Annual Report 2011-2012

Hard Work Continues in College
Our second graduating class was like raising our second child. We had more
confidence, more experience, and more knowledge of what works with our
students. Our parents became more involved as we expanded our weekend
campus visits from four colleges to eight. More of our students were accepted to
and enrolled in out-of-state colleges. They applied for more scholarships. More
underclassmen became involved in a college-going culture by attending college
fairs, meeting admissions officers, attending summer enrichment programs and
learning about career options.
Our graduates add so much to fueling our students’ dreams by sharing their stories
of what it’s like to go to college. One co-ed who is now studying at Santa Clara University put it this way to the senior
class: “You have to be willing to work really hard to make it in college. And you all can do that, because you go to Cristo
Rey, and you learn to work hard here while you’re still in high school. So listen to your teachers. Work more. !Sí se puede!”
Micki O’Flynn
College Counselor
8
Florida: Here They Come
Maguie Najera ‘12 and Kelyn Colindres ’12 always knew they wanted to go away to
college, but getting accepted was just the beginning of their journey. Their dreams
came true when they were accepted into St. Leo’s University, Tampa, FL. Along the way,
a Hire4Ed Work-Study supervisor, Linda Bielke, at Delta Airlines, helped the girls realize
their dreams.
When Delta Airlines joined the Hire4Ed program in August 2011, Bielke and her coworkers
didn’t know what to expect of the three teen-agers that were going to be with
them each week at Delta. Nevertheless, Bielke and Kelyn became close as they worked
together throughout the year. “They became more like family,” said Kelyn.
Kelyn shared her college application process with Bielke, who was one of the first to
know when she decided to go to St. Leo’s. Excited for Kelyn. Bielke started thinking,
“But, how is she going to get down there?” Bielke knew that as much as they might
want to, Kelyn’s family wasn’t able to bring her to Florida. Bielke graciously offered to
accompany the girls.
On the evening of August 16, Kelyn and her friend and classmate, Maguie Najera ’12, met Bielke at the Minneapolis/ St.
Paul airport to fly stand-by, using Kelyn and Bielke’s flying privileges, to Atlanta, in the hopes of catching a connecting
flight the next morning to Tampa.
They made it to Atlanta with six hours before their flight the next morning—so Bielke, Kelyn, Maguie and all their
belongings spent the night on a bench at the Atlanta airport.
Bielke’s generosity did not end there. Upon arriving in Tampa, she rented a car and accompanied the girls shopping for
all of their dorm room necessities. On move-in day, Bielke brought them to St. Leo’s and helped them settle into the
campus life.
Bielke says she was happy to help the girls. “It wasn’t a big deal. It was good for me to do something for Kelyn.”
Months later, Kelyn and Maguie are enjoying St. Leo’s, but still struggle to express their gratitude. “We could have
never done this by ourselves,” Maguie says, “I really don’t know how to thank her.”