OUR SCHOLARS

Japheth (“JP”) Nardos is the second son of a father from Ethiopia and a mother from Eritrea. “My brother and I are like the peace treaty!”   JP is very interested in economics and the law and interned at Alston & Bird Law Firm during his senior year at Cristo Rey.  His knowledge of the global financial system is broader and deeper than most students his age.  Watching his father work as an independent trucker also has led him to consider a legal career to represent small business interests in America.  “My truth is to serve others.  My purpose in life will be fulfilled by the work I do for others while being an advocate and an ally for my community.  This is what life is expecting from me.”  We are looking forward to watching JP as he begins his journey at the University of Georgia this fall.

Nahreen Shamon Ayala is the daughter of an Assyrian Iraqi father and a mother from Mexico who met while working at the Hyatt Regency in Atlanta!  In high school, she was president of the Robotics Club and Co-President of Students for Life.  While at Cristo Rey, Nahreen pioneered and championed the discipline of robotics and her enthusiasm is infectious!  In 2022, she was selected as one of three finalists to represent Georgia at the International FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Championship in Houston.  She was a featured student speaker at the Global Health Leaders Conference at Johns Hopkins University.  During her senior year at Cristo Rey, she interned at Georgia Tech in the Fong Lab of the Biomedical Engineering department working on plasticity for neural rehabilitation.  She did such a great job that Professor Fong asked her to continue working there through the summer.  In Nahreen’s “free time” she worked as a teaching assistant at Marist High School in the Computer Science, Robotics and Business Department.  Her outside interests include 3D Printing and volunteering at Zoo Atlanta.  The most striking thing about Nahreen is her gratitude for Cristo Rey – “I love my school!”  and her vision for her life: “My life’s vocation is to engineer equitable solutions to public health problems. While interning at the Fong Lab, I have learned to be a competent and compassionate engineer. At the core of our work as researchers is people.”  Nahreen plans to major in Mechanical Engineering at Georgia Tech.

Sergio Chavez is the only child of parents who emigrated from Acapulco, Mexico. He will graduate from Cristo Rey at the top of the class. In addition to pursuing a rigorous academic schedule, Sergio has played varsity soccer and is the programmer and driver for the robotics team. While at Cristo Rey he has been awarded the Intellectually Competent Award (given to two students who strive to advance their intellect, actions and behaviors), the Engineering Award and the Georgia Certificate of Merit (top 5%). In addition to being very smart, Sergio is a delightful young man who values in a leader a strong work ethic, respect for others and optimism. His corporate work study sponsor describes him as “the consummate professional”. We look forward to following Sergio for the next four years at the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Jada Ison will be graduating from Cristo Rey in the top 10% of her class. She has taken a challenging curriculum of advanced placement and honors classes and has excelled in all her studies. Despite a rigorous academic schedule, Jada participated in student government as a class representative. She was selected as a Cristo Rey Ambassador and a leader for the senior Kairos retreat. Jada worked throughout high school at Chick-Fil-A. In a leader, she values understanding, resiliency and selflessness. “Empowering others to do greater things and being satisfied with other’s success is what a leader should always want”. An experience during sophomore year opened her eyes to the medical profession and she hopes to study nursing in college. She has received acceptances from many wonderful schools and is leaning toward Emory University.

Daisy Johnson Perez emigrated from Mexico when she was 10 years old; she spoke no English at the time. She began working in restaurants at 15 to help with finances at home; she has worked on weekends throughout her high school career. In addition to classes at Cristo Rey, Daisy was given the opportunity to take a for-credit college course offered by the University of Notre Dame on “Technology and Innovation Ethics” and she spent a summer at Loyola University in Chicago in a faith and justice program for emerging leaders. At Cristo Rey, Daisy was a student ambassador, a member of the cross-country team and a varsity cheerleader. Over the past four years, Daisy has earned the admiration of teachers and corporate work study mentors: “Daisy is one of the most academically capable, ethically engaged, personally gifted, vocationally-driven students I have taught… It would be fitting that this young woman, who has responded to adversity with resilience and compassion, would carry forward Madeleine Jude Brown’s legacy, from great sadness bringing forth hope, wisdom and goodness”. Daisy hopes to study nursing at Mercer University.

