At Cristo Rey, back to school means back to work

Cristo Rey students Alexus Williams, Samantha Ballesteros and Providence Medical Center CEO Randall Nyp signed an agreement that began the students’ work program at the hospital this year.

Cristo Rey students Alexus Williams, Samantha Ballesteros and Providence Medical Center CEO Randall Nyp signed an agreement that began the students’ work program at the hospital this year.

“Lots of handshakes. Lots of smiles. Meet everyone you can.”

That’s the advice senior Jahleel Allen had for his fellow Cristo Rey High School students yesterday as they start their first days of work.

At Cristo Rey High School on Linwood at Broadway, students have been back in class for a week. This school is one of 28 Cristo Rey high schools across the country that offer a Catholic college-prep program for students who otherwise could not afford one. And the centerpiece of the program is working for a local business for the entire school year.

To kick off the work experience, the students and their employers sign an agreement. Yesterday, Randall Nyp, President and CEO of Providence Medical Center joined Alexus Williams and Samantha Ballesteros in signing a pledge of service. The students will fill entry-level positions at the hospital and will be paid $6500 for the year.

Nyp says his hospital is one of the founding partners with Cristo Rey and has been accepting the students as workers for ten years.

“The students come prepared, focused and ready to learn,” he says.

The idea behind the work-study experience is that schools can help break the cycle of poverty through a combination of education and work experience. Kansas City’s Cristo Rey opened in 2006. Now each of its 400 students work five days a month at one of 115 local companies. Students also get training from the school on workplace skills to prepare them for the job experience.

The program seems to be working. Since the first graduating class in 2010, 100 percent of the students who graduated from the program have been accepted into college.

 

 

One Comment

  1. Thanks for putting the spotlight on this program, Midtown KC Post. Cristo Rey Kansas City is proud to be part of the fabric of the Midtown community. Neighbors and interested citizens are welcome to join us monthly, as we have our students meet the public and offer tours. To sign-up, email events@cristoreykc.org

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