Former Financial Services Exec Helps Students “turn their dreams into reality.”

Former Financial Services Exec Helps Students “turn their dreams into reality.”

by | Apr 20, 2023 | CWSP

For 30 years, Mari-Lou Menezes worked with client companies to develop and implement strategic plans to support their working capital needs and growth including their access to capital markets. As an executive director for JPMorgan Chase & Co. in downtown Chicago, her end goal was to drive sales growth and produce successful outcomes for her clients.

These days, the retired Northbrook resident spends two days a week hunkered down over her computer in a cubicle in the CRSM Corporate Work Study Department. There, she helps grade and coach students on their writing styles for their work-study time card reports. Some days Mari-Lou also mentors students who are either struggling at their current job or who have been removed from their work-study assignment.  She and a team of CWSP coaches use the book Seven Habits of Highly Successful Teens as an outline for these talks.

“I see my role as helping students turn their dreams into reality,” says Mari-Lou. She has been volunteering for CRSM for the last two years. Mari-Lou is one of four CWSP members of the Ignatian Volunteer Corps (IVC) Chicago, who volunteer for the work-study program. IVC is an American-Catholic volunteer service which matches volunteers with charities and nonprofits.

“Mari-Lou is very good at encouraging and working with our students,” says Brian Weinberg, Director of the Corporate Work-Study Program.

A native of India, Mari-Lou spent her early career years teaching English in her native country. When she moved to the United States as a young adult, she pursued advanced studies and graduated from DePaul University’s Charles H. Kellstadt Graduate School of Business.

“Mari-Lou brings a unique cultural experience for our students, showing them how she created her own success journey, and they can relate because she too is a person of color,” says Brian. “She’s very good in establishing strong one-on-one relationships with them.”

Mari-Lou says: “I am continually amazed and inspired by how much the students have on their plates to juggle. It seems overwhelming, yet they push through and work hard to achieve. I am honored and grateful to work alongside them.”

CRSM is blessed and truly grateful for volunteers such as Mari-Lou, who give of their time and expertise, and make a significant contribution to our students’ success!

A Day in the Life

A Day in the Life

by | Feb 27, 2023 | Alumni Spotlight

Meet Ashley Fonseca, CRSM Class of ’22. At Augustana College in Rock Island, IL you will find her preparing for a career as a veterinarian, working out, or she could be found exploring new opportunities in the college’s crochet club and the LatinXUnidos club. She’s also an intern at a nearby animal clinic.

“I owe my confidence and quick adjustment to college to Cristo Rey, which really prepared me,” says Ashley. “I am surprised at my independence, but I was taught to pursue my own path and to overcome disappointments when they come my way. But I do talk to my mom every day.” Her dogs, Sparky and Snoopy are regulars on the FaceTime mom-daughter chats.”

Last year, Ashley was honored with the Spirit of St. Martin de Porres Award, given to the graduate who best exemplifies the CRSM mission academically and as a person for others. She is a College Bound Opportunities Scholar and was a regular volunteer at Feed My Starving Children, the Northern Illinois Food Bank pop-up distributions and Beacon Place and served as a senior class representative.

Recently, Ashley shared her “day in the life of a freshman” experience. Check out her Instagram Takeover on YouTube.

Students Return to the Classroom and Workplace to Kick off 2022-23 School Year

Students Return to the Classroom and Workplace to Kick off 2022-23 School Year

by | Aug 22, 2022 | Academic

It is Monday morning and the first day of school at CRSM. The entire community of 406 students, including the new freshman Class of 2026, and about 100 faculty, staff and volunteers gathered at 8:15 a.m. in the cafeteria for a kick-off assembly.

“We want you to do well, do your best, and think about how everything we do here is in caring for others,” said President Preston Kendall.

Several current students and alumna Daniela Sanchez, a Class of ’19 graduate and junior at Lake Forest College, shared tips and advice for incoming freshman and for the entire student body as they head into the 2022-23 school year.

“You are very lucky to be part of a network of teachers, work partners and a community that cares for you so deeply and is here to help you, not just in high school, but in college and the workforce,” said Sanchez. “Make sure you take advantage of all the opportunities that are here for you.”

Principal Mike Odiotti reminded those gathered that this assembly is only one of two times in the year (because of the work-study program job commitments) that the entire community meets together. He shared the inspiration his mother gave him early on. While a student at Northwestern University, his mother was told “Women can’t become doctors.” Instead, his mom became a nurse, but always regretted not being able to pursue her larger dream and shared with her son: “Never let someone else define your reality.” Dr. Odiotti recalls those words and said to students: “Let this remind you that despite whatever challenges you may face, you can take charge of your destiny.””