Camila Trejo-Salvatierra was born in the United States to parents who emigrated from central Mexico. Initially disinterested in high school, Camila gradually became aware of the opportunities afforded by Cristo Rey. She took 6 AP classes, was a member of the choir and she served as a student ambassador to Cristo Rey.
While Camila hopes to pursue a degree in a healthcare-related field, she also is very interested in creative writing. For her MJB application essay she wrote a letter of thanksgiving to her parents. “It took some time, from the naivety of my younger self to my more aware self, to be able to come to the realization that all your hard work came from a necessity. I did not know how hard it really was to navigate an entirely new country with not even the knowledge of the common language… It did take me several years, but I will make sure it is all worth the waiting and hoping.”
We are looking forward to following Camila as she begins a new chapter at Mercer University.

Brayan Torres is the eldest of 2 sons born to parents who emigrated from Mexico. Brayan graduated from Cristo Rey Jesuit High School and was an active volunteer for his church. Most notably, he worked at a restaurant 18 hours on the weekends during the school year and full-time during school breaks. His favorite job was cashier “because it involved math”!

Brayan received glowing letters of recommendation and it is clear that his teachers and supervisors hold him in the highest regard. His desire for learning was infectious; when Cristo Rey launched their hybrid learning model during COVID, Brayan chose to return to the classroom in person full time. Often, he was the only student in the room with the teacher. He writes: “Life has many bumps and we must overcome and always put forth our best effort. Hardships cannot stop us from achieving our goals”.

We will be rooting for Brayan as he begins his college experience at Mercer University in the fall of 2022.

Bae Na Dae Ta is one of 6 children born in Myanmar (Burma). The family fled to the refugee camps along the Thailand border until they were brought to the US when she was 8 years old. She spoke no English at the time. Because of the language barrier, her transition to America was slow but then “My whole life changed when an African-American student from my class talked to me. She introduced me to her friends and helped me understand certain subjects and words. I started learning to read and write in English little by little thanks to my friend and books. I became comfortable in the group of friends I had, even though we all came from different cultural backgrounds.”

Bae Na became a beautiful writer and in 2019 she received the national Jesuit Refugee Service Anne Frank Essay Competition on Holocaust Remembrance Day. “As we learn to live together and care for one another, we are called to walk side by side with the oppressed, the abandoned and those who are shunned by everyone else. This means standing up for someone who is being bullied because he or she does not fit in with others. It means eating with the girl who sits alone during lunch while everyone else ignores her. When we shut others out because they are different from us, we are rejecting God’s call to love those around us. Without realizing, we are rejecting the Imago Dei because each one of us is created in God’s image and likeness. We must learn to live together because “whoever does not love a brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen” (1 Jn 4:20).”

Bae Na began Mercer University in the Fall 2021 and hopes to become a nurse.

Abraham Pizano is the oldest of four children born to parents who immigrated from Mexico 25 years ago. While at Cristo Rey, he had an outstanding academic record, graduating with an A+ GPA, receiving the AP Scholar Award and earning a Zell Miller Hope Scholarship (100% of tuition covered). Two of his corporate work study years were spent at Georgia Tech in the College of Engineering. It was there that he realized his love for math and science and his desire to study Civil Engineering.

At Cristo Rey, Abraham was active in Campus Ministry, starting out organizing campus spiritual events but ultimately assuming the position of treasurer. In that capacity, he oversaw the budget and worked closely with the finance director of the school.

Abraham also spent four years working with the homeless community in Atlanta. His experiences at the Saturday morning soup kitchen had a profound impact on his heart: “We should all work to one common good… to better ourselves and our world by working together for a better tomorrow.” We are looking forward to following Abraham who will begin his college experience this August at Georgia Tech.

