In the classroom, the community, and Chicago

Las ObrasTHE WORKS OF CRISTO REY JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL

FALL 2016

THE TRIP OF A LIFETIMEBy: Lizbeth S., Class of 2017

It was on June 26 at five in the morning when everything hit me: I was going to a different country not knowing a thing, except for the fact that I was going to have two calls home in three weeks. The nerves started and, trying to maintain a positive attitude, I smiled and waved goodbye to my mother at the airport. Little did I know… I was about to take a trip of a lifetime.

The RoadLess Traveled (RLT) program was introduced to me by my college counselor at Cristo Rey. This program takes high school students to different parts of the world for service learning. This was my first time doing a service learning trip abroad. After flying to Costa Rica, I would do 11 days of service and have the rest of the time for fun and new experiences. Surprisingly, my favorite part of the trip was doing the service. Everyone we met in the town was so humble and welcoming.

Aside from the service, I met new people! I made a lot of new friends and got the chance to compare cultures. I am used to being in a school that is not very racially or ethnically diverse, so when I got off the plane and saw so many different people, I felt out of place. However, I stepped out of my comfort zone, and we all shared our cultures. I even got the chance to teach my new friends how to dance!

As a part of the program, the trip organizers took away our electronics. This, I thought, was going to be dreadful. However, it made the trip much more exciting, and I interacted more with the people around me. Being away from technology, closer to nature, and being so close to nothing but positivity definitely shaped me into a better person. When I came back, everyone saw a different me – a better me. I used to spend all day on my phone scrolling through my newsfeed, and this had a negative effect on me. I became irritated over little things, like a bad Internet connection. Coming back, however, I hardly ever grab my phone. I deleted my social media and it has made my life more productive and positive. Anytime my friends and I hang out, our phones are no longer present.

I’m a much happier person now, and I get along better with my mom and siblings. I realize that not everyone is as blessed as I am, and I stopped getting angry when my family can’t afford certain things. Materialistic possessions aren’t everything, and I’m blessed to have a mother who has the strength to double as a father. Thanks to this experience, I also appreciate nature much more now. I used to be a person that wanted to stay home, that did not even think about traveling abroad. This trip completely changed my mind, and now I am even looking into schools abroad. The program also inspired me to do more international service. This experience in Costa Rica was my best memory of high school. Pura Vida!

The Cristo Rey Summer Enrichment Fund, made possible by generous donations, grants students the opportunity to attend summer enrichment programs across the country and abroad that they otherwise could not afford. This past summer, our college counselors arranged for 60 Cristo Rey students to participate in 32 unique enrichment programs, 9 of which were subsidized by the Summer Enrichment Fund.

Right: Lizbeth and fellow participants repair homes

of families in need in the rural villages of Costa Rica.

DEAR FRIENDS,

This fall, we began our 21st academic year at Cristo Rey Jesuit High School, enrolling the largest number of students in the school’s history. I am also proud to say that for the fourth consecutive year, we have not raised tuition. This year’s senior class will pay the same tuition rate they paid as freshman. Does that surprise you? Why haven’t we raised tuition?

The answer is simple: our mission. Cristo Rey was founded purposely and specifically to serve families who otherwise would never consider sending their children to a private school because it was financially unattainable. We believe that keeping tuition low allows our families to send their children to a safe, high quality, college preparatory school.

With 89% of our students already receiving some sort of financial assistance or scholarship aid, the majority of our families already can’t afford the current tuition of $2,950 a year. By keeping tuition low and affordable, we are fulfilling our mission. While costs continue to rise, the income of our families remains at or below poverty level. This is why it is more important than ever to have your continued support.

I invite you to visit us this year and see how we are fulfilling our mission. Our doors are always open to you.

¡VIVA Cristo Rey!

Antonio Ortiz, President

BMO HARRIS BANK: NEW APPROACHES TO CORPORATE ENGAGEMENTBy: Matthew Crossett, Director of Corporate

and Foundation Relations

In the fall of 2010, BMO Harris Bank planted the seed for a growing corporate partnership with Cristo Rey Jesuit High School. The bank’s Latino Alliance Employee Resource Group reached out to Cristo Rey, contributing scholarship funds donated by employees in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. This first touchpoint led to the hiring of four students through the Corporate Work Study Program, and since then, the relationship has blos- somed beyond the 12 students they currently employ. Through volunteerism, financial literacy education, paid student intern- ships, and scholarship fundraising, BMO Harris Bank and its Latino Alliance support our students while creating a more diverse workforce, increasing awareness for diversity and inclu- sion, and providing opportunities for employees to engage with our community.

