News at Cristo Rey OC 

May  31, 2024 -It felt like a graduation. We ran out of seats. A standing-room-only crowd of families, donors, and Corporate Work Study partners crammed into the Parish Hall for Cristo Rey's first awards ceremony.

"My heart is full as I think about the incredible growth I've seen in each of our students," said Roberts.

We have high expectations and provide high levels of support to empower students to succeed. There is ample evidence that our students are on the right path:

• 95% of students were at a 2.5 GPA or higher, meaning students are on track for acceptance to a UC or selective college.

• 82% have a 3.0 or higher.

• 92% of students met or exceeded expectations at work.

• 5 students earned a perfect 4.0 GPA (pictured above)

The awards ceremony highlighted student achievements such as Scholar Athlete, Outstanding Performance in all subject areas, and the CROC of the Year awards.

The video below captured the spirit of Year One at Cristo Rey and emphasized how we actively foster our motto of "You Belong Here."

To see more photos, click here.

May 10, 2024 - NEWPORT BEACH, CA - Cristo Rey Orange County High School celebrated its inaugural ¡VIVA! gala, held on May 10th at VEA Resort and Spa in Newport Beach. The event celebrated Cristo Rey’s first school year and honored Tim and Alanna Psomas, whose founding leadership made the dream of Cristo Rey Orange County High School possible.   

Over 350 prominent philanthropists, corporate partners, and community leaders raised over $2M for Cristo Rey students. Funds raised will support growth as the school doubles enrollment this fall and will help ensure Cristo Rey is an affordable option for students who might otherwise be unable to access a Catholic, college prep high school uniquely integrated with real-world work experience.   

“A Cristo Rey education doesn’t cost less; we are just funded differently. As a new school without the traditional base of support in parents and alumni, we rely on friends like you to bridge the gap between what students earn at work, families pay in tuition, and the true cost of a Catholic, college prep education,” said Stephen Holte, founding president of Cristo Rey Orange County.   

The Presenting Sponsor, WCM Investment Management, underwrote all event costs, ensuring every dollar raised directly supported students. Additionally, WCM generously matched donations dollar for dollar made during the paddle raise to fuel the growth of this proven national model.  

“¡VIVA! was an incredible opportunity to introduce Cristo Rey Orange County to the community at large and ensure the awareness of the school, its unique corporate work study program, and the impact it is having on students and families,” said Michael Trigg, President of WCM Investment Management.  

Some prominent guests in attendance included host committee co-chairs Rand Sperry, co-founder of Sperry Commercial Global Affiliates and Sperry Equities Inc., and wife, Rosemary; Ed Slater, principal of Slater Builders and wife, Liz, co-founder and CEO; Roger Kirwan, Founder and CEO of Woodside Credit, and wife, Tracy; Oscar Gonzalez co-President and COO of Northgate Gonzalez Markets and wife, Silvia; Al Baldwin, CEO of Baldwin and Sons, and wife, Pam; and honorees, Tim and Alanna Psomas. 

The evening began with a cocktail reception on the Riviera Lawn, where guests were greeted by confident students who described their experiences working at top Orange County companies while enjoying the Mariachi band. Next, guests were welcomed inside to a dinner where ballroom tables were adorned with bright floral and citrus arrangements and softly lit candles. Abbot Eugene Hayes, O.Praem, graciously blessed the event, the evening’s benefactors and all who helped make the evening possible.    

Tim and Alanna Psomas, inaugural recipients of the Rey of Hope Award, then took center stage and received a standing ovation for their unwavering support and visionary leadership.  

“Alanna and I are overwhelmed and honored. It has been an incredible experience for us,” said Tim Psomas, Chair of the Board. “And it's really you, the community, who have put your hearts and souls behind this effort, and you've made this a success.”  

Founding Principal Karelyn Roberts described moving examples of students discovering their talents and growing in confidence with the support of Cristo Rey faculty and staff. She recounted a student telling her, “Cristo Rey is designed for me to succeed.”  

Student speakers Andy, who works at Woodside Credit, Dalailah, who works at Slater Builders, and Valeria, who works at Redwitz, welcomed guests, and gave inspirational testimonies. Diana Medina, Cristo Rey Jesuit High School ’16, shared her inspiring Cristo Rey story as a preview of Orange County students’ futures. She began work at Robert Baird through Cristo Rey’s Corporate Work Study Program as a 14-year-old freshman and graduated from high school with four years of work experience at the investment bank. She went on to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in political science from USC, a master’s degree in public administration from USC’s Sol Price School of Public Policy and is now paying it forward at her high school alma mater in Chicago.   

“While we are new to Orange County, the Cristo Rey model has been garnering national attention for excellence for decades. We are the 39th school nationally, and there are 13,000 students currently enrolled in Cristo Rey schools. 99% of Cristo Rey graduates are accepted to college and are 2.5x more likely to earn a bachelor’s degree than their socioeconomic peers. Cristo Rey is The School that Works,” said Stephen Holte, president.  