Tsion Fitsum is of Ethiopian descent and the oldest of three children living with her mother. Throughout her high school career, she assumed considerable responsibility for the family: cooking, housework and caring for the younger children. Despite these obligations, Tsion maintained an A average and was awarded a Dell Scholarship in her senior year.

Tsion’s corporate work study included substantial time in the healthcare field at Emory St. Joseph’s Hospital and Kaiser Permanente and has led her to consider pursuing a science-related degree. The senior class Kairos (“the right time”) Retreat was a turning point for Tsion as she was grouped with unfamiliar students. The initially uncomfortable situation gradually evolved into openness and compatibility. “When encountering a situation that makes me feel hesitant, I remember the incredible outcome of what happened at Kairos… I have implemented the habit of listening more than talking…and realizing that everyone around you is different in their unique ways.”

Georgia Tech will be so fortunate to have Tsion join them as a first-year student this fall!

Angela Vasquez is the middle child of three born to immigrant parents from Columbia (mother) and El Salvador (father). While at Cristo Rey, Angela excelled in academics, receiving first honors each semester. She was active in many extracurricular activities including altar serving, garden club, catechism teacher, parish youth leader, yearbook and National Honor Society.

In her corporate work study experience she stood apart with her “tremendous integrity, diligence and persistence”. One supervisor wrote: “Angela Vasquez embodies every single salient characteristic required to assure her great success in her quest to make a difference in the lives of children and the communities where they live.”

Angela is studying Business Administration at the Georgia Institute of Technology and completed her first year with a 4.0 GPA!

Ewnet Ayissa was 13 years old when he moved to Atlanta with his father from Ethiopia; his mother remained in Jimma. At a young age, Ewnet found himself in a new country, at a new school, learning a new language and taking on many of the duties his mother would have handled: cooking, cleaning, laundry. While juggling these activities and the challenges of school, Ewnet worked weekends at Publix.

As one teacher wrote: “Ewnet’s parents sacrificed…because their goal for him was to get a first-class education. He will be the first member in his family to graduate from high school and attend college”. Ewnet writes, “By overcoming the challenges of establishing a life half-a-world away from home, I needed to be mentally and physically strong… Working towards what is important may seem impossible, but it is key. Things may be overwhelming, but if we have faith in God, He will lead us --- one step at a time.”

At Cristo Rey, Ewnet found great comfort in soccer which he plans to continue next year as a freshman at Oglethorpe University.

On April 19, 2018, Lisbeth Villegas was named the 10th Madeleine Jude Brown Scholar during the Senior Awards Ceremony at Tucker High School. In addition to a successful academic record at Tucker, Lisbeth was active in HOPE (Hispanic Organization Promoting Education), the National Honor Society and the Arab Cultural Society. Outside of school, she was a math tutor and a leader in PRIME TIME at the Tucker Public Library. PRIME TIME encourages reading and love of the library among children and their families especially those who speak Spanish as their first language. One teacher wrote: “Lisbeth is one of the kindest and most mature students I have had at the high school level… She is well-liked among faculty and peers. Her character is beyond her years.” In addition to the Madeleine Jude Brown Scholarship, Lisbeth received the Oglethorpe Power Scholarship and the Wyonda Pringley Scholarship and was named top 10% of the graduating class. Lisbeth plans to attend Mercer University where she hopes to follow a pre-Law course of studies.

On May 17, 2018, Dariana Ruiz was named the second 2018 Madeleine Jude Brown Scholar. Dariana is a member of the first graduating class from the Cristo Rey Jesuit High School where she followed a rigorous curriculum including 6 advanced placement and 5 honors classes. In addition to excelling academically, Dariana spent one day each week working with a corporate sponsor and four evenings each week at a community job to help with family expenses. How did she manage it all, we asked. “I keep a planner!!!”

