by Mary Beth Sammons | Apr 27, 2023 | Alumni Spotlight
During her salutatorian speech eight years ago, Anissa Garza shared that graduating from Cristo Rey was a triumph for her whole family. Today, those words have never rung truer for the first-generation student, her two younger brothers, and parents. All their lives, she says, have been shaped and transformed by the support of the CRSM community.
Now 26-years-old, the second-highest ranking graduate of the CRSM Class of ’15 is in her first year of a doctoral program in clinical psychology at the University of Memphis. She’s also a graduate research assistant in the REACH Lab under the mentorship of Dr. Kathryn Howell.
A former Schuler scholar, her LinkedIn is a checklist of many achievements, including graduating from Bates College in Lewiston, MA with a dual degree in psychology and religious studies. She’s served for the last three years as a research assistant at the National Center for PTSD in Boston, MA. At Bates, Anissa a Bonner Program scholar, volunteered at a program for adults with Alzheimer’s and served as a Program Assistant at the Boys and Girls Club of Southern Maine. She also was the recipient of the Harward Award for Outstanding Community Volunteerism and Student Leadership from Bates’ Harward Center for Community Partnerships.
During the same time, her mom, Elida, “Ellie,” was promoted from food service lead at Waukegan High School to Assistant Food Service Director for the entire Waukegan school district. Her brother, Raul, CRSM Class of ’19 and Promise Scholar, is graduating in May from Marion University in Fond du Lac, WI with a psychology degree. Her youngest brother, Daniel, is about to enter high school. Her father, who struggled with employment when Anissa was in high school, is a foreman at a local landscaping company.
The grit and perseverance she absorbed from her years at CRSM have been her driving force during graduate school.
“I never expected landing a post-baccalaureate research assistant position to be so difficult, but when institutions turned me down, I relied on Mr.O’s (Mike Odiotti, principal) teaching about grit and perseverance. If he hadn’t ingrained that in me, I might have given up. But instead, I just kept churning out applications and reaching out to the network I had built for myself during my undergraduate studies.”
These days, when she’s not taking three classes and working 20 hours as a graduate research assistant, Anissa loves taking her dog, Tala, for walks at the nearby Overton Park in Memphis, TN. During COVID, she also discovered the therapeutic and stress-reducing rewards of refinishing old furniture, stripping it and giving it new life.
“We all had to work really hard to get me here,” says Anissa. She says her graduate research studies were inspired by her own witnessing of young people struggling with mental health issues, a topic that is generally highly stigmatized in the Latino culture.
by Mary Beth Sammons | Mar 21, 2023 | Alumni Spotlight
Last February,
Venecia Rodriquez took the TEDxHope College stage, where she joined other speakers sharing their stories at the renowned event themed
“The Threshold.” The CRSM Class of ‘19 alumna described her parents’ “excruciating weeks’ long journey” to the United States from Mexico. Her mother was pregnant with Venecia at the time.
“My longing is to help immigrants and others who face challenges fulfill their dreams, get the opportunities they deserve and not live in households suffering from the consequences of generational trauma, like my parents and other immigrants,” says Venecia. She is studying social work at Hope College and poised to graduate in May.
Throughout college, she has been tireless in her efforts to advocate on behalf of immigrant rights. The former College Bound Opportunities scholar is an intern at Lighthouse Immigrant Advocates. She was secretary for the college’s Latino Student Organization and is a senior ambassador for Women of Color United.
Immigrating to America
In her TEDx talk, Venecia describes her struggle assimilating in America. “I’ve always had to tiptoe to the fact that my parents were immigrants,” she says. “I am not from here, and not from there. Yet, my parents walked 34 hours through a desert, and traveled a week in a car on an excruciating journey, because they wanted a better life for themselves and me. Today I feel blessed to be a citizen, but determined to help others like my family.”
She is seeking a job in immigrant and mental health advocacy in the Grand Rapids area then plans to return to college for her Master’s degree in social work. Her long-term goal is to return to Waukegan in the future to work for an organization dedicated to making a difference for immigrant and mental health causes.
