BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Two seniors with GPAs near 4.0 and scholarship offers from over 15 colleges have been named Valedictorian and Salutatorian of Holy Family Cristo Rey Catholic High School in Ensley.
Khayla Jones, 17, of Birmingham will address her fellow seniors as Valedictorian, while Elijah Brown, 18, of Bessemer, will give the Salutatorian address. Graduation will take place on Saturday, May 24, at St. Paul’s Church downtown.
Holy Family Cristo Rey’s unique work-study program allows students aged 14 and up to offset much of their tuition by working in more than 85 businesses across metro Birmingham one day a week. The high school’s college preparatory curriculum, small class sizes, and safe learning environment allow students like Khayla and Elijah to thrive.
Inquiries to the school, one of 26 private Catholic high schools nation-wide affiliated with Chicago-based Cristo Rey Network, have jumped in the past year as parents with students in failing school systems seek alternatives. The Alabama Accountability Act provides tax incentives and scholarships for students to attend private schools like Holy Family Cristo Rey.
Khayla, in her fourth year at Holy Family Cristo Rey, intends to be a physical therapist and has over $218,500 in scholarship offers from over 15 colleges, including Miles, Talladega College, Alabama State and Alabama A&M. She credits the spirit of healthy academic competition as a motivator. “You don’t have to feel different because you’re smart here.”
Elijah, a junior-year transfer from Bessemer City, will study to be a biological scientist, and has over $358,500 in scholarship offers to 17 colleges, including Miles, Alabama A&M, Alabama State, and Talladega College. He credits Holy Family Cristo Rey with creating possibilities for his future. “Before I came to this school, I knew what I wanted to do as an adult, but didn’t see a path that would get me there. Now I’m on my way. Knowledge is power.”
Since affiliating with Cristo Rey Network in 2007, 100 percent of the school’s seniors have graduated and been accepted into college. As of Feb. 6, the 41 seniors in the Class of 2014 have received $2.37 million in scholarship offers from over 45 colleges across the nation. Pamela Cowan, Holy Family’s college counselor, predicts they will surpass last year’s records of $2.5 million. “I’m very proud of these seniors,” Cowan said. “The best is yet to come for the students at Holy Family Cristo Rey.”
Located at 2001 19th Street Ensley, Holy Family Cristo Rey is currently enrolling students for the 2014-15 school year. For details, call Director of Admissions Beverly Dixon at (205) 263-0133, email bdixon@hfcristorey.org, or go to www.hfcristorey.org. Follow the school on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
