by admin | Nov 30, 2021 | President’s Pen
Sometimes small occurrences combine in such a way that saying it is just a coincidence is an entirely insufficient explanation. In certain moments, Providence plays a hand and for a brief second you sense that God really is actively working in our world through those around us. At Cristo Rey St. Martin, it seems we are offered more of these moments then most. Probably because we are surrounded daily by talented young people working toward a better future for themselves, their families, and our world. In the spirit of Thanksgiving and with the Hope so integral to Advent, I want to share one of those recent moments witnessed here at CRSM.
Earlier this month, one of our sophomores contacted our Campus Ministry office expressing interest in doing something for others. She was motivated by an event that took place last year at this time in late November/early December. CRSM was in a hybrid schedule at that time and students were only able to come to school two days per week – that is how Rosa and her classmates spent their entire freshmen year at CRSM – but, because she is a thoughtful and compassionate person and because her parents are, too, and because maybe her limited time at CRSM still stressed the importance of being a community of “persons for others,” Rosa described her thinking as follows: “Last year around November or December we saw a man in front of our house and he came to knock on our door to ask for a blanket since it was cold outside. My mom gave him a bed comforter we had and we also gave him a jacket and a hat.” Since it was getting cold again, she thought of that person and then thought he and people like him would be in need again this year.
“Since winter is coming up, I want to do a type of fundraiser or charity thing for the homeless. What I was thinking about was a fundraiser and maybe from that money we can buy some winter essentials, such as jackets, blankets, boots, gloves, scarfs, hats, socks etc. I know that during the winter a lot of homeless people have trouble with this… I don’t know if you are able to help in any way with this or if you can maybe help me look for something to volunteer for?”
Wouldn’t you know it but the very same morning that Rosa reached out, our Campus Minister was contacted by an organization called Cool Ministries. “Rosa came to me shortly after a gentleman from COOL food pantry here in Waukegan had contacted us to see if we’d be willing to host a supply drive for veterans this November.” So, Rosa and about 4 or 5 other sophomores headed up the weeks-long project to collect toilet paper, body soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, laundry detergent, shampoo so that veterans in crisis could also get these special items when they came to the pantry to get food.
I’m reminded of what Jesus said around the table at the Last Supper in John’s gospel:
“Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
May we all be touched by some experience with others – by some chance encounter with a stranger perhaps – and may that be the seed that motivates us to do something out of love. May that seed grow and grow to motivate us to do even more until all we know is love. And by that love others will know God.
by admin | Nov 30, 2021 | Student Life
Seniors Gallery, Eliza and Judy thought they were meeting with other members of the Class of 2022 and Principal Mike Odiotti to discuss outstanding details they needed to clear up before graduation next June; instead, the trio and 14 of their peers found a representative from Hope College waiting for them with surprise acceptance packages and a sea of congratulations.
“This is so exciting,” said Judy, who will be a first-generation college student. “It’s almost unbelievable to think I’m holding this and that it is real.” A member of the National Hispanic Honor Society, the National Honor Society and a Student Ambassador, Judy is looking forward to college and possibly pursuing a career in forensic science.
The trio were among the 18 students who received hand-delivered acceptance packages to Hope College, on Nov. 17. Hope College is a four-year liberal arts college in Holland, MI, which shares a like mission with CRSM, said Kayleigh Wonch, a CRSM English teacher and graduate of Hope College. Fifteen percent of students there are considered first-generation college students.
“At Hope College, we know that how we lead is how we live: with passion, curiosity and an anchored conviction to serve the world, which is very much like what you do at Cristo Rey St. Martin,” said Allison Bulson, admissions representative for Hope College who presented the acceptance packages.
Representatives from College Bound Opportunities and Waukegan to College also attended the acceptance event.
For CRSM seniors, ‘tis the season when they start hearing back from the colleges and universities they’ve applied to, and have shared their dreams in personal statements. Acceptances are just starting to dribble in.
“This is huge and makes it all seem like it’s really happening,” said Gallery, who is looking to pursue opportunities in environmental science.
by admin | Nov 30, 2021 | Academic
Academic rigor and commitment to college enrollment truly sets CRSM apart, as evidenced by recent data that shows CRSM reaching top marks among the 38 Cristo Rey Network schools on readiness for college, graduates doing well in college, AP tests and more.
Each year the Cristo Rey Network shares an annual data directory which is an opportunity for us to measure how we are doing relative to the other 38 schools from across the Cristo Rey network on key benchmarks, said Mike Odiotti, principal.
AP Test Results
- AP Physics: CRSM, 50%, Network, 10%
- AP Government: CRSM, 40%, Network, 9%
- AP US: CRSM: 44%, Network, 14%
- AP Seminar: CRSM: 93%, Network, 76%
- AP Bio: CRSM 16%, Network, 9 %
- AP English Language: CRSM, 25%, Network, 20%
- AP English Lit: CRSM 14%, Network, 10%
- AP Calculus: CRSM, 8 %; Network, 6%
- AP World: CRSM, 9%, Network 12%
- AP Spanish Language: 83%, Network, 86%
- AP Spanish Literature: CRSM, 49%, Network, 60%
AP Tests Passed
Ranked second out of 38 schools: Dallas, 182; CRSM, 156.
AP STEM
Ranked 2nd in total STEM tests passed and 1st in percentage of STEM tests passed.
Retention
CRSM is the number one leader in the network for high school retention.
88 % of the students in the classes of 2019, 2020 and 2021 demonstrated ninth grade through high school graduation retention.
They are followed by Atlanta with 85%.