Over the past two years, BMO Harris Bank has become a familiar face at our November Career Day event – an opportunity for the entire Sophomore Class to explore career options, talk with caring professionals, and practice job interviewing skills. At Career Day, students have a chance to ask volunteers what they really do every day at their jobs, how they got to where they are now, what they studied in college, and what advice they have for succeeding in their positions. Last year, our students had a chance to hear from BMO Harris employees during panel discus- sions on the topics of finance and entrepreneurship, before diving in for one-on-one conversations and even mock interviews with the volunteers.

The BMO Harris Latino Alliance presents two checks to students Javier and Hyde, the 2015-16 scholarship winners.

Continued on page 7…

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A WARM WELCOME TO OUR NEW BOARD CHAIR

We are pleased to welcome Ms. Patrice DeCorrevont as this year’s new Chairperson of the Board of Directors. Ms. DeCorrevont previously served as a member on the Cristo Rey Board from 2009 – 2015 and, after a one-year hiatus required by the Board bylaws, she has returned to serve as Chair for a two-year renew- able term. With over 30 years of experience in the banking and financial services industry, Ms. DeCorrevont brings professionalism, dedication, and leadership to this very important role.

Ms. DeCorrevont first learned about Cristo Rey when she attended the annual VIVA event in 2007 with her brother, Mr. Paul Purcell. She was immediately struck by the unique Cristo Rey model, combining education and work experience, as well as the special role that our families play in their children’s education. Since then, Ms. DeCorrevont’s commitment to Cristo Rey’s mission has been unwavering. Reflecting on the road ahead, Ms. DeCorrevont has reaffirmed the continued importance of our work: “Going into our 21st year with enrollment at capacity, you might think that means we don’t have the financial need, but we’re learning it’s the opposite. There is a gap. We’re seeing the cost of education rise faster than the incomes of our families, and we need to continue making Cristo Rey affordable for all of our families.”

Ms. DeCorrevont also plans to focus her efforts on the increased strategic importance and role of Cristo Rey’s growing alumni base. She is excited to continue finding ways to expand our College Retention Fund, which distributes emergency funding to alumni for books, fees, and other incidental expenses vital to college completion. Ms. DeCorrevont points out that “as our alumni grow older, we have a responsibility to continue offering them services to make sure they succeed in college and beyond.”

We are grateful to Ms. DeCorrevont and the other members of the Board for their tireless work on the school’s behalf. Their sup- port of our mission and commitment to helping us reach our goals has never been more essential to the success of our institution. In addition to the new Board Chair, we are pleased to welcome two new members to the Board of Directors: Ms. Rocio Lopez and Rev. Eric Sundrup, SJ.

Rocio Lopez, Senior Manager at Accenture’s Internal IT Organization, is new to the Cristo Rey community. She brings expertise in Information Technology, experience as a Hispanic business leader, and a commitment to Catholic education.

Fr. Eric Sundrup, SJ, taught at Cristo Rey during his formative years as a Jesuit. In addition to being a Jesuit priest and former teacher, Fr. Sundrup brings expertise in communications, specifically social media.

Welcome Ms. Lopez, Fr. Sundrup, and Ms. DeCorrevont!For biographical information on the new

board members, please see page 5...

Ms. Patrice DeCorrevont, Chairperson of the Board

Ms. Rocio Lopez

Rev. Eric Sundrup, SJ

4

MY EXPERIENCE AS SCHOOL CHAPLAINBy: Father Pat Casey, SJ, Cristo Rey School Chaplain

Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Chicago is, in many ways, like any other high school in the city. But, the school has also developed some unique cultural elements: a sense of bonding and solidarity through sacrifice and self-discipline, a true feeling of family that gives working and studying at Cristo Rey a deeper meaning.

On my first day of work at Cristo Rey, in 2014, I was impressed by two simple observations that have remained with me ever since. First, the school was immaculate – no papers or trash in the hallways, the classrooms, or on the grounds. This, to me, indicates that students share an attitude of love and care for their school. I was also impressed by the fact that one could walk through the building on a school day and barely hear a sound – a sign of discipline and self-respect on the part of the students.

