CONGRATULATIONS 

CLASS OF 2025!

June 6, 2025 marked the graduation of the Class of 2025 and a celebration of what our newest alumni will do in the next chapters of their lives. The Class of 2025 was the seventh straight graduating class to earn 100% college acceptance and collectively earned $9M in grants and scholarships towards their first year of college and up to an amazing $36M over four years! They will be attending colleges and universities across the state and country, including the following:

• Alverno University
• Carroll College
• College of the Holy Cross
• Marquette University
• Milwaukee Area Technical College
• Milwaukee School of Engineering
• Mount Mary University
• Notre Dame University
• Ripon College
• University of Wisconsin-Madison
• University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
• Yale University

The commencement ceremony also allowed the Class of 2025 salutatorian Yoseline Magaña and valedictorian Eli Roque-Frias to share words of motivation and gratitude, respectively, with the ceremony’s attendees.

Magaña said, “Remember what it took you to get here. Never forget that you are the personification of your ancestors’ dreams. When you walk into rooms that weren’t built for you, walk in anyway because you’re not just claiming your space; you’re creating a path for those who follow. Go forward with courage, with heart, and with relentless passion. Class of 2025: the world is yours to shape.”

Roque-Frias shared her appreciation for all those at CRJ who supported her and her classmates over the last 4 years. “Let’s not forget again who helped plant those seeds and nurtured that excellence in us long before we even recognized it in ourselves. Our teachers, mentors, and school staff didn’t just teach us equations, grammar rules, or how to write a strong essay. They taught us how to lead with integrity, how to think critically, and most importantly, how to believe in ourselves—even when we were full of doubt. They challenged us, listened to us, and reminded us that we were capable of so much more than we imagined. Cristo Rey Jesuit isn’t just a school—it’s a family. And our teachers are the heart of it.”

At our final staff meeting of the school year last week, staff members reflected one last time on our 10th anniversary school year theme- Living AMDG (Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam) or "Living for the greater glory of God". AMDG is well known in the Jesuit tradition and is both a figurative cornerstone and many times literally imprinted in the actual cornerstone of a Jesuit school building. We came back to this "cornerstone" theme with our students and staff members several times throughout the school year in order to unpack it further as a community. In explaining "Living AMDG", I found it difficult to put into concrete terms what this concept looked like in our lived reality. After all, the language "for God’s greater glory" can seem pretty grand and fit for saints, not ordinary people. 

At this final staff meeting, however, our presenter shared the quotation "The glory of God is a human being fully alive" which is attributed to St. Irenaeus, a Christian theologian from the second century. I, along with many of our staff members, found this to be extremely helpful when thinking about what Living AMDG actually looks like. God’s glory can show through any one of us when we are fully alive. That is, when we use our gifts to our full potential in alignment with our God-given purpose. Through students' academic and co-curricular success, their service work in our community, the relationships they build and confidence they gain at work, and the growth they experience in their faith lives, we facilitate the opportunities for our students to experience “Living AMDG." 

We are privileged to be witnesses to these incredible moments of God’s loving presence in our world…our students and staff members fully alive! I’ve included a few pictures below that best speak to how our theme "Living AMDG" was exemplified this year at Cristo Rey Jesuit. Many thanks to our benefactors, our work study partners, our students, families, and staff members and so many others for your belief in us and our shared vision that all young people should have the opportunity to feel fully alive!

CRJ WELCOMES CLASS OF 2029 TO SUMMER BRIDGE

The Class of 2029 is welcomed by Interim Principal Patrick Bader on the first day of Summer Bridge.

In June and July, most schools have empty hallways as the students and teachers enjoy well-earned summer vacation. At Cristo Rey Jesuit, the halls are filled with incoming Cristo Rey Jesuit students attending Summer Bridge. The four week program welcomes incoming freshmen as well as prepares them for everything that a CRJ education entails while building community with their classmates. The Class of 2029 is the one of the largest in the history of CRJ Milwaukee with 125 students.

In addition to academic programming in Math and English Language Arts, Summer Bridge gets incoming students ready for the Corporate Work Study Program by introducing the significance of professional work, etiquette, and workplace norms. This will prepare them to perform the work of entry-level employees within a variety of industries, companies, and jobs through their work placement in the fall. Students will work on their professional introductions through the Speed Networking Lunch hosted by the Corporate Work Study Program as well as go on a college visit to Marquette University!

In addition to learning academic and workplace skills, students develop their computer abilities through Microsoft Office tutorials and participating in a panel discussion with CRJ seniors about what they should know about being a Trailblazer. “My brother graduated from CRJ so I'm really excited to be here and see what opportunities there are for me,” shared rising freshman Jimena.

Summer Bridge runs through July 18th, and we appreciate the commitment and dedication of our faculty, staff, and community volunteers who spend these four weeks preparing the Class of 2029.

REGISTER TODAY FOR THE RICK DANNING MEMORIAL GOLF OUTING

Proceeds from the event go to the Rick Danning Scholarship Fund hosted by Spectrum Advisors and benefit students at Cristo Rey Jesuit High School. If you can't attend but would still like to support CRJ students, you can donate through the link below!

Ironwood Golf Course

W270 N6166 Moraine Drive

Sussex, WI

Wednesday, August 27, 2025

9:30am: Registration - $100/golfer

10:30am: Group Photo

11:00am: Shotgun Start (scramble)

Lunch will be provided. Appetizers, cocktails, & prizes to follow.

SAVE THE DATE: MILWAUKEE STARS MERENGUE 2025

Milwaukee Stars Merengue

Saturday, November 15, 2025 | Baird Center - Rooftop Ballroom

Downtown Milwaukee

Don’t miss this opportunity to see Milwaukee celebrities take the stage with a professional dance partner to entertain and raise funds to benefit Cristo Rey Jesuit High School’s rigorous academics, innovative Corporate Work Study Program and faith formation.

Is your business interested in partnering with our work study program?

We would like to speak with you about how your business or organization can partner with our Corporate Work Study Program! Contact Everette Fernandes at 414.436.4600 Ext. 3141 or efernandes@cristoreymilwaukee.org.

Make a difference in the lives of CRJ students!

The generous support of Cristo Rey Jesuit donors like you makes it possible for us to offer a Catholic, college-prep education combined with unique professional work experience to young women and men of all faiths and limited financial means. Consider a gift today or email Shannon Watry to discuss a planned gift for tomorrow.