College Readiness
59% of the Class of 2022 students are deemed ready for college, which is second place in the network after New York, with 68% and a 37% average for network schools.
by admin | Nov 29, 2021 | Campus Ministry
A big shout-out to our senior Alexis and the 175 supporters who paused on Nov. 11th to honor those who have served in the military at the Lake County Veteran’s Memorial Dedication Ceremony.
Dedicating her invocation to her grandfather who was a P.O.W. in World War II, Alexis kicked off the event held at the Waukegan National Airport in a tent directly next to the Lake County Veteran’s Plaza.
“Today is an important day to recognize all the men and women in uniform who safeguard our nation and never ask to be thanked, but we can never thank them enough—today and every other day of the year too,” said keynote speaker U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth, who served as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army for 23 years.
Each year, on Nov. 12th, Sen. Duckworth celebrates her “Alive Day”—the anniversary of the day her Blackhawk helicopter was shot down in Iraq, “the day I almost died, but didn’t because my buddies refused to leave me behind. It’s because of their heroism that I’m alive today. That’s why, from the moment I woke up in Walter Reed nearly two weeks later, I vowed to never stop trying to be worthy of my crew and the second chance they gave me. I live each day working to repay their sacrifices by doing everything I can to take care of all veterans.”
The highlight of the Lake County Veteran’s Memorial event was the dedication of a F-111 Aardvark displayed at the airport honoring past and present veterans and educating the future generations about the costs of freedom. Among the featured speakers were Congressman Brad Schneider, Waukegan Mayor Ann Taylor, Sandy Hart, Board Chair of the Lake County Board of Commissioners, Terry Prince, Acting Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans and Bob Hamilton, Vice President of the Veteran’s Memorial Retired Chairman / CEO, Gewalt Hamilton Associates, Inc., a long-time Corporate Work Study Program partner with CRSM.
by admin | Nov 26, 2021 | Alumni Spotlight
“Open up and strive to learn more about yourself as a person. Raise your hand more and grab the opportunities that are being given to you.” These are the words of wisdom, Mayra Tenorio, 28, Class of 2011 alumna wants students at Cristo Rey St. Martin to hold close to their hearts as they pursue their passions and build their futures.
“I had never expected much for myself, and college just seemed like one of those unreachable dreams,” says Mayra, who at 11-years-old moved to Beach Park from Mexico with her mom and younger sister.
But as a high school student at CRSM, Mayra remembers feeling inspired and supported by teachers and administrators to contemplate life from a go-get-‘me perspective, find herself and flourish. Her CRSM mentors promised the passion she felt to help immigrants, and especially exploited women, could transform the course of her life and her words and work would someday move and motivate the people around her.
Jumping into Action
During the last 11 years, Mayra has traveled to more than 10 countries across the globe to do exactly that. Most recently, Mayra has implemented leadership programs in Seoul, South Korea, serving as cross-cultural coordinator with the Asia Foundation and supporting a global leadership program for women through the Asian Center for Women’s Studies at Ewha Womans University. She’s chronicled women’s survival stories in the Dominican Republic, Canada, Vietnam, Peru and Argentina, exploring how indigenous women in Guatemala mobilized and developed mental health and community practices to resist gendered violence.
Throughout the years, in between her journeys, Mayra returned to Cristo Rey several years ago and co-led two series of leadership workshops for female students. She worked closely with students to facilitate Know Your Rights workshops for undocumented families and chaperoned an exchange trip to South Dakota that brought together the historical struggles of Latinx and Lakota students.
Mayra’s journey underscores the capacity of young people to grab life by the horns and make bold and courageous moves to widen the world of possibilities for themselves.
Bringing Light to the World
From an early age, Mayra has been interested in women’s issues. As she grew into adolescence and early adulthood, she became more aware of and concerned with issues of marginalization and the violence experienced by so many women. She’s always been inspired by her mom, Irma, who works as a housekeeper at Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Zion and raised Mayra and her sister on her own, despite great odds. “It was hard for my mom when we moved here and she has had to make a lot of sacrifices, but she heard about St. Martin and knew this was the place for her little girl to go and be the first in all our family to aim for college,” says Mayra.
That led her to Swarthmore College, where she studied sociology and anthropology After graduation in 2015, she won the prestigious Watson fellowship and became a Gates Cambridge Scholar in 2017, where she completed an MPhil in Multi-Disciplinary Gender Studies at the University of Cambridge and conducted research on indigenous women’s mental health groups in Guatemala. While in Korea, she supported the advocacy efforts of various Korean NGOs on issues around digital sex crimes and ME TOO. She also taught a class on gender for young Koreans in collaboration with the US Embassy and helped plan an interdisciplinary feminist conference for leaders across Asia. During COVID-19, she was tasked to be the sole coordinator for the Luce Scholars program in Seoul.
The Next
Now, back in Beach Park, Mayra is contemplating her “next,” hoping to bring dedication to finding ways to uplift women and girls and empower changemakers around the world. Mayra aspires to grow as an educator and advocate that brings women’s experiences and community voices to the forefront. “I’m hoping to work in a major city like D.C. or Boston for a foundation or non-profit,” she says. “I saw during COVID how foundations were able to mobilize funds and resources quickly and directly to those who need them most. I want to be part of something like that.”
When she’s not sending out job queries, Mayra has been substituting teaching at CRSM, and in her “free time,” watches Korean TV shows to keep her language skills honed.
“Ms. Eby, Dr. O, Mr. Dippold and the CRSM community have always been there for me,” says Mayra, “They encouraged me to strive for opportunities that would challenge me and said if I worked hard, one day I would be successful. To this day, I continue to have the support of CRSM and feel very lucky to have a community that not only celebrates my successes, but will always cheer me on, on my way to accomplish more.”
