The Cristo Rey Network proudly announced the recipients of the prestigious Corporate Work Study (CWS) National Impact Award for the 2023-24 school year at Cristo Rey Network’s Annual Meeting in Columbus, OH on April 2, 2025. Surrounded by nearly 300 attending school leaders, the Cristo Rey Network presented the esteemed award to representatives from Accenture, Baird, Husch Blackwell, and Mount Carmel Health System, acknowledging their companies’ commitment to education and workforce development, which has positively impacted the lives of Cristo Rey students.

“We are immensely grateful to our corporate partners for their outstanding support of our schools and Cristo Rey student associates," said Teri Johnson Noel, Chief Corporate Program Officer of the Cristo Rey Network. "Their dedication to creating opportunities for the emerging leaders of tomorrow is truly inspiring.”

Among more than 60 multi-city corporate partners engaged with Cristo Rey schools in three or more markets across the country, Cristo Rey credited recipients Accenture, Baird, and Husch Blackwell for offering students hands-on experiences that go beyond traditional classroom learning, investing in the development of individual students but also making a significant impact on the broader community.

Cristo Rey celebrated Mount Carmel Health System as the local awardee in the city of Columbus for their commitment to Cristo Rey Columbus High School. Senior student associate, Amani, shared her work study experience at Mount Carmel as being formative to developing her own career aspirations in the medical field. Her testimony reflects the impact statistic that one in three Cristo Rey alumni have received or are pursuing a degree program that is related to their Corporate Work Study job placement during high school.

“We would not be Cristo Rey without our partners in student formation through Corporate Work Study," Noel continued.

In the 2023-24 school year alone, Cristo Rey student associates collectively earned $650,000 towards their own education through job placements at these four companies. View more impact statistics here.

Corporate Work Study provides students with invaluable professional skills as they journey to and through college, and Corporate Partners benefit from training and developing the future workforce. Learn more.

From Left to Right - NATIONAL AWARDEES

• Travis Kuhl, Director of IT Service Delivery in Kansas City’s office, and Vanessa Vara-Ramos, operations and administration in the Milwaukee office, with Husch Blackwell
• Christopher (‘26) and Amani (‘25) with Cristo Rey Columbus High School
• Tim Cain, financial advisor in the Columbus office, and Elizabeth Malone, campus recruiter in the Milwaukee office, with Baird
• Jerry Schildmeyer, managing director of Accenture’s Columbus office

From Left to Right - LOCAL AWARDEE

• Kelby Woodard, President and CEO, Cristo Rey Network
• Christopher (‘26) and Amani (‘25) with Cristo Rey Columbus High School
• Tauana McDonald, CEO of Mount Carmel Health System, and Deanna Stewart, President of the Mount Carmel Foundation