Cristo Rey Jesuit High School, entering its second year, has partnered with 50 local businesses for its innovative Corporate Work Study Program (CWSP). From the 2015-16 academic year, 100% of businesses have renewed their contract with the Program and 94% of supervisors reported that students met or exceeded work expectations. The first-year greater Milwaukee area companies and organizations join new corporate participants to employ an anticipated 237 freshman and sophomore Cristo Rey Jesuit students in the 2016-17 academic year. The CWSP will provide students with the opportunity to develop practical professional skills as a supplement to their classroom learning.
The first of its kind in the state of Wisconsin, Cristo Rey Jesuit High School is located in West Milwaukee and provides Catholic, college preparatory education to young men and women of all faiths, and of limited financial means. In addition to a rigorous academic curriculum, all Cristo Rey students will work at local companies or organizations, and will ultimately graduate from high school having worked four years in professional settings.
The school year started early for Cristo Rey students, with an intensive, four week business training camp in July. Following the camp, students were assigned their jobs for the academic year. These jobs were selected with consideration to both the needs of the company, as well as the particular interests and skills of the students. Over the course of the school year, students will work five full workdays a month, in entry level roles. In turn, these companies will pay a wage to the CWSP for the students’ work. While the funds earned through the CWSP will contribute to the students’ educational experience, the real value of the CWSP is the exposure to the professional environment and the impact it has on students’ future career ambitions. At the same time, the business community develops a pipeline of trained, diverse, college-bound workers who are poised to contibute back to Milwaukee businesses as employees.
The following companies will participate in Cristo Rey Jesuit’s Corporate Work Study Program:
Ace World Wide Moving & Storage Co., Inc.
Associated Bank
Atlas Metal Parts
Aurora Health Care
Baker Tilly
Betty Brinn Children’s Museum
BMO Harris Bank
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee
Catholic Financial Life
Children’s Hospital and Health System
Coakley Brothers
Discovery World
Enterforce Inc.
Froedtert Health
Hatch Staffing Services, Inc.
Husch Blackwell LLP
International Thermal Systems LLC
J.P. Cullen & Sons Inc.
Johnson Controls , Inc.
Journey House, Inc.
M.A. Mortenson Company
Manpower Group
Marquette University
MGIC Investment Company
Michael Best & Friedrich, LLP
Milliman, Inc.
Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee Center For Independence
Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra
Next Door
Northwestern Mutual
Phoenix Investors, LLC
Quarles & Brady, LLP
Robert W. Baird & Co.
Rogers Memorial Hospital
Sendik’s Food Market
SHARP Literacy, Inc.
SPX Corporation
St. Camillus
Superior Die Set Corporation
Town Bank
U.S. Bank
United HealthCare Services, Inc.
United Performing Arts Fund
WE Energies
Weyco Group
Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare part of Ascension Healthcare
“We are very excited to partner with these amazing companies and applaud their commitment to the next generation of business leaders,” said Joe Mazza, Director of the Corporate Work Study Program. “With our strong first year results, I am thrilled that students, companies, and the broader Milwaukee community are seeing first-hand the transformational impact of our educational model.”
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