Powered by Her Purpose: Alumna Receives Loyola University President’s Medallion Award

Powered by Her Purpose: Alumna Receives Loyola University President’s Medallion Award

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.”

Alumna Cheyanne Williams, Esq. is paving the way for the next generation of CRSM students

Alumna Cheyanne Williams, Esq. is paving the way for the next generation of CRSM students

Daughter of a barber and medical assistant, middle child of three, and first-generation lawyer– Cheyanne Williams has always been inspired by the legal system. She was in grade school when she binge-watched TV crime shows and set her intention to become a lawyer.

The CRSM Class of ‘15 graduate’s commitment and determination never wavered.  Consider her checklist of achievements: She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Loyola University in in 2019 where she was a Cristo Rey Scholar,  Achieving College Excellence scholar, a member of the Alpha Sigma Nu Honor Society at Loyola and maintained a 3.5 GPA where she was a member of the Dean’s list. Last May she graduated from Georgetown’s law school. There she was the Staff Editor at Georgetown’s Journal of Law and Modern Critical Race Perspectives, Assistant, and Peer Mentor. During her summers while in law school she was a summer associate at Baker McKenzie (2020 and 2021) and King and Spalding (2021). After graduating from Georgetown’s law school, she spent the summer preparing for the July 2022 Illinois bar exam, which she passed and was recently sworn into the Illinois Bar. Recently she was named to the CRSM Board of Trustees. This fall she became an associate at King and Spalding.

Always drawn toward her goals, Cheyanne says she’s clung on to the CRSM mantra “to get to and through college,” expanding it to include any challenges she faced. “When I think about what I am doing in life, I first ask myself ‘what are my goals and what are the steps I need to take to achieve them?”

As a CRSM student, Cheyanne was a regular volunteer at PADS Homeless Shelter and the Northern Illinois Food Bank and Feed My Starving Children. Her work-study program at United Way of Lake County also was centered in advocacy.

Interspersed in her academic achievements, Cheyanne has seized all opportunities to explore international culture. At Loyola she studied abroad in Rome and has globe trotted to Kenya, Paris, London, Switzerland, Morocco, Spain, Bali and Brazil.

Her advice to CRSM students, “Take advantage of the opportunities that are presented to you and seek out the opportunities that are not necessarily presented to you – you never know where they can lead you.”

100% of CRSM Graduates Accepted to a 4-Year Bachelor’s Program for the Third Year in a Row

100% of CRSM Graduates Accepted to a 4-Year Bachelor’s Program for the Third Year in a Row

From Brown University and Northwestern University to other prestigious institutions such as Stanford, Boston, Fairfield and St. Louis universities, 100% of the Class of ’22 has been accepted to four-year colleges.

On Friday, April 29, the seniors celebrated National College Decision Day, submitting their acceptances to the colleges and universities of their choice.

When Evelyn G. joins her classmates to walk across the graduation stage May 28, she will have plenty to celebrate. The 17-year-old will be the first in her family to attend college, when she joins a select cohort of five students awarded Loyola University’s Cristo Rey Scholarship. The scholarship covers most academic and living expenses.

“I’m excited to join another Cristo Rey family,” says Evelyn who will begin a 5-year bachelor’s and master’s program in social work. “I learned so much here through volunteering at the food bank, the vaccine clinic and soup kitchen about helping others and want to have a career helping others who struggle.

Other colleges and universities CRSM graduates will be attending include: Boston, Carthage, Grinnell, Holy Cross and Lake Forest colleges, and Johns Hopkins University Boston University and the University of Illinois.

“Today was especially exciting because we haven’t been able to host a celebration in three years,” says Lori Felix, College Counselor. “It’s fun to see the students hang out with their friends and enjoy the last few moments of their time together. We’re especially proud because so many of them are going to their dream schools. Affordability is always at the forefront, so we’re blessed that they are getting the backing to go.”

Anthony Ochoa Talks About Coming Back to CRSM

Anthony Ochoa Talks About Coming Back to CRSM

Meet Anthony on Video…

A recent graduate of Bates College, Anthony has taken a job with Schuler Scholars* to work at his alma mater.

“We are thrilled to have Anthony joining our Cristo Rey St. Martin Schuler team. His perspective as an alumnus of both the school and Schuler will be a significant asset in the years ahead.”

