Photo by Hannah Schroeder / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Gissell Vera wanted to attend Cristo Rey Jesuit High School as soon as she heard about it, when as an eighth grader she learned about the school’s focus on college preparation and unique work-study program. And last Friday, she graduated as valedictorian of Cristo Rey’s class of 2019.

But Gissell wasn’t alone in achieving a dream: The 85 members of her class are, to a one, the first generation in their families to go to college, as the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported last week.

Each of the 85 graduates received at least two acceptances to four-year colleges, and all told, the class received more than $3.5 million in college grants and scholarships.

This accomplishment is due in part to Cristo Rey’s acclaimed work-study program. Since the school opened in 2015, as one of 35 Cristo Rey Jesuit schools across the country, its students have worked one day a week as interns at a Milwaukee business. They are not paid, but their “earnings” are applied to the cost of their tuition. The school primarily serves low-income families, most of whom are Latino.

Next fall, Gissell will attend Marquette University, which awarded her a scholarship covering all four years of her tuition in full. She chose the school over Georgetown University and College of the Holy Cross, which both offered her full rides as well.

She’ll be joined at Marquette by fellow graduate Ana-Luci Gonzalez, who interned in our Marketing department during the 2017-18 school year. North Shore Bank has participated in the Cristo Rey work-study program for two years, and plans to continue its involvement.

“We have truly enjoyed our partnership with Cristo Rey and the students who have been with us so far,” said Molly Schissler, SVP human resources and compliance. “They each bring their own unique talents, and it’s been a pleasure to see their growth during their school year. It is our hope that, in the longer term, some of these students learn that a career in banking may be something that interests them and will lead them back here.”