Cristo Rey Network Alumni Magazine | Winter 2022

HISTORY OF THE CRISTO REY MOVEMENT

The Cristo Rey mission stems from John P. Foley, S.J., our Chair Emeritus, after his long standing ministry work in Peru. After 34 years, he returned home to Chicago, where he joined a team of Jesuits seeking to offer the working class immigrant community a high quality Catholic education opportunity. In their efforts to establish an academically rigorous and financially sustainable school, the founding team pioneered an unconventional education and business model whereby students work five full days a month to earn a majority of their private education cost.

In 1996, Cristo Rey Jesuit High School was founded in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood with John P. Foley, S.J. as its Founding President. The Cristo Rey movement has since expanded to 38 schools in 24 states. Learn more.

To this day, the Cristo Rey Network is the largest network of Catholic high schools in the country that integrates four years of rigorous college preparatory academics with four years of professional work experience through the Corporate Work Study Program.

TO AND THROUGH GENERATIONS

The first Cristo Rey Jesuit graduates, comprised of 19 first generation students, laid the foundation for future alumni generations to follow.

Cristo Rey schools have collectively celebrated 25,800+ young men and women as they earn high school diplomas, enroll and complete degrees of higher education, and navigate the workforce as professionals

The Cristo Rey Network National Alumni Association (CRNNAA) was established in 2019, embarking on the movement's first national effort to connect, engage, and mobilize all Cristo Rey alumni from coast to coast.

Cristo Rey alumni are now building relationships on a national scope, not based simply on locality. Their unique high school experience is the common thread that brings the entire alumni community together.

In collaboration with our Alumni Partners, our mission is to provide alumni a vehicle to access lifelong learnin and professional support opportunities as well as build community with fellow graduates.

Brianna Sloan, Alumni Relations Manager

Detroit Cristo Rey High School ‘17 Loyola University Chicago ‘21 bsloan@cristoreynetwork.org

Cristo Rey Jesuit High School (Chicago) Inaugural Class of 1998

Enrich your alumni experience and join our community that is fostering beneficial relationships among Cristo Rey graduates across the county. These opportunities are free to every graduate from a Cristo Rey Network member schools.

Invite fellow alumni friends, too! Sign up to receive all the benefits CRNNAA has to offer. Click to join.

ALUMNI AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

Dolores Perales

Detroit Cristo Rey High School ‘15

YEA 2022 Sustainable Program Award presented by CLASS Agency

Guillermo Cruz

Cristo Rey Jesuit High School (Chicago) ‘03

Four Star Award presented by the City of Chicago

Kati Fernandez

Cristo Rey Boston High School ‘11

Young Alumni of the Year award presented by the College of the Holy Cross

Jhanny Jimenez

Notre Dame Cristo Rey High School ‘22

Recognized for his work from Rep. Lori Trahan of Massachusetts, with additional recognition from the Office of Secretary of Defense, Space Force, and MITRE Corporation

We want to feature you! Please share with us your awards and recognitions to be listed in a future publication Click to submit.

Meet the Champions

Networking and Community Cultural Affairs Workforce Development Student Success

Networking&Community Committee

"Without Cristo Rey, I would’ve never become the woman I am today. The work study program at my high school gave me early exposure to the professional world and many of the skills I learned through my jobs there still stick with me to this day. Without the guidance and support of the College counselors from my high school, there’s a chance I would’ve never attended and graduated from a university. I am excited to serve as chair of a council on the NLC and give back to Cristo Rey in my own way."

“Cristo Rey gave me a head start in professional development and career orientation. Although I still am shaping my professional identity I had a strong foundation I hope to aid in fostering an equitable and communal culture across the Cristo Rey communities.”

OSCAR MELGAR '13 CommitteeChair StudentSuccessCommittee CommitteeChair WorkforceDevelopment Committee

“Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory School of Houston taught me to carry myself as a professional and a man for others. The work study program exposed me to a different professional setting which gave me a professional perspective that I never knew existed. I am excited to be part of developing a platform for CRN alums to come together and network, build relationships, and know that they have a nationwide support system.”

“Cristo Rey has been the catalyst to everything that I have done professionally and academically. I found my passion at the age of 15 due to my first Cristo Rey internship and I have never looked back. I owe this institution my entire career ”

The Cristo Rey Network National Alumni Association is pleased to announce the newly appointed National Leadership Council, whose members govern the association and help mobilize our efforts to connect Cristo Rey alumni and advocates from coast to coast. This committee based initiative helps support our alumni as they continue to forge their pathways to success. Click to join.

The council is comprised of 24 alumni from 14 schools and 12 graduating classes who aim to represent the interests of the Cristo Rey alumni community through four committees:

Together, these champions are putting our goals into action!

Gabriel Evans | Portland '13

Max Hernandez | Dallas '19

Anntasia Brown | Baltimore '16

Devean Statum | Los Angeles '21

Mary Lea Bordelon | Portland '05

Richy Peña | Waukegan '13

Oscar Melgar | Houston '13

Jaide Talmadge | Cleveland '17

James Thornton | Birmingham '17

Amanda Drew | Cincinnati '17

Jarren Morrow | Cincinnati '19

Ian Oduro | New York '16

Ayishat Adeniran | Houston '17

Kobey Quamina | Baltimore '15

Yamna Cordova | East Bay '22

Bridget Reagins | Houston '15

Luis Muñoz | Chicago '15

Rishaun Hall | Philadelphia '16

Dejonna Farrar | Baltimore '15

Dishawn Carcamo | New York '16

Esmeralda Silva | Waukegan '10

David Turner | Birmingham '12

Donald Whittle | Cincinnati '20

Dominique Aaron | Cleveland '08

Notorious for its short term, hands on learning environment, studying abroad allows students to immerse themselves in culturally rich global experiences as part of their educational journey.

