June 10, 2011

School principal hopes graduates use gifts and talents to make a positive difference

By John Shaughnessy

Providence Sister Jeanne HagelskampProvidence Sister Jeanne Hagelskamp has never been able to hide her pride or her emotion when she talks about the students at Providence Cristo Rey High School in Indianapolis—the Catholic school she helped to open in 2007 for students from low-income families.

As the school’s first class of four-year students prepared to graduate on June 8, her pride and her emotion were once again on display as she talked about the members of the Class of 2011. (Related story: Cristo Rey graduates reflect on their unique high school experience)

“It is incredibly difficult for me to see the Class of 2011 graduate,” said Sister Jeanne, the first president of Providence Cristo Rey High School, who is now the principal. “I suppose it’s like parents feel when their sons or daughters get married. I feel like they are my children. They’ve been here since we opened. They’ve seen us through our growing years and have grown with us.

“I am so very proud of these young men and women. They have worked exceedingly hard to accomplish what they set out to do. I don’t think I’ve ever been in a school in which over half the senior class had better than a 3.5 [grade point] average during first semester of senior year. But they did. We kept encouraging them to hold tight and finish strong, and they have. Now, it is so rewarding to see all their hard work pay off. Together, the 25 students have secured over $2.2 million in earned scholarship money.

“Of course, our goal is not [just] to get them to graduate from high school. Our goal is to have them successfully complete college. In a survey that they completed, our graduates overwhelmingly indicated that they feel that Providence Cristo Rey has prepared them well to be successful in college and in the workplace.

“It will be so hard to say goodbye. I hope that our graduates will come back often, knowing that this is ‘home’ to them. And, of course, I pray that our provident God will hold these young men and women gently in love and bless them in all their endeavors. May they remember that they are the face of Providence in this day and time, and use their gifts and talents to make a positive difference in the world.” †

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