by Miranda Eby | Jul 15, 2025 | President’s Pen
I came across this quote the other day, and it really resonated with me:
“In my travels all over the world, I have come to realize that what distinguishes one child from another is not ability, but access. Access to education, access to opportunity, access to love.”
The quote is attributed to the famous female hip-hop artist Lauryn Hill. In 2008, Rolling Stone magazine named her one of “The 100 Greatest Singers of All Time.” She has led a tumultuous life and seen a lot of the world. Enough, at least, to gain some profound insight into the human condition, especially when it comes to young people. Regardless of what you think of rappers or Ms. Hill, her words ring true.
Gaining “access” is vital for young people to be able to develop their God-given gifts. That is what Cristo Rey St. Martin is all about. Our model of education opens doors that have been locked for most students from low-income backgrounds. Getting access to a quality education is denied to too many young people. Research shows that students who lack basic math and reading skills are more likely to drop out of high school, are less likely to graduate from college, are incarcerated at higher rates, are more likely to be unemployed, are more likely to enroll in public assistance programs and will make significantly less money than their peers who received quality educations.
Our Principal recently pulled data from the Illinois Report Card showing that the graduation rates for Waukegan and North Chicago public high schools are less than 74%, and fewer than 20% of those graduates enroll in college, let alone ever earn a degree. In contrast, Cristo Rey’s high school graduation rate is 100% and 92% of our graduates enroll in bachelor’s programs, with 70% earning a degree within 6 years.
At CRSM, we are accelerating access through our Corporate Work Study Program. Giving young people a glimpse of what careers might be possible for them if they stay in school and go on to college puts them in the driver’s seat – they can see futures for themselves and a path forward for getting there.
We really underestimate what high school students can contribute to an adult environment because, as a society, we give them so few opportunities to enter those environments and prove themselves. Without our work-study program, our graduation rates and college completion rates would be much lower.
Part of my job is always looking for more work opportunities for our students. Recently, a financial services company told me, “We just don’t do internships. We rely on recruiting on college campuses.” My response was, “Well, then you’ll never have students like ours working at your company because, without the opportunity to work in professional environments while in high school, they will never get to the college campuses you’re recruiting from. You must go upstream and invest in high schoolers if you ever want to hire diverse talent like ours!” Getting access too late is a dream deferred. Too many doors get permanently shut, and options become more limited.
At CRSM, our students walk out our doors after graduation with myriad options for their future. For the last 6 years in a row, every senior has been accepted to a bachelor’s program. Even if they are one of the few who do not enroll, they have the confidence of knowing they have what it takes to get in.
Students receive an additional and incredibly powerful type of access from CRSM: the opportunity to explore what they believe and to experience ways of living out their beliefs in the world. Community service can be a profoundly transformational experience. Sharing your talents to improve the lives of others is rewarding, but it also strengthens your identity as a member of the community, someone who not only belongs but who can make a real difference.
An alum currently in medical school at the University of Wisconsin – Madison recently wrote,
“I’m deeply grateful for my experience at Cristo Rey St. Martin and want to thank the entire community for helping me become who I am today. CRSM laid the foundation for the values I carry with me, instilling in me a strong sense of purpose, faith, and service principles that continue to guide me as I navigate medical school and advocate for underserved communities. Inspired by our patron saint, St. Martin, I strive to use my education and privilege to be a voice for those who are often unheard, especially in healthcare spaces where representation and advocacy are urgently needed. “
Clearly, when a young person obtains access to education, access to opportunity, and access to love, they will find both success and the desire to create similar access for others. There is a sign outside our Campus Ministry office that sums up this idea. It is another quote, but not attributed to anyone (for all I know, our Campus Minister wrote it himself). It is yet another profound insight and another synopsis of what CRSM is all about:
“To live your faith, put love into action, give something back, learn about yourself, explore career possibilities, pursue your passions, build your resume, connect with others, meet new people, learn about your community, have fun with friends, grow your self-confidence, gain leadership skills, show that young people care, feel other people’s needs and respond to them, be generous, work for a better world, make others proud, make a di\erence. It feels good to do good … because that’s the way God created us.”
¡Viva, Cristo Rey!
by Miranda Eby | Jul 14, 2025 | Development, School News
Pickledon, CRSM’s first-ever family-friendly pickleball event, was a smashing success! Hosted by our Associate Board, the event brought together supporters of all ages for an afternoon of fun, friendly competition, and community spirit.
