SEATTLE — Pom-poms waved. Thundersticks clacked. Hoots and hollers reverberated. There was even a brass band playing “When the Saints Go Marching In.”

But this wasn’t game day.

It was draft day — Corporate Work Study Draft Day.

For 63 ninth graders from Seattle’s newest Catholic high school — Cristo Rey Jesuit Seattle High School — it was the day to find out where they’d be working five days a month. Unlike most high schoolers, they will spend at least one day a week out of the classroom and in a professional work environment.

The students, their families, Cristo Rey staff members and representatives from Seattle-area companies and nonprofits filled Pigott Auditorium at Seattle University Aug. 28 for the big announcements, which, of course, came from a local sportscaster. Jen Mueller, a sideline reporter for the Seattle Seahawks and a member of the Seattle Mariners broadcast team, served as the event’s emcee.

The excitement and anticipation put an NFL draft to shame.

“This is an actual dream coming true right before our eyes,” said Paul Hogan, the founding president of Cristo Rey Jesuit Seattle High School.

‘Partnership and opportunity’

The new school is the 40th school in the national Cristo Rey Network, which was founded in 2000 to prepare students from low-income families for college and post-secondary opportunities. Cristo Rey schools combine four years of college preparatory academics with real-life work experience, which “helps cover a significant part of tuition,” Hogan said.

To attend Cristo Rey, a family’s income must fall below a certain level, based on household size. According to the Cristo Rey Seattle website, families never pay more than $2,500 a year.

“Every child has the right to quality education, regardless of ZIP code,” Hogan explained, adding that this first class has students “from the Central District to Federal Way, from Kent to Renton.”

The draft day, he said, is “a celebration of partnership and opportunity,” with “some of Seattle’s finest companies and nonprofits” helping to prepare students for success in college and careers.

Cristo Rey Jesuit Seattle student Kaneka Borja greets representatives of Alaska Airlines, where she will do her work-study employment. Borja told Northwest Catholic she is “excited to meet new people” and by her job assignment. (Stephen Brashear)

“The Corporate Work Study program is an amazing chance to make a real impact in our community and see the benefits happen right before our eyes,” said Jason Pankow, talent acquisition manager at Alaska Airlines, one of Cristo Rey Seattle’s corporate partners. “These students are not only growing and learning outside the classroom but also discovering career paths they might not have known existed. They’re gaining valuable workforce skills that will help them today and in the future.”

But the most important thing, Hogan said to the crowd and uniform-clad teens, is that “all of our students know they are safe, valued and loved.”

And then it was time for the main event.

Each of the 19 employers was called to the stage alphabetically — from Agora Refreshments to T-Mobile — and then the names of their student draftees were read by emcee Mueller. Representatives from the organizations welcomed their newest employees with handshakes, gift bags, hats and other merchandise to the audience’s whoops and applause.

The students weren’t really selected by their employers: Cristo Rey Corporate Work Study staff met with students to evaluate their skills and interests to match them with the right job.

A Cristo Rey Jesuit Seattle High School student cartwheels across the stage after learning his employer is the Space Needle. Local sports broadcaster Jen Mueller, at the podium, encouraged him to do it a second time. He obliged. (Stephen Brashear)

The assignments, though, were news to the teens. At least one student did a celebration dance as he took the stage, and another did a cartwheel to raucous cheers.

Mueller observed, though, that some of the students looked nervous and were probably wondering what they had to offer these employers.

“Partnership goes both ways,” she said. “Dreaming and being who you are is a big help for those of us who need a little inspiration.”

Hugs and happy tears

The celebration from inside the auditorium poured out into a reception afterward. There were hugs, relieved smiles and happy tears. Company representatives sought out their students to better introduce themselves and offer encouragement. Parents snapped photos of kids holding “I’ll be working at ____” placement signs.

Hugo Rivas proudly sported his new PACCAR hat as he chatted with his mom, who was smiling ear to ear.

“I am excited to meet new people,” said Rivas, who attended St. Philomena School in Des Moines before Cristo Rey. “This is going to help me a lot in the future.”

His mom echoed those sentiments.

“I am really proud,” Wendy Rivas said. “This is a different school, and you can actually see what you want to do before you get to college.”  

Neca Silvestre was also among the beaming parents. While she was delighted by her daughter Kaneka Borja’s placement with Alaska Airlines, the real joy for Silvestre was the gift of Catholic education.

Silvestre’s children had attended a Catholic elementary school, but between her husband’s death and other financial circumstances, continuing there was out of reach. She enrolled her children in public school a couple of years ago, and Borja graduated from Evergreen Middle School in Kent last spring.

Then the Cristo Rey tuition model opened a door Silvestre thought was closed.

“I feel blessed,” Silvestre said. “It’s been a big thing for me to have my children go to Catholic school. Faith is so important.”

Students wait for their names to be called at Corporate Work Study Draft Day. Cristo Rey Seattle President Paul Hogan is at far right. (Stephen Brashear)

FIND OUT MORE

Cristo Rey Jesuit Seattle High School shares its campus with St. Paul Parish and the St. Paul Early Learning Center at 10001 57th Ave. S. in Seattle.

Learn more about the school at www.cristoreyseattle.org.

Representatives of Providence Health cheer as their work study students are announced. (Stephen Brashear)

2024-25 CORPORATE WORK STUDY EMPLOYERS

Agora Refreshments

Alaska Airlines

Archdiocese of Seattle

Assured Partners

Baker Tilly US LLP

Cairncross & Hempelmann

Costco Wholesale

Cristo Rey Jesuit Seattle High School

Housewhisperer.ai

JLL @ Amazon GREF

Microsoft

Northwest Center

PACCAR Inc.

Premera Blue Cross

Providence Health

Seattle Bank

Space Needle

Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Seattle-King County

T-Mobile

CORPORATE PARTNERS WITHOUT STUDENT EMPLOYEES

Cargo Signal

Expeditors International

Novaby

The Ferry Foundations

The Brass Monkeys band led a parade of Cristo Rey Jesuit Seattle High School students into Pigott Auditorium at Seattle University on Corporate Work Study Draft Day. (Stephen Brashear)