Through Cristo Rey’s innovative Corporate Work Study Program, students earn nearly half of the cost of their education working at leading Orange County companies. A team of student associates staff a full-time equivalent position, providing value while developing the confidence, skills, and social capital to succeed.  

While describing the transformational impact of work, President Holte shared, “You can’t be what you don’t see. Thank you to our 29 Founding Corporate Partners who are committed to developing Orange County’s future leaders and believe our students belong in their offices. We are excited to welcome 6 new Corporate Work Study Program partners for fall 2024: Silverado, GSI Group Holdings, Sunwest Bank, MBK Real Estate Companies, Brown and Streza Attorneys at Law, and KBS Realty Advisors. We need 10 more companies to partner with us as enrollment doubles next year.”  

The evening heated up with an exciting live auction including a fabulous five-day, four-night stay in a fully staffed oceanfront villa in Punta Mita, Mexico that went for $50,000. Other one-of-a-kind opportunities included a VIP experience to the Grammy Hall of Fame Concert, Gala and VIP Reception, and a decadent, private culinary experience for 12 with a Tequila Specialist and culinary maestro and Executive Chef Alan Sanz at Northgate Markets’ vibrant Mercado Gonzalez in Costa Mesa.  Guests generously funded student programs in a paddle raise then danced the night away with high energy band, That Vibe. 

Cristo Rey Orange County High School is a Catholic, college preparatory high school that provides a transformative education to students and families with limited economic resources. The school’s innovative Corporate Work Study Program allows students to gain valuable professional experience while earning a significant portion of the cost of their education. Cristo Rey Orange County High School is part of the Cristo Rey Network. For more information, please visit www.cristoreyoc.org. If you are interested in hiring students to work for your organization, or supporting our mission, please contact Vice President of the Corporate Work Study Program Susan McKeever at 714-439-9626 x 301 or info@cristoreyoc.org. 

January 30, 2023 - Suzanne Denson has been appointed the Founding Assistant Director of Corporate Work Study for Cristo Rey Orange County High School.  She is a collaborative agent for change committed to advancing youth workforce development by providing job readiness coaching and building partnership within communities.

Prior to joining Cristo Rey Orange County, Ms. Denson was a part of the Cristo Rey Jesuit High School Twin Cities team in Minneapolis, MN for 6 ½ years. She served as a Corporate Work Study Client Relations Manager, volleyball and track coach, and assistant campus minister. In her role as a Client Relations Manager, she was responsible for managing relationship between the school, community partners, students and families and supported the operations of the Corporate Work Study Program.

Suzanne attended Saint Mary’s College of California where she studied Business Administration, Finance and Justice, Community and Leadership. During her time in college, she studied abroad in Rwanda and twice in the Brazilian Amazon. She partnered with local organizations to support community development projects. While in Brazil, she supported a community reforestation project, built a Fish Food Fish Farm Factory, and developed a visitor’s guide to promote eco-voluntourism. Suzanne has over 9 years of experience working in Catholic education in California, Minnesota, and Rwanda.

Suzanne is committed to advancing the Cristo Rey mission by journeying with and accompany others.

Mrs. Susan McKeever, Founding Vice President, Corporate Work Study is a passionate and innovative leader who has over 20 years of Learning and Development experience partnering with organizations to build strong cultures and develop future leaders. In her new role she will continue to develop future leaders by using her experience to partner with Orange County corporations to secure meaningful jobs and learning opportunities for students.

Prior to joining Cristo Rey, Mrs. McKeever had her own consulting firm specializing in senior healthcare and housing serving clients including Silverado, MBK Senior Living, Geiss Med, Optum Health, and Clearwater Living. As part of her practice, she developed and facilitated programs and processes to align culture with business goals to develop, engage, and retain talent. She also developed sales training, an Executive Director in Training Program which increased internal promotions by 90%, as well as facilitated teambuilding workshops, and appeared as a guest speaker for client leadership retreats.

Mrs. McKeever has served in a variety of industries both domestic and international, including retail, engineering, construction, transportation, and healthcare. During her tenure at Fluor Corporation, she collaborated with a team to develop and facilitate an annual Global Leadership Forum, bringing leaders from around the world to focus on leadership and operational excellence. She also received highest recognition for developing and implementing a performance management system which was utilized globally to provide performance feedback and align associate and organizational goals.

Mrs. McKeever is an experienced facilitator, and leads programs such as DiSC, The Five Behaviors of a Cohesive Team, Productive Conflict, and EQ for Leaders. She holds a BS in Management and Human Resources from California Polytechnic University, Pomona, and an MBA from Pepperdine University. She and her husband Marty live in Yorba Linda and are active parishioners at St. Martin De Porres. Together they have three children, all recipients of a Catholic high school education.