Guests enjoyed pickleball lessons from two tennis pros, making it easy for beginners to jump in and play. Adding to the excitement, the women’s Wimbledon semifinal match—featuring an American player—was livestreamed during the event!.
Thanks to the generosity of everyone who attended, over $3,000 was raised to support Cristo Rey St. Martin students. Events like Pickledon help ensure our students continue to thrive academically, professionally, and personally—building a stronger future for all.
by Miranda Eby | Jul 14, 2025 | Campus Ministry, School News
Cristo Rey St. Martin’s recent immersion trip to Nazareth Farm in rural West Virginia brought ten students and three adults into a week of life-changing experiences centered around the Farm’s four cornerstones – simplicity, service, community, and prayer. For many, it was a journey into both the heart of Appalachia and their own faith.
Founded in 1979, Nazareth Farm operates as a Catholic community seeking to live the Gospel in an intentional and thought-provoking way, welcoming high school and college students throughout the year. Volunteers work alongside local residents in Doddridge County, building porches, roofing homes and repairing substandard housing during the day, while sharing meals, prayers and faith reflections in the evenings. What makes Nazareth Farm unique is not simply the physical labor, but the intentional relationships formed. Volunteers live simply – often using five-gallon bucket showers, cooking their own meals from scratch, doing chores around the Farm and temporarily giving up connections to much of the outside world – in order to tune into one another and to the rhythms of Appalachian life, coming to a greater awareness of the inequalities of consumption in our communities and around the world.
Cutting out everyday luxuries was eye-opening. Elizabeth reflected: “I’m used to long showers. Taking a bucket shower took me out of my comfort zone.” Jade noticed: “I started to see the positives. I was saving water and could find ways to have fun and connect with others without a device.” By giving up electronics, extended showers, and personal routines, students found new freedom in simplicity – appreciating conservation and presence over convenience.
Working on roofs, porches, and ramps, students gained a deeper understanding of hidden poverty in Appalachia. Cristian observed that local people “don’t have as much access to quality education and are heavily exploited… It’s insane how people struggle to make ends meet.” Miguel noted, “I’m not used to seeing poverty in the same ways we saw it in their community. It will make a difference in my life.” In Appalachia, the CRSM students and adults learned, people may have homes, but resources may be very limited because of distance.
Celebrating community became one of the most natural joys of the week. “The staff at Nazareth Farm were very welcoming and it allowed me to come out of my shell right away,” said Elizabeth. Many students said community was the “easiest” of the four core values to live out during the week – finding friendship both within their school group, with students and staff from Christ the King Jesuit College Prep who also traveled from Chicago, and with their Appalachian neighbors for the week.
For many students, prayer was both the hardest and most rewarding part of the experience. Cristian shared: “I really struggled with the value of prayer. During the week, I started to realize that prayer is foundational; stress and anxiety started to dissipate the more I prayed.” And by the week’s end, students described feeling at home in the routine of prayer – before meals, during work, with evening reflections – growing closer not just to God but also to each other. Allison reflected, “I encountered God most when everyone was together… playing soccer or just having conversations. I saw God in the people.” “I’ve seen God most powerfully in the idea of Nazareth Farm, the concept of God and his miracles,” noted Cristian.
Coming home, students reflected on bringing back more than memories. Cristian, who heads to MIT in just a few weeks, vowed to use his privilege to serve others and keep stress in perspective through prayer. Elizabeth will shorten showers, conserve energy and continue simple prayers before meals. Miguel plans to volunteer locally, pray more frequently, and live simply. Others aim to foster hospitality, community and a deeper awareness of hidden poverty.
So the week at Nazareth Farm offered far more than home repairs. For those on the trip, it will continue to grow the values of prayer, service and justice that are at the foundation of Cristo Rey St. Martin. Appalachia’s challenges – poverty, environmental exploitation, limited resources – taught them a deepened awareness and social responsibility. Most importantly perhaps, they discovered that with humility and solidarity, service becomes sacred work.
by Miranda Eby | Jul 14, 2025 | CWSP, School News
This summer, 40 Cristo Rey St. Martin students—26 rising juniors and 14 rising seniors—are participating in an intensive Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program through a valued partnership with Dominican University. Running from June 17th through August 15th, the program equips students with both academic and hands-on training to prepare for the Illinois Nurse Assistant Competency Exam (INACE) this fall.
