1133 Clifton Hills Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45220 | (513) 861-0600 | www.depaulcristorey.org

MattersDEPAUL CRISTO REY

SUMMER 2015

The DePaul Cristo Rey Class of 2015 has made history – becoming the first class to graduate from the school

while achieving a series of firsts along the way.

When this class entered as freshmen in 2011, DPCR was the first new Catholic school to open in Greater Cincinnati in 50 years. When they graduated on May 31, the members of the Class of 2015 had achieved 100 percent college acceptance, earned almost $3 million in college scholarships, and had pioneered the school’s Corporate Work Study Program – logging more than 58,000 hours on the job and earning $1.3 million toward their own tuition.

Graduation weekend began Friday, May 29, with a Baccalaureate Mass celebrated by Cincinnati Archbishop Dennis Schnurr at St. Boniface Church, followed by a dinner for the students and their families at DPCR. Two days later, the seniors graduated in a ceremony at Mount St. Joseph University. Photos are inside on pages six and seven, with more on the DPCR web site at www.depaulcristorey.org.

Inside

2-3 Rey of Light’s Brilliant Success

4 HAHN Builds Students’ Futures

5 A Triple Win

6-7 First Graduation Photos

Inaugural Graduating Class Makes History

2

Thanks to generous sponsors, enthusiastic guests and dedicated volunteers – this year’s Rey of Light Scholarship Benefit for Students was a brilliant success. The April 18 gala raised more than $450,000 for DePaul Cristo Rey’s scholarship fund. Building on the success of the two previous galas, this event has, in just three years, raised more than $1 million for the DPCR scholarship fund.

During the live auction, the audience watched a video highlighting the success of the school’s first graduating class. It was shown just prior to the Fund-A-Need paddle raise for scholarships which alone raised more than $145,000.

Special thanks to Chairs Jane and Dick Yost, Co-Chair Michele Schuster, and the tireless volunteers who helped with this event.

Rey of Light is a Brilliant Success

Dear Friends of DePaul Cristo Rey,

The entire DePaul Cristo Rey community is still buoyed up by two recent events that speak to the powers – divine and human – that have turned a dream into a school.

As I reflect on those events, I can’t help but think of a Scripture quote that Rev. John Foley, SJ, founder of the first Cristo Rey school and the Cristo Rey Network, always uses to capture the essence of this inspired educational movement:

Acts 22: 10 – “Get up and go into the city and there you will be told everything that God has determined for you to do.”

Indeed, so many people have gotten up, come together in Cincinnati, and listened to the instructions God has clearly given us: Build a school for my children. Come together to do this. Share what you have to make it happen. You will see in a short while the fruit of your work. You are building the Reign of God in this school.

Rey of Light, our dinner auction for scholarship funding, is a living example of what happens when a community goes into the city to do God’s work. Over 420 people came together to raise enthusiasm and funds for our hardworking students. Its success – with a net profit of $458,000 – is a reflection of the talent and time of many volunteers and staff members led by co-chairs Jane and Dick Yost. Kudos and a huge thanks to everyone involved!

And of course, DePaul Cristo Rey’s first commencement with all its attendant activities was the absolute culmination of a community’s work in building the Reign of God. Every moment of our Seniors & CWSP Supervisors Luncheon, Senior College Commitment Ceremony, Awards Assembly, Baccalaureate Mass and Dinner, and finally our first Commencement was an absolute joy. More than 1,000 people joined us at Commencement to celebrate the achievements of our first 48 graduates.

Thanks for joining us on our journey into God’s city – a city that befits Cristo Rey, Christ the King!

Gratefully,

Sister Jeanne Bessette, OSF, Ed.D. President/CEO

Rey of Lights chairs Jane and Dick Yost with DPCR President Sister Jeanne Bessette.

Rey of Light Co-Chair Michele Schuster with husband Michael (left) and Bob Hauser (right).