My first week working in the school, I was greeted by a group of seniors who took the effort to come to my office and make me feel at home and accepted into this new community. Fellow new- comers, the freshmen class, were embraced by returning students who affixed personalized welcome signs on each locker. What a special group of students!

Now, in my third year as School Chaplain, I am continually struck by the care and attention students receive here. Each week, a list is posted detailing birthdays of all the members of the CR community. This simple gesture makes us all feel that we are an important part of this “family.” Those who celebrate their birth-days are also recognized at weekday Masses in the chapel.

Every Cristo Rey Mass is special, but one stands out for me: the Mass in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe. It is one of the school Masses where all of the students, faculty, and staff attend along with members of the students’ families. After the students perform the dramatization of our Lady appearing to Juan Diego during the Mass, the parents serve a home-cooked break- fast to the entire community. The deep sense of family that day is truly remarkable.

Pope Francis has reminded the Jesuits that their place is on the frontier. However, Jesuits are not just the men who form the Society of Jesus, but all who follow Ignatian spirituality. And that is what makes working at Cristo Rey so gratifying. Men and women, teachers, students and their families, benefactors, employers, and sponsors all coming together on the educational frontier to make a change.

Right: As school chaplain, Fr. Casey leads the school

Masses, guarantees the sacramental ministries, and serves to enrich the spiritual

lives of our students.

Below: The freshman class is welcomed with hand-

made art created by seniors.

Save the DateJoin us for the 3rd annual fundraising event

to support art education at Cristo Rey.

Las Mujeres De Cristo Rey

February 9, 2017 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Catalyst Ranch

More information on the newest Board members:Patrice DeCorrevont is the Executive Vice President of Government and Institutional Banking at Wells Fargo. Based in Chicago, she serves as co-head of Government Banking, respon- sible for the Midwest, Southwest and West regions of the country. Prior to joining Wells Fargo, Ms. DeCorrevont spent seven years at JPMorgan Chase.

A graduate of the University of Notre Dame, Ms. DeCorrevont earned an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. A very active participant in our city’s civic life, she serves on the boards of Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and Junior Achievement of Chicago, and is a member of The Economic Club of Chicago. Originally from Salt Lake City, Utah, Patrice currently lives in Chicago with her husband and two children.

Rocio Lopez is a Senior Manager in Accenture’s Internal IT Organization, based in Chicago. Her technology career has grown over the past twenty years at Accenture. She spent nine of those years on assignment in Madrid, Spain where she grew the talent within a newly formed Technology Delivery Centre. Currently Ms. Lopez is driving Information Technology Adoption and Deployment globally for all of the offerings that enable Accenture’s Client Facing workforce.

Ms. Lopez leads the Hispanic American Employee Resource Group in the US Central Region, is an active member of the Hispanic IT Executive Council, and now leads the Hispanic IT Executive Council’s Latina Program focused on advancing Latina Careers in technology fields. Born and raised in Chicago, where she attended Catholic grade and high schools, Ms. Lopez is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame. She enjoys spending time with her family, running, and watching sports.

Rev. Eric Sundrup, SJ, is Associate Editor and Director of Audience Development at America Media in New York City, NY. One of its original founders, he now serves as an editor-at-large for The Jesuit Post, a website and social media outreach project for 20-30 year olds, recently incorporated into America Media, a Jesuit publishing ministry that includes America Magazine.

Fr. Sundrup entered the Society of Jesus in 2003 after earning a B.S. in Biology from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. He went on to earn a M.A. in Applied Philosophy from Loyola University Chicago and a M.Div. from Santa Clara University Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley, California. He was ordained in 2014.

Fr. Sundrup lived and worked in Tacna, Peru, before performing various roles at Jesuit secondary schools, including Loyola Academy in Wilmette, Ill., where he was a member of their Board, and Cristo Rey Jesuit High School, where he was a biology teacher and college counselor.