Classes are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with students spending their mornings in the classroom and afternoons in the Sim Lab on CRSM’s campus. By the end of the program, each student will have completed 40 didactic hours, 18 lab hours, and 40 clinical hours at local healthcare facilities such as Whitehall in Deerfield and Presbyterian Homes facilities The Moorings in Arlington Heights and Lake Forest Place. Taught by an experienced instructor from Dominican— who also serves as Program Coordinator—this program offers students a transformative entry point into the healthcare field and underscores the power of partnerships in shaping future leaders in medicine.
by Miranda Eby | Jun 17, 2025 | President’s Pen
Mission in Action
At CRSM, our mission is three-fold: 1) to get our students to and through college, 2) to prepare them for the professional world of work, and 3) to inspire them to lead faith-filled lives committed to justice. It is simple enough to say, but as you contemplate the moving parts and experience them in action, our mission is far more complex and far more powerful in its actual execution.
Regardless of what you read in the many op-eds, a college education is still statistically the best way for a young person of limited means to find upward economic mobility. I am not discounting the professional trades or certificate credentials, but overall, the lifetime earnings potential from selected bachelor’s degrees far outdistances non-degree pathways. Some of our graduates choose non-degree alternatives, and they definitely improve their situations. We wholeheartedly support them while also taking pride in the fact that, for the last six years in a row, all our graduates have been accepted to a bachelor’s program. Each graduate from CRSM has college as one of their options while they weigh the best pathway for themselves. They also know for a fact that a bachelor’s program is still a future option for them if it makes sense in their individual journeys.
I always tell our students, “It’s good to have options.” CRSM is really about creating valuable and viable career options for our youth.
Entering professional work environments through our Corporate Work Study Program gives students a tangible glimpse at what might be possible for them. They build social capital through coworkers, supervisors, and mentors… people they may not have otherwise encountered in their neighborhood… people who went to college and can help take the mystery out of that journey, especially since over 90% of our students are the first generation in their family to attend college. Through the experience of work, education becomes more relevant as a stepping stone to a better future rather than something to “get through” before real life begins – a means to a more advantageous end.
CRSM accepts students of all faiths and students with no faith tradition at all. Still, we are unabashed in challenging our students to think deeply about what they believe and, even more importantly, how they are putting those beliefs into action. Talents and potential are God-given. As students are encouraged to work hard to develop their skills and abilities, we want them to be thinking about how their experiences and talents can be used in ways that not only benefit them and their families but will also have lasting, positive impacts on other people. A corner office and a big salary should not be the goal, but those achievements can be a means for influencing the lives of others and building a better future beyond just ourselves.
CRSM exists to promote the long-term flourishing of our students. We aim for every graduate to be accepted to, enrolled in, and complete a best-fit post-secondary experience that will propel our students toward a fulfilled life and allow them to use their God-given talents to make our world a better place.
So, as we celebrate CRSM’s Class of 2025 and where they are choosing to attend college (the list is beyond impressive: including MIT, Yale, Georgetown, University of Chicago, Stanford, Tufts, Middlebury, Notre Dame, and Carleton), we are more importantly celebrating ALL the individual choices and journeys each of our graduates makes. We admire and encourage our top-performing students, but are equally proud of our students who are grinding it out at lesser-known colleges, being true pioneers for their families, and entering uncharted waters with courage and determination.
At our Founders’ Dinner in April, an alumna who recently graduated from Georgetown School of Law shared her moving and emotional story as a first-generation college graduate and now lawyer and legal professional. Amazing! Many of us cried tears of joy for her success.
And yet, unbeknownst to many outside the walls of CRSM, we were also crying tears of joy for two alumni in the Class of 2015 who just announced their completion of bachelor’s degrees – both from Northern Illinois University in 2025. It took them 10 years and several transfers between various schools, but they did it. They never gave up despite setbacks and doubts. They didn’t let anything get in the way of their dreams. Their grit, perseverance, and determination paid off for them. One is now a degree engineer at UL Solutions (Underwriters’ Labs), and the other is an accounting professional and audit associate at RSM US. They embody our mission as much as, or even more than, our superstars who go to the most prestigious schools and graduate in four years.
Oh, by the way, the two Northern Illinois graduates are now engaged to be married. Their journeys continue.
Our school exists to promote the long-term flourishing of our students. We hope to set each student on their own path that will propel our students toward a fulfilled life and allow them to use their God-given talents to make our world a better place. What a blessing to see that mission unfold in the real world.
¡Viva, Cristo Rey!
