‘18 KC Scholars Coordinator, Avila University

"Attending Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School was the best decision my parents made for me. My life would not be on the same trajectory if I did not attend CRPHS.

I have had once-in-a-lifetime opportunities that helped me experience career exploration, caddying on a golf course, receiving a full-ride to college, and multiple internships at Deloitte during my time at CRPHS which led to my current career at Deloitte."

ALZBERTA NEI

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“The Cristo Rey Network has provided me 16 years of incredible, life-changing opportunities, which I could not be more thankful for. From my years as a student at Cristo Rey New York, to my first job out of college at Cristo Rey Richmond, and now as a member of the team at Don Bosco Cristo Rey, I really do not know where I would be without Cristo Rey. I hope to continue providing opportunities for all members of the Cristo Rey family to succeed.”

GABE OBREGON

Cristo Rey New York High School ‘13 Director of Corporate Work Study Program, Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School (Washington D.C.)

JAMES PADILLA

Cristo Rey New York High School ‘12 Data Operations, Major League Baseball (MLB)

SELINA PAGAN

Saint Martin de Porres High School (Cleveland) ‘14

Co-Executive Director, Young Latino Network

DOLORES PERALES

Detroit Cristo Rey High School ‘15

Co-Director of Cadillac Urban Gardens Grant Coordinator, CHASS Center

RONALD (DANIEL) PETTIT

Cristo Rey Sacramento High School ‘12

Medical Illustrator, Eisenhower Army Medical Center

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“Attending Saint Martin de Porres High School fostered my love of teaching and helping others. Even as an alumni, I frequently volunteer at the high school, as well as became the event coordinator for BOLDforce Ohio, which is a AfricanAmerican affinity group through Salesforce that centers around the personal development of employees, our internal community, and our external community.”

INDIRA SAMUELS

Saint Martin de Porres High School (Cleveland) ‘10

QA Technical Consultant, Salesforce

BRIDGET REAGINS

Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory School of Houston ‘15 Suites & Catering Manager, Rocket City Trash Pandas

NIA ROBINSON

Christ the King Jesuit College Preparatory School (Chicago) ‘19 Aspiring Advertising Specialist

ESMERALDA SILVA

Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep (Waukegan) ‘10

Anti Human Trafficking Coordinator, Children’s Wisconsin

“The Cristo Rey Network's impact on me through the CWS program and mentorship has genuinely made me the young professional that I am today. If it weren't for this program, I wouldn't have had the confidence to navigate through college with the spirit of knowing I had the keys to understanding corporate and networking with people.

I genuinely cherish the impact that Cristo Rey had on my life and credit this program to why I am successful because of the time and dedication that my teachers and directors of the programs took with me to equip me for life in and out of college.”

KEAIRA TURNER

Holy Family Cristo Rey Catholic High School (Birmingham) ‘11

Public Relations Manager, City of Birmingham Police Department

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“Having the Corporate Work Study program prepared me for my future like no other. There’s so many times I hear that schools need to implement programs like these so that the youth have a kick start like we did.”

BRANDON WOODALL SR.

Saint Martin de Porres High School (Cleveland) ‘11 Executive Chef, Valerie’s Kitchen and Catering Culinary Instructor, Lorain County Community College

“Cristo Rey St. Martin's mantra and goal of guiding their students ‘to and through college’ remains a motivating force in all aspects of my life. I strive diligently to achieve my ambitions, while always keeping in mind that the objective isn't merely reaching a destination, but also surpassing it. Cristo Rey has not only instilled in me the importance of celebrating successes but has also aided me in acknowledging that there is always more work to be done. As they say, ‘The top of one mountain is the bottom of another’.”

CHEYANNE WILLIAMS

Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep (Waukegan) ‘15

Attorney, King & Spalding LLP

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Cristo Rey Network National Alumni Association exclusively serves alumni from Cristo Rey Network schools from across the nation, including 39 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.

A CRISTO REY NETWORK NATIONAL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION PUBLICATION
11 E. Adams St., Suite 800 | Chicago, IL 60603
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