In sharing her story, Berenice Ibarra, graduate of Arrupe Jesuit High School (Denver) '18, is proof that the decision to attend a Cristo Rey school has the potential to open up worlds of professional and personal opportunities.

From a young age, Berenice’s mother, Ana Ibarra, instilled in her children the importance of quality education and its ability to open the doors of access In 2003, inspired to give her family the power of possibilities and a more fulfilled life, the Ibarra family made the decision to immigrate to Denver, Colorado, from Zacatecas, Mexico At the age of 14, Berenice decided to attend Arrupe Jesuit, primarily influenced by her family’s relationship with the admissions team that was fostered through the admissions process for Berenice and her three younger siblings.

To this day, Berenice vividly remembers her mother’s excitement when they learned about the school’s unique integration of college preparatory academics and professional work experience.

“She always knew Arrupe would get me to college and she always emphasized my need to go to college,” Berenice said.

During her four years at Arrupe Jesuit, she gained invaluable learnings from her Corporate Work Study Partner, Super Credit Union, and credits her mentorship from her college advising team for instilling confidence in her career trajectory and future. With highly involved supervisors and quality counseling support, she knows how to accomplish her aspirations with her college education.

As she set forth on her college adventure, her prior study abroad plans pivoted, due to the pandemic, and Berenice spent her junior year at the University of Colorado Boulder exploring Colombia virtually. Berenice spent the summer learning about planning and urban design methodologies in the innovative city of Medellín, Colombia as part of her university’s Global Seminar studio course In Colombia, she worked side by side with students and residents to produce a plan for neighborhood development, creating functional and durable designs for the community of Carpinelo Dos

SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA

BUENOSAIRES,ARGENTINA

Now, seeing the world through a new global lens, Berenice realizes her deep passion for environmentalism and prioritizing the natural world to help neglected communities achieve housing resources.

This fall, she began her studies in the University of Denver Colorado’s Master of Architecture program. For the future, Berenice hopes to make a career by combining her design skills with botanic experience and practicing sustainable infrastructures that can be shared around the world.

Continuing to expand her excellence beyond the borders of the U S , Berenice has since participated in two additional abroad programs: studying in Costa Rica in 2021 and later interning in Argentina in 2022

I really enjoyed talking with the community and creating something that helps other people.”

REPORTINGLIVEFROMDETROIT

stated Jorge Reyna, Jr , as he reflected on his adolescent years

uring his time at Detroit Cristo Rey High School, he sought support from his English teacher, Sydney Redigan, who encouraged him to join the Journalism Club in hopes of kickstarting his future career exploration.

After 2 years in the club, he identified new personal interests and skills, and with a more confident outlook on his aspirations, he decided to apply for an internship at Detroit WDIV Local 4 News. Upon graduation, he accepted an offer from University of Detroit Mercy and began his journey with Detroit WDIV Local 4 News He never looked back

He solidified his major in communications and media studies, all of which were influenced by his involvement with Detroit WDIV Local 4 News. Jorge went behind the scenes conducting interviews with high profile sports players and community changemakers, and diving deep into what it takes to craft and publish content.

As a Southwest Detroit native, one of his most memorable projects was reporting on the Southwest Fest held near his childhood home. Jorge jumped on the opportunity to combine both his love for community and journalism to give his colleagues and viewers an inside look at the “hidden gem,” he calls home.

Jorge's time with WDIV’s popular morning show, Live in the D, granted him the opportunity to work alongside the Sports, Promotions and Sales departments, showcasing the many responsibilities that do not involve the camera or news crew

With graduation only mere months away, Jorge reflects on the influences that helped him develop an impressive portfolio in the last six years. His journey through Cristo Rey, with the support of Ms. Redigan, his four year internship in the newsroom, and his unique experience as a student associate in Corporate Work Study, have groomed him for his next endeavor.

“I didn't exactly know what I wanted to go into and that made me panic,”

"To be able to put what I call home out there on a different platform meant the world to me. These are the types of stories I feel like people need to hear about, especially coming from our community."

ALUMNI PARTNERS | ABOUT

The Cristo Rey Network National Alumni Association (CRNNAA) Alumni Partner are comprised of 19 organizations and counting!

These Chicago Blackhawks Citizens Bank CommonSpirit Deloitte Dell Technologies Expeditors

EY JLL KeyBank Latham & Watkins MathWorks UBS US Bank

to leaders from across the company to highlight the various career paths available within the Supply Chain & Logistics industry.

Throughout the summer, Expeditors

“We

are proud to be partners and encourage the alumni of Cristo Rey to consider a career with Expeditors.”

This fall, Cristo Rey alumni nationwide engaged in career and financial literacy exploration, assessing their current financial stance with an introduction to employment opportunities, presented by the experts at KeyBank.

YOUR EMPLOYER A FIT?

Give back to your alumni community through the work you do. Become an Alumni Partner!

Exclusive Alumni Partners have the opportunity to engage with Cristo Rey alumni, nationwide, to bolster relationships through professional development opportunities including career fairs, networking events, industry specific webinars and one on one conversations with recent graduates, college students, entry level and seasoned professionals. Partners can recruit top talent by promoting job and internship opportunities on CRNNAA's career board.

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11 E. Adams St., Suite 800 | Chicago, IL 60603

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