Lessons from CRSM
“CRSM taught me that it is possible to be a community leader and make changes happen,” says Venecia, “My dream is to create an organization in Waukegan that empowers immigrants and people facing mental health challenges.”
Her advice for CRSM students: “Connect to the different resources that are available to help you. Dream big dreams and don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself.”
To listen to her TEDx talk, link here.
by Mary Beth Sammons | Jan 20, 2023 | Alumni Spotlight
Ruby Hernandez has been inspired by the world of business ever since her high school internships at Wintrust and Gewalt Hamilton Associates through Cristo Rey’s Corporate Work Study Program.
Now, the CRSM Class of ’21 grad juggles full-time studies at Arrupe College of Loyola University with an apprenticeship at Grant Thorton LLP, rotating through the accounting, analytics, and tax departments. Next fall she will attend Loyola University as a junior and accounting and analytics major, on her path to becoming an accountant.
Last year Ruby received the 2022 President’s Medallion from Loyola University. She also serves her fellow students as a student orientation leader and as a peer instructor for ACUNI (Arrupe’s first-year seminar). Ruby also participates in Arrupe’s Emerging Leaders Program, Career Club, Entrepreneurship Program, Phi Theta Kappa, and the Grant Thornton Apprenticeship Program.
“Ruby embodies what we hope for all our students at Arrupe College; she understands the value of hard work and demonstrates that value daily. In addition, Ruby exhibits authentic qualities: she is person-centered, compassionate in her dealings with others, and is committed to excellence, especially when it comes to her personal growth,” said Fr. Tom Neitzke, S.J., EdD, Dean of Arrupe College.
The President’s Medallion honors students from each of Loyola’s 14 colleges, schools and institutes who exemplify the meaning of being a true “Loyolan.”
“Exceeding not only in the classroom, but also in the world around them, these students add immeasurable value to society by answering the call for leadership, scholarship and service,” state’s Loyola’s web site. “It is through helping other that they empower their community, upholding integrity and reputation along the way.”
Ruby said: “I like Loyola because it is a Jesuit institution. I feel like it’s my destiny to be here because my grandfather’s aunt, Madre Nati, was the first Mexican woman to be sainted. There are three churches named for her in Mexico. I feel like she’s watching over me. It helps me spiritually.”
She says her call to service was kick-started as a student at CRSM.
“My experiences in high school and at Arrupe helped to be motivated, energized, and goal oriented,” said Ruby. Through CRSM’s work-study program she said: “I had to talk to people in the community and the workplace and I used to be a very shy and reserved person. They instilled in me a sense of confidence and empowerment during my formative years that I never would have thought was possible.”
Ruby’s older brother Rodrigo Hernandez, 23, also is a CRSM graduate. Class of ’18. He is the team manager working for the men’s soccer team at Loyola University Chicago. Additionally, Rodrigo also works for the Chicago Fire FC and has done work for Chivas de Guadalajara as well as the Mexican national team.
Her advice to CRSM students: “Don’t wait until your junior year to start working on your GPA. I wish I had realized how many resources CRSM had for me. But once I took school seriously, I have never veered from that path.”
For now, she’d focused on driving her dreams.
“I really want to learn everything I can and about business and figure accounting is the smartest place to be,” says Ruby, 19. “My goal is to come back to Waukegan and run a family business that in some way helps the community. But that is further down the line.”
by Mary Beth Sammons | Oct 27, 2022 | Alumni Spotlight
During the last year and a half, Atzallali Saucedo-Ruiz graduated from Skidmore College, launched her marketing career at an international British-based firm, and moved into her first apartment.
“It was time for me to fly,” says the Class of ’17 CRSM grad and Schuler Scholar, who works in digital marketing at Renishaw Inc. in West Dundee. “It’s been a long, long road and a tough one, but now I’m doing what I love. I also got my own place now, which means I’m independent from my parents.”
Born in Mexico, Atzallali moved to the U.S with her parents when she was six. Though she said the language barrier was “very challenging at first,” she grew to be a bright student at Our Lady of Humility in Beach Park. She was initially on planning to apply to Carmel High School until she discovered CRSM, with the help of her teacher Mrs. Thomas, “and that changed my whole life,” she says.