July President’s Pen with Preston Kendall

by | Jul 8, 2022 | President’s Pen

Summer slows most schools down to a near halt. Everything runs in a lower gear so people can catch their breath before the next school year begins. At Cristo Rey St. Martin, summer marks the straightaway where things shift into an even higher gear. As soon as one year ends, we are already knee deep in the next. Our incoming 9th grade class has been with us daily since the first week of June. Final exams for older students ended the week of Memorial Day and the following Monday the 2023 school year began. No time to rest on our laurels – there’s work to be done!

Sure, 2022 marked our third year in a row of having 100% of our seniors being accepted to at least one bachelors’ program… Yes, 90% of the class of 2022 who started with CRSM on the first day of 9th grade graduated with a CRSM diploma (only the second highest retention rate in CRSM history and the second highest in the history of the entire Cristo Rey Network of schools)… Of course, we ended the year with more students than ever before earning a 3.0 GPA or higher – 81% of the entire student body…. We had our first student accepted to Stanford and more students going to Washington University, Holy Cross, NYU, and Brown… But it’s a new year and 2023 is already asking, “what have you done for me lately?”

In addition to our 9th graders participating in Corporate Work Study job preparation training and the Academic Bridge program, regular summer school is in full swing. This year features a dual-credit Statistics class, meaning our students get high school credit from CRSM while simultaneously earning college credit for the course through Loyola University Chicago. We also have a Physical education class for rising sophomores so they can free up a period in the fall to take AP World History. How about that? Giving up part of your summer in order to set yourself up for a more rigorous course load in the first semester? With that kind of work ethic, you know our students are going places!

The gym alternates between voluntary soccer camp and volleyball camp for boys and girls and the fitness center is open every morning with a dozen or so students using it at a time. Looking at the wonderful new spaces available on our campus, one thing is certain: our students are making the most of the resources available to them.

CRSM is also leveraging its resources to benefit others. The school recently hosted a weeklong STEM-oriented IBIO camp for grade school and middle school girls using our science labs and the monthly food distribution events in our parking lot with the Northern Illinois Food Bank continue without a break.

Most people only hear about Waukegan on the news and the image is seldom good. Environmental issues, crime, and poverty monopolize headlines. It probably doesn’t help that we are the “county seat” and all high-profile criminal cases in the area are tried at the courthouse here. But, if you scratch beneath the surface, there is tremendous talent and potential here. Young people just need opportunities and access to surprise everyone with what they are capable of accomplishing. Cristo Rey St. Martin is doing just that, and hope is palpable!

Come visit CRSM anytime and you will witness a place abuzz with intentional, hopeful activity – figuratively and literally. Figuratively in the sense of all that is going on, even in the summer. Literally because I forgot to mention that our Environmental Club has two beehives up and running in the pollinator garden behind our school. Did you know each hive holds 10,000 bees? students are coming in regularly, donning the apiary suits and bring the smoke, to check on them throughout the summer.

It’s amazing to watch the hustle and bustle, the comings and goings with so much purpose and productivity. Hard working individuals who, together, make up an incredible community doing something good for themselves and for the community beyond their walls.

Wait a minute… are we talking about CRSM students or bees? Come and find out!

 

First CRSM Alumna Elected to School’s Board of Trustees

First CRSM Alumna Elected to School’s Board of Trustees

by | Jul 7, 2022 | Alumni Spotlight

Since her freshman year at Cristo Rey St. Martin 16 years ago, Esmeralda “Esme” Silva has been determined to be of service to others. Dedicated to paying her life forward and amplify the voices of victims of violence, the 30-year-old works to end human trafficking in several Wisconsin counties. A Class of ’10 grad, she also is the first CRSM alumna to be named to the Board of Trustees.

“I am extremely honored to be seated at the table with leaders who will make such a difference in the lives of students like I once was,” says Esme, a community resource specialist for Children’s Hospital in Wisconsin. “As a student, I didn’t really realize that there was such a dedicated group of people who cared so deeply about us and worked so hard to make the school successful.”

She says her compassion and passion for helping others was born in the hallways of CRSM, where she was the first person in her family to attend high school: “I learned to become dedicated, goal orientated and have a positive work ethic. Now, I feel my life is coming full-circle. I have a rewarding career that lets me help others, but now I get to really make a difference in the lives of students who remind me of where I came from. I hope to inspire where they can go.“

Esme’s career path has melded her interests in criminal justice and social services. Her experience includes working in victim advocacy, domestic violence, sexual assault services, and child abuse and neglect. She’s determined to grow as an advocate for victims in the legal, public policy and government systems.

She earned a bachelor’s degree from Marquette University in 2014 and a master’s degree from University of Illinois at Chicago in 2017. Prior to the Children’s Hospital, Esme was a crisis counselor for A Safe Place in Zion.

Esme is married to her CRSM high school sweetheart, Jose Nunez, Class of ’11.

“Our foundation and the values and friendships we made at Cristo Rey helped form both of our passion to give back to the community,” says Esme.