Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep (CRSM) began the celebration for its 20th birthday on August 19 with an all-school assembly, presents for our students and staff, special visits from our board members, and so much more!
This year is extra special for our school and community, as it marks 20 years of academic excellence, faith-based service work, and creating purposeful professionals within the Waukegan and North Chicago areas. CRSM started as St. Martin de Porres High School in 2004 in a small office building in downtown Waukegan. Since then, the school has taken many forms from a CLC hallway, to an old elementary school, to our new state-of-the art campus that was formerly a K-Mart.
Throughout all of the different spaces our students and staff have inhabited, one thing has remained constant: our passion and dedication to this community. The Monday morning assembly on the first day of school began with the usual prayer and announcements from school leadership, followed by a video montage featuring images of our different graduating classes, buildings, and staff throughout the past 20 years. Robert Daily, a founder and original board member of Cristo Rey, was in attendance at this celebration, along with current and former board members.
The assembly concluded with President Preston Kendall leading the entire room in the singing of “Happy Birthday” to CRSM, and the students receiving a special gift on their way to work and class.
This is only the beginning of a year that will be filled with celebratory events for our 20th anniversary, so stay tuned! We look forward to what the next 20 years will bring and to celebrating this milestone with all of you!