Chicago Tribune: Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep celebrates 20th graduation; ‘We want everyone to see what’s possible’
Click here to read the full article on the Chicago Tribune website.
May 2025 President’s Pen with Preston Kendall
CRSM seniors had their last day of classes this week. Exams come next. There are smiles in the hallways that belie the last bits of stress they will face before graduation next weekend. Yearbooks are being signed, nostalgia is creeping in, high school is surging toward its end, and they feel it keenly. As teachers and administrators, we never get used to just how fast the four years go. When we squint our eyes just so and look at our seniors, we can still see the wide-eyed 9th graders they were even though they are now the mature, poised young adults standing before us. We have only known them these four short years and still we marvel at their amazing transformation. Think how their parents must feel who have known them all their lives!
Are you a parent? If so, you know the innate desire we all have for our children – that they live fulfilled lives, that they are happy, that their lives might be better than ours. That is certainly the case with our parents here at CRSM. I am awed by their devotion to their sons and daughters and their determination to provide them with the best education possible.
They sacrifice daily to make it so. I have seen fathers come in to pay tuition fresh off their day jobs with hard-earned, crumpled dollar bills. I know mothers who take second jobs to afford school while keeping the family fed. Even older siblings do what they can to help.
What astounds me more than just the herculean efforts they go to for their children is that our parents – most of whom have not had the benefit of extensive schooling – have figured out that providing an education is the best way to give their children a better life. Not only have they figured it out, they have gone “all in” to make it happen. Well over 90% of our students belong to the first generation in their family to go to college.
A couple years ago, we polled parents about the highest level of education they completed. The results were eye-opening: 25% said they completed High School, another 9% claimied a GED, 27% only completed Middle School, and 26% only had an Elementary School education. The other 13% indicated some college but we found that at least half attended “college” outside the U.S. and many miscategorized classes toward a certificate for college-level classes.
Think about that… Over half our parents never went to high school but they believe in the transformative power an education generates, and they want it for their children. Even though higher education is Terra Incognita for them, they believe in it and shed blood and tears to get it for their children.
Especially during this Easter season, I think our parents personify the words of the resurrected Jesus when he appears to Thomas, “How happy are those who believe without seeing me!” Our parents’ faith in CRSM inspires us to continue our mission.
When Chris Perry, a good friend and incredible supporter of CRSM and the Cristo Rey movement, was chair of CRSM’s board of trustees, he told all the board members (in so many words), “At some point in your service, every board member should attend at least one graduation. You cannot believe how powerful it is to see families celebrating. Incredibly moving and humbling, it is the embodiment of what Cristo Rey is all about.”
Next Saturday is graduation. We celebrate our sixth year in a row of having every senior accepted to at least one bachelor’s program. It marks the culmination of so much work by so many people, especially our parents. Our students leave behind an important phase of their education to embark on the next exciting phase of college and beyond. For so many, their parents will not have taken the next steps they are about to take, but their parents’ love gives them a spiritual compass that will guide them as they blaze uncharted trails.
¡Viva, Cristo Rey!
Canvas, Creativity, and Community: Inside CRSM’s Annual Art Showcase
Although CRSM is a very academically driven institution, that doesn’t mean we don’t give students the opportunity to let their creativity shine!
The recent Art Show, held in collaboration with The Ragdale Foundation, was a celebration of artistic expression and student creativity. This year’s event drew remarkable participation, with 53 artists submitting a total of 167 works spanning a wide range of media- including writing, poetry, needlepoint, painting, drawing, and mixed media.
The Art Show has been held annually in the student union for six years running. It has been up during our Founders’ fundraiser for the past six years as well, giving our benefactors the opportunity to admire students’ artwork.
A panel of judges thoughtfully reviewed each piece, ultimately awarding 12 Gold Medals and 15 Honorable Mentions in recognition of outstanding artistry. Among these, three exceptional works received cash prizes.
The show not only emphasized the diversity of CRSM student talent but also reaffirmed the importance of supporting the arts through community partnerships and creative platforms. The Art Show will be up until May 27, 2025. We invite you to come and see our students’ art.
CRSM Welcomes the Class of 2029 with Open Arms and Tacos
CRSM’s Class of 2029 will be 105 strong and counting! To acclimate and welcome our incoming freshmen into our community, the Admissions Department hosts a Family Night in the spring for all new students and their families.
This year, 94 families were able to join us on May 8, 2025, for a taco dinner and presentations from the Corporate Work Study Department, Campus Ministry, Academics, and Athletics.
Amongst the presenters that night were CRSM alumni Marjanae Maggett from the class of 2017 and Samantha Bahena from the class of 2017. Maggett is currently a Long Term Substitute Teacher at North Chicago Community Partners, and Bahena is the Consultant Engagement Director at Advanced Resources.
“Being in this community, it’s definitely a miracle what this campus is able to do, not only for the students but for the surrounding community. I cannot say anything but amazing things about Cristo Rey. To put it simply, I would not be in the position I am today if it were not for Cristo Rey,” shared Samantha Bahena in her presentation to the students.
Welcome, CRSM class of 2029! We are looking forward to the next four years with you!
College Decisions Have Been Made for CRSM Class of 2025: Stanford, Yale, MIT and more!
Our annual College Decision Day celebration is one of the most meaningful traditions at Cristo Rey St. Martin. This event honors the achievements of our senior class as they prepare for the next chapter of their academic journeys.
This year, we are thrilled to share that our seniors have upheld a 100% acceptance rate into a four-year bachelor’s degree program for the sixth consecutive year. Even more exciting, this class has some of the most prestigious college acceptances in CRSM history, including Stanford University, Tufts University, MIT, Yale, University of Chicago, and so many more!
As the Class of 2025 wraps up their final weeks of high school and looks ahead to their collegiate futures, we celebrate their hard work, grit, and ambition with much pride. We wish them every success in this next chapter—and beyond.