1

2

1

2

A special thanks to the following stellar Rey of Light sponsors:

PRESENTING SPONSORSFriend of DePaul Cristo ReySusie & John Lame/Lenox Wealth Management Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati

PLATINUM SPONSORSC Ministry Foundation

GOLD SPONSORVicky & Rick Reynolds/Bartlett & Company

SILVER SPONSORSCR architects + designJedson EngineeringKDM P.O.P. Solutions GroupKroger Merrill Lynch-Holcomb/Geglein GroupMSA Architects Pat and Steve Robertson

TECHNOLOGY SPONSORSCincinnati Bell Martin & Associates

THANK YOU

3

3

4 5

6

3

45

Students (left to right) Rico Bush ’15, Eric Miller ’15 and Imani Vann ’16 with volunteer and friend Sister Janice Ernst, SC.Bob Stiens with DPCR Board member Manuel Chavez and his wife, Cynthia.

Susan and Dave Deye check their silent auction bid. This was the first year guests could use electronic bidding for the silent auction. John Locaputo, John Lame, Mary Locaputo, Susie Lame, and Andy Sweeny.

6

4

DePaul Cristo Rey is growing, and in August we expect to welcome our largest freshman class to date. With more students comes the need for more Corporate Work Study Program job placements.

Wanted: Corporate Work Study Partners

HAHN Automation, located in Northern Kentucky, is a custom machine building company primarily

serving customers in the automotive industry. For the past three years, HAHN has also been building the confidence, professional skills and resumes of DePaul Cristo Rey student workers as a Partner in DPCR’s Corporate Work Study Program (CWSP).

HAHN was a great fit for Jon Abe ’16 who worked there this past school year. Jon had asked to be placed at HAHN after learning about the company from a classmate who

HAHN Work Placement a Perfect Fit for Future Engineer

Please contact Lisa Claytor, director of the Corporate Work Study Program, at 513-861-0600 or lisa.claytor@dpcr.net if you or someone you know is interested in learning more about the program.

worked there during the prior school year. Jon is considering a career in mechanical or electrical engineering, and thought HAHN would feed his interest in those fields. It did and he appreciated the hands-on opportunities offered there. “I did office tasks in the mornings and then in the afternoons I got to be in the actual shop stocking inventory and delivering parts,” Jon explains.

Sheila Townsend, supply center manager at HAHN, has seen how the CWSP has benefitted both the students and HAHN. “This program gives young people a great idea of realistic workforce expectations. At HAHN, we give our students a diverse work experience so they have exposure to the manufacturing industry and the broad spectrum of options it offers,” she explains.

She says on a practical level, “The student workers have helped us accomplish the many tasks that never seem to get done in a small company. They gave us the opportunity to focus on higher-level tasks because we could hand off lower priority projects to them.”

There’s been a greater purpose to HAHN’s partnership with DPCR as well. “We’ve recognized that to build communities we must invest in upcoming generations and in workforce development,” says Sheila.

There have also been intangible benefits. “It has been really rewarding to witness the growth in the students,” Sheila adds. “It’s been a rewarding experience to know that we’ve invested something that will help them move along in their futures.”

Jon Abe ’16 with Sheila Townsend.

St. Joseph Home + IBI + Students = Triple Win of Corporate Sponsorship“This program is a triple win, there’s no doubt about

it,” says Eunice Timoney Ravenna of St. Joseph Home when commenting on DePaul Cristo Rey’s Corporate Sponsorship Program. The triple winning formula in this story includes St. Joseph Home, DPCR students and The Inspection Bureau, Inc.

St. Joseph Home is an intermediate care facility for people with severe to profound disabilities; three DPCR students worked there this past school year. The Inspection Bureau, Inc. is based in Cincinnati and performs professional electrical inspections. IBI President Gaylord Poe chose to support the DePaul Cristo Rey Corporate Work Study Program by underwriting two of the student workers at St. Joseph Home.