“At CRSM I had the best teachers and guides like Ms. Bonnerjee, my physics teacher, who really pushed me to be better, and the Dippolds (Christina, CRSM counselor and Jim, Director of Campus Ministry) who modeled compassion for others and helped me learn to take care of my own mental health,” says Atzallali. In college, she thought she was headed for a career in the sciences, until she discovered marketing through her work-study internship at United Way of Lake County.
“I fell in love with storytelling and was intrigued by how people can be affected in a positive way with healthy messaging.” says Atzallali. “I realized how stories can shape the world around us. So, it’s important we are all mindful about what stories we allow to influence our views.”
Lesson to CRSM students: “This is the advice I would have given to a younger me: Don’t be scared to try new things, even things you don’t think you may particularly enjoy. You have time to find yourself, and the time is now, so go for it. Also, if you hit a rough patch, don’t be afraid to reach out for help and support. There are people around you who will be there for you.”
by admin | Jun 1, 2022 | Alumni Spotlight
Inspired by Cristo Rey’s commitment for students to become people for others, three alums from our first and early graduating classes, are embodying the mission to give back and help fellow immigrants and neighbors in Waukegan through several high-profile non-profits in town.
The trio, all under 35 — Amanda Diaz-Bahena, along with her brother, Rameses Diaz, and Miguel Nuñez (their cousin) — recently brought the Ballet Folklorico Tayahua troupe of dancers to entertain the audience at the May 19th evening of Hispanic Culture at CRSM. The Waukegan non-profit dance studio is located in downtown Waukegan. It celebrates the rich diversity of Mexican and Mexican-American cultural heritage through dance and music, to pass the legacy and culture on to future generations, said Diaz-Bahena, President of the organization founded by her mother, Lupe Muñoz. Both Diaz-Bahena and Nuñez are graduates of CRSM’s second classes in 2008 (Formerly St. Martin de Porres).
In addition to the deep spiritual and cultural commitment of the dance ensemble, Diaz-Bahena and Nuñez also work days “trying to return the help people gave to our families when our immigrant parents first came to Waukegan,” says Nunez, vice president of the dance school.
Amanda Diaz-Bahena, President of the ballet troupe, is a victim advocate for the Family Advocacy Program at the Naval Station Great Lakes. The program is responsible for the prevention of and response to child abuse and neglect and domestic abuse/intimate partner violence in military families. Miguel Nuñez, VP of Ballet Folklorico, is Program Supervisor at The Community Center of Catholic Charities (formerly the Gary Graf Immigrant Center) in downtown Waukegan. It’s a first-stop resource center for immigrant families. Diaz-Bahena’s brother, Rameses Diaz, also works as the Development Director for the dance ensemble and was a Class of ’11 CRSM graduate.
Both Diaz-Bahena and Nuñez say they were inspired to seek careers in helping others from their high school days. They are especially grateful to Jim Dippold, Director of Campus Ministry, who was new at the school at the time.
“Mr. Dippold just radiated the love of God and went out of his way to help me and believe in me,” says Amanda. “We learned the power of volunteering and reaching out to help others was very important and it inspired us to pick the careers we have.”
Cristo Rey changed the course of their lives.
“I didn’t realize it at the time, but if it hadn’t been for St. Martin we could have gotten involved with the gangs and drugs that we saw many of our peers get into at the time,” says Diaz-Bahena. “I always say that I was a ‘nobody,’ that by the grace of God was picked to be a ‘somebody.’
Nuñez adds: “When my parents first arrived in the late ‘70s there was no help for them,” said Nuñez. “They couldn’t speak English and it was very difficult for them to navigate. It was great to bring the dancers to Cristo Rey, and was like a homecoming to see Mr. Dippold and realize all he and the school inspired in me. I knew in high school I wanted to someday help people like our parents. Our dance group too, is a way to honor our parents and make sure our Mexican culture doesn’t get lost in the assimilation.”
