Houston's energy industry invests in education through Cristo Rey Jesuit
Improving the lives of those in communities in which companies work and operate is a long-standing commitment across the nation, and striving to improve educational opportunities for children in those communities is a common goal. Across Houston, companies involved in the energy industry are finding a wonderful opportunity in Cristo Rey Jesuit.
Part of a national network of schools, Cristo Rey Jesuit offers a rigorous, college-preparatory education to limited-income families. The Catholic high school combines personal responsibility, academic rigor, and a corporate work-study program to empower students of all faiths from economically challenged families to reach their full potential.
The Houston school, Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory School, opened its doors in August 2009 with a freshman class of over 80 young men and women. From the days of administrators pounding the pavement to generate awareness of both the school and its opportunities to today's 271 students and burgeoning corporate sponsorship, Cristo Rey Jesuit has found its place on Mount Carmel Street near Hobby Airport.
Part of what makes the network of schools so compelling is the Corporate Work-Study Program. In addition to earning the majority of the cost of a college preparatory education they previously could not afford, students gain valuable job experience.
Every Cristo Rey Network student takes a full load of college preparatory coursework for four years, as he/she participates one day each week in a four-year work-study program.
By partnering with numerous area businesses, Cristo Rey schools are changing the face of urban education in the United States. Students are not on the payroll of the employing organization; rather they are employees of the school's separately incorporated work-study program, which the sponsoring organization pays quarterly, annually or monthly for the services of the students.
Photo courtesy of Key Energy Services.
"Support in the Houston area has been overwhelming," said Susan Martin, Director of Communications at Houston's Cristo Rey Jesuit.
Dozens of past and present corporate sponsors are involved in the Houston oil and gas industry: BP, Ernst & Young, ConocoPhillips, Deloitte, Deutsche Bank, Dresser-Rand, Eagle Rock Energy Partners, Encore Bank, Exterran, Fulbright & Jaworski, GDF SUEZ, Grant Thornton LLP, Hercules Offshore, Hilcorp Energy, Key Energy Services, Kinder Morgan, Latham & Watkins LLP, LINN Energy, Locke Lord, Macquarie Group, Opportune LLP, Sanchez Oil & Gas, Select Energy Services, Spectra Energy Services, and Tauber Oil, among others.
"The marriage of blue-ribbon energy companies in Houston with children coming from economically distressed neighborhoods, through Cristo Rey Jesuit's work-study program, creates a win-win-win situation. Our students win because these jobs help pay their way through a private, rigorous college prep school and into college. Our corporate sponsors win as it provides a pipeline to future employees that literally are raised surrounded by their corporate culture and values. Houston wins as our kids become the next generation of economic visionaries, innovators and leaders who have kept our city the energy capital of the world," said Reverend TJ Martinez, SJ, founding president of Houston's Cristo Rey Jesuit.
Dick Alario, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Key Energy Services, one of this year's sponsors, views the benefits similarly. "One of the biggest reasons we got involved in the Cristo Rey Jesuit Corporate Work-Study Program is that it aligns with one of Key Energy Services values, which is Community. The program provides an excellent opportunity to introduce young students in the Houston community to our industry and to cultivate our potential future workforce. As a company, we get to expose young people to different facets of our industry and to allow them to make fair assessments of the industry, while at the same time, contributing to our community."
While the Houston school has grown markedly, the program requires continued support to accomplish its mission. Visit CristoReyJesuit.org to learn more.
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