Emalie Dalbke
Schuler School Director

*The Schuler program works with our high-achieving students on campus – to help them gain access to highly selective colleges, and pursue their professional aspirations.

“a dream to buy my mom a house”: An Interview with Czier-Anne Gone

“a dream to buy my mom a house”: An Interview with Czier-Anne Gone

Since her graduation from CRSM in 2013, Czier-Anne earned two bachelor’s degrees – Physics from Loyola University and Chemical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame.  She took time out to speak with me about her early struggles with the English language, her deep involvement with CRSM, her heroes, and the continuing use of her talent in the sciences.

 

Thanks so much for making time for me Czier-Anne. I just have to ask about your name; it is singular. Am I pronouncing it right? [laughing] No worries, most people ask! It’s pronounced: SHARE -Anne. My Mom wanted me to have a unique name, so she threw in a “z” and a hyphen…it’s turned out to be a really good conversation starter. In anatomy class, there were three of us sitting right next to each other; there was me, a Sharon and a Sheron, now that was confusing!

You’ve only been out of CRSM for eight years, you own two degrees and you’ve been with your company for three years. That seems…unlikely. Well, I was lucky enough to have been a part of a dual degree program. It allowed me to earn my Physics degree from Loyola University Chicago and go directly into Chemical Engineering at the University of Notre Dame. I was able to earn two degrees in five years.

You finished in 2018 and went to work at Sensient in the in the BioNutrients division. Yes, I started at Sensient Technologies Corporation in an intensive account manager training program.  I spent the majority of my time in the R&D rotation learning ways to provide nutrients for human, animal, and plant health applications. I’m now an account manager working with customers to provide natural solutions to address microbial, animal, and plant needs.

I’m not clear on the connection with your degree in Physics and your work in bio-nutrients. I always liked Chemistry, and during Work Study at Abbott Laboratories I was leaning toward Pharmaceuticals. But Ms. Bonerjee [Physics instructor, Cristo Rey] inspired me at CRSM. So, I chose Physics as a major. It’s harder than Chemistry. I thought, if I can get through Physics, I can get through anything. Truth is, there’s a lot of Physics involved in Chemical Engineering.

I’d like to go back and talk about your time in Waukegan and your decision to choose CRSM? My family came to the United States from the Phillippines when I was four. We moved to Waukegan to be close to family. I needed to attend a primary school that offered an ESL program (English as a Second Language). And though I struggled with English, I was dreaming of attending a top 20 college. So, when a CRSM Ambassador came to our school and talked with me, that was it. I told my mom that CRSM was where I wanted to go.

Things went well for you at Cristo Rey? In every way. Cristo Rey inspired me to be better, language skills included. The Work Study Program taught me how important that is. Henry Broch Foods, American Hotel Register Company, Kraft Foods, Abbott Labs, all my work study experiences were important. CRSM is responsible for my winning the Cristo Rey Scholarship and the Gates Millenium Scholarship

Were you heavily involved in school activities? I wanted to participate in every activity that time would allow. Campus Ministry, PADS, No. IL Food Bank, Miserecordia, Volleyball, Soccer, the National Honors Society, The Eco Club, Prom & Homecoming Committees, Student Government, Yearbook Club, Matheletes, Multicultural Club.

I’m amazed that you had the time to study; you had a 4.0 grade point at CRSM. You mentioned your Physics teacher, were there any other influencers at school? Any Heroes? There were many at Cristo Rey. Mr. Horcher is why I enjoy Math so much. But I have to say the real hero in my life will always be my mother.  She immigrated to the US, worked factory jobs, learned the language, studied to become a citizen, and went on to become a nurse. She is a workaholic! We didn’t have too much, but she persisted. Watching her succeed as I grew up set an example.

She sounds like a remarkable person. I had a dream that someday I would be able to buy her a home. This past September, I moved her into a house I purchased in Gurnee. Actually, she exemplifies the “Grit” that Dr. O always talks about. Funny story, in college I remember when I was not wanting to go to class, maybe tired or sick, needing more sleep, my alarm would go off and I would see Mr. O – talking about grit with his hand over his fist, [laughs] and I would get out of bed. I never missed a class while I was at Loyola University.

know Mr. O is going to enjoy hearing that! Any advice for young aspiring Cristo Rey people? Yes, two things: Continue to practice grit; it really helped me through college and with my job. Be Grateful; eventually you will succeed, and when you do, being grateful will keep you humble despite your accomplishments