NEW BOARD… continued from page 3 EXTRACURRICULARS KICK-OFF THE 2016 SCHOOL YEAR

As we begin the new school year, students are encouraged to join extracurricular activities and sports, in support of our mission of preparing well-rounded leaders. Cristo Rey students have the opportunity to participate in more than 20 extracurricular activities which offer our students the ability to explore different interests outside of the classroom. Whether they are on the field, acting in the school play, or serving in the community, our students are encouraged to grow emotionally, spiritually, and intellectually. The list of this year’s student activities is below:

Art ClubBook ClubBoys & Girls BasketballBoys & Girls Cross CountryBoys & Girls SoccerBoys & Girls Track & FieldBoys & Girls VolleyballBoys BaseballCheerleadingChoirChristian Life CommunitiesCristeros in ActionDance & MusicDrama ClubFreshmen Mentor Program

Girls SoftballHistory ClubHowlett Cup Mock TrialNational Honor SocietyNewspaperProm CommitteeStudent Ambassador

School RepresentativesStudent CouncilTable TennisTechnology ClubWriting ClubYearbookYouth Investment Academy

6

GOLF OUTING RAISES $150,000 FOR STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS

The 14th Annual Golf for Cristo Rey event was a great success! A beautiful day on the Onwentsia course was followed by a suc- cessful fundraising event for our families – raising over $150,000 for student scholarships!

Our student speaker, Alejandra, reminded us of the importance of scholarships: “The majority of students can only come to Cristo Rey if they have a scholarship. You make it possible for students at Cristo Rey to succeed. Thank you for all you have done for me and my classmates and all the students who come after me.”

And because 89% of Cristo Rey students like Alejandra receive scholarships or financial aid, your donations are needed now more than ever. Thank you to all who supported Golf for Cristo Rey!

Above: After a great game of golf, spouses and friends join golfers for cocktails and dinner in the historic Onwentia Clubhouse.

Above: This year's Golf Chairs Connor Martin, Adam Ciborowski, and Xu Wu share advice with student speaker, Alejandra.

JGMA Architects (right) and SF Foundation

(below) pose for a photo between holes.

7

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

November 4 Ten Year Alumni Reunion

5-6 Fall Play

11 Career Day, 8:00 am

23 Misa de Cristo Rey, 10:45 am

24-25 Closed for Thanksgiving

December 9 Board of Directors Meeting, 7:30 am

12 Our Lady of Guadalupe Mass, 7:00 am

26 Offices closed for Christmas

January 2017 2 Offices reopen

9 School resumes

16 Closed for Martin Luther King Day

February 2017 9 Las Mujeres de Cristo Rey, Catalyst Ranch

All events are at Cristo Rey Jesuit High School unless otherwise indicated.

Editor: Ashley K. Donohue, Director of External Relations

If you would like to receive electronic versions of Cristo Rey communications, visit www.cristorey.net to sign-up.

BMO Harris employees also lent their expertise during Cristo Rey’s annual March interview weekend, helping our families complete time-sensitive financial aid applications. Each year, 100% of families applying to Cristo Rey request financial aid toward the $2,950 family contribution toward the cost of education. This year, the average freshman family of five earns only $35,729, necessitating over $600,000 in direct financial aid disbursements. Together with BMO Harris Bank employee volunteers, who contributed their time for a portion of the weekend, our families navigate the application process and receive the support they need to join the Cristo Rey community.

These opportunities stemmed from BMO Harris employees’ initial support for our student scholarships. Since their first fundraising effort in 2010, the BMO Harris Bank’s Latino Alliance Employee Resource Group has raised over $30,000 in scholarship funds through hundreds of donations from employees. Last year’s graduating BMO Harris Scholar even received a surprise visit at graduation from Latino Alliance representatives bearing flowers and well-wishes for her transition to college! Last month, we joined the BMO Harris Latino Alliance in kicking off the fundrais- ing effort for this year’s scholarship campaign at their annual Hispanic Heritage Month event.

Complementing its community involvement with Cristo Rey, BMO Harris Bank also launched a new mobile-friendly, Spanish- language website, providing Spanish-language resources for personal finance decisions. Together, these efforts creatively engage the Cristo Rey community at multiple levels and serve as an example of the many ways Cristo Rey welcomes its corporate partners to get involved in our school, in addition to hiring students. For more information on these and other ways your company can engage the students and families of Cristo Rey, contact us at advancement@cristorey.net.

BMO HARRIS BANK… continued from page 2

Latino Alliance members support BMO scholarship recipient Hyde on her graduation day this past June.

In the classroom, the community, and Chicago

Las ObrasFALL 2016

THE WORKS OF CRISTO REY JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL

1852 WEST 22ND PLACE, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60608

INSIDE THIS ISSUE• Senior Reflects on Summer in Costa Rica

• New Approaches to Corporate Engagement

• CR Welcomes New Board Members

• Golf Outing a Success!

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In the classroom, the community, and Chicago

Fall 2016 Las Obras THE WORKS OF CRISTO REY JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL

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