As Timoney Ravenna noted, the program is a win for all involved. “While working with us, the DPCR students received professional development, experience and exposure on a regular basis that’s simply not available in traditional high school volunteer or internship programs,” she explains. “At St. Joseph Home we received consistent professional support for an entire work day all school year. We also benefitted from the new ideas and energy the students brought with them – that was incredibly helpful.”

She adds, “I believe the Corporate Sponsor is investing in our community by investing in the education of our future leaders. This commitment is exceptional, and all future employers in Greater Cincinnati are going to benefit.”

Arianna McKinnon ’16 enjoyed her work this past year at St. Joseph Home. “I knew nothing about this organization before I worked there, but I really liked it. I also appreciate that the Corporate Sponsor invested in me to help St. Joseph Home. He helped me while helping a program that helps others.”

If you’d like to learn more about the benefits of Corporate Sponsorship, please contact Abby Held at 513-861-0600 or abby.held@dpcr.net.

We welcome and thank the following new Corporate Sponsors who will sponsor students at work in this

coming school year:

HORANBobbie and Ron LyonsAnn and Doug Miller

WELCOME New Corporate Sponsors

Arianna McKinnon ’16 working at St. Joseph Home.

5

6

Congratulations to the

DePaul Cristo Rey Class of 2015

Berea College

Central State University

Chatfield College

Clark State Community College

Franklin & Marshall College

Loyola University – Chicago

Morehead State University

Mount St. Joseph University

Northern Kentucky University

The Ohio State University Lima, Marion & Mansfield campuses

Ohio University

Regis University

Shawnee State University

University of Akron

University of Cincinnati

University of Cincinnati – Blue Ash

University of Findlay

Wilberforce University

Wilmington College

Wright State University

on achieving 100 percent college acceptance. These graduates plan to attend the following schools:

1

7

The Class of 2015 ready to enter the Mount Theatre for the commencement exercises.

The seniors celebrated their professional successes at DPCR’s first annual Seniors & Supervisors Appreciation Luncheon on April 24. Rochelle Benton ’15 celebrated with her supervisors from Corporate Partner Crayons to Computers (left to right): Analisa Condon, Susan Frankel and Sarah Westrich.

Commencement ceremony participants included (front row, left to right): Sister Joan Cook, SC, president of the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati; Sister Jeanne Bessette, OSF, DePaul Cristo Rey president; Jane Genster, president and CEO of the Cristo Rey Network; Rev. John Foley, SJ, founder and chair emeritus of the Cristo Rey Network. In the back row left to right are: Valedictorian Ruvarashe Mary-Ann Chimusoro ’15; Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley; Gary Cates, senior vice chancellor of the Ohio Board of Regents; Andrew Farfsing, DPCR principal; Dr. Jim Rigg, superintendent of Catholic Schools in Cincinnati; and Salutatorian Keion Humphrey ’15.

Will Moore ’15 receives his diploma from Principal Farfsing.

Theresa Bruns ’15, Jon Kemp ’15, Tony Dallalio ’15, and Ruvarashe Chimusoro ’15 in front of St. Boniface Church.

Jabril Bryant ’15 received the Credo Perago Floreo Award, the highest honor presented to a graduate. Maria Luning ’15 received the Distinguished Young Professional Award recognizing her outstanding professional transformation over four years.

Aaron Carter ’15 reads the second reading at the Baccalaureate Mass.

“Christ the King is working wonders in your lives. You are the proof that the Cristo Rey model works,” the Rev. John Foley told the graduates.

CLASS F 2015

1

3

4

5

6

7

8

32

5

7

8

4 6

2

1133 Clifton Hills AvenueCincinnati, Ohio 45220

Visit our Web site at www.depaulcristorey.org

NonprofitOrganizationU.S. Postage

PAIDCincinnati, OH

Permit No. 5919

DePaul Cristo Rey High SchoolGolf Classic

Glenview Golf Course

September 11, 2015

Our students radiate thanks for Rey of Light!Mark your calendars now for next year’s

spring gala at DePaul Cristo Rey.

April 16, 2016

SAVE THE DATES