Daraina has developed a keen interest in writing (she won a Georgia statewide writing contest for St. Patrick’s Day), limb prosthetics and car shows. She hopes to study biomedical engineering.

“Even though the world seems to be filled with darkness at times, there are people that shine with a bright light.” We are looking forward to following this bright light during the next phase of her amazing journey.

Read more about Cristo Rey, an innovative, college preparatory school that combines a rigorous academic curriculum with a corporate work experience, at http://www.cristoreyatlanta.org.

Janki Patel moved to the United States when she was 13 years old, originally settling in Thomasville, North Carolina. After 2 years, the family relocated to Georgia. The transition to high school in America initially was challenging because “everyone talked so fast!” but Janki quickly caught on and finished Tucker with a 4.0 GPA. She became very active in volunteer work, particularly with Habitat for Humanity and Samaj Seva, an Indian organization that meets weekly to package food for homeless families. “Helping comfort someone else will change your view of them”, she writes. “These extracurricular activities have taught me a life lesson of helping.” Janki heads to the University of Georgia in August where she hopes to begin working toward a medical career.

Apoorva Thapa was born in Kathmandu, Nepal and attended the United World College in Montezuma, New Mexico for his final two years of secondary education. UWC-USA is one of 15 campuses located on five continents and combines a rigorous IB academic curriculum with an experiential, hands-on approach to learning. A two-year residential school, UWC-USA serves students age 16-19 who typically represent more than 70 different countries. Apoorva was one of 12 students selected for a trip to Mexico to study and discuss border issues first hand. He also spent a summer in Morocco on scholarship from the Student Diplomacy Corps where he studied Moroccan culture, and the ways music can act as a medium that "bridges the gaps between cultures and continents". Apoorva graduated from UWC in May 2017 and received a full scholarship to the University of Florida.

“Now that all is (almost) said and done, MJB has undoubtedly changed the course of my life for the better, for which I am ever so grateful. In the future, I sincerely hope I can give back to the foundation in some way or the other. If the foundation ever needs a volunteer to help sort papers and run errands, I will only be two hours away and more than happy!”

Ferdous Abdul Qudus and his family emigrated to the United States from Tajikistan when he was four years old. He was one of the first in his family to learn English and by the time he was seven, he was helping to conduct financial transactions for the family. On weekends during middle and high school, Ferdous continued to help Middle Eastern refugees navigate the legal system and complete paperwork. In the process, he developed a deep appreciation for America and the value of education. He graduated from Tucker High School with an International Baccalaureate diploma and began Emory University in the fall of 2016.

Simon Chang was awarded the 7th Madeleine Jude Brown Scholarship on April 29, 2015. Simon graduated from Tucker High School with an International Baccalaureate diploma and a 4.12 GPA. He was the recipient of the Presidential Academic Excellence Award, the University of Georgia Academic Award and the Oglethorpe Power Award. In addition to his studies, Simon was a member of the varsity tennis team, tutored at both Midvale Elementary School and the Tucker Chinese Christian Church and was an active member of the National Wildlife Federation. While excelling academically and in extracurricular activities, it was Simon’s thankfulness, compassion, generosity and leadership that most impressed his teachers and the MJB committee. Simon entered the University of Georgia in August 2015.

Simon spent part of the summer 2017 with the Atlantis Project Pre-Med Fellowship Program shadowing doctors at the Hospital Clinico Universitario Santiago de Compostela, Spain. “I was able to experience healthcare from a different perspective since it's nationalized in Spain. My favorite part was interacting with new people and being exposed to their culture!”

Simon has completed junior year at UGA, majoring in Exercise Science in the degree program for Physical Therapy.

Aniya’s determination, faith and exuberant joyfulness made her an excellent candidate to receive the MJB Scholarship in 2013. The second-oldest sister in a single-parent household, Aniya learned to shoulder a large amount of responsibility from a young age. Despite a busy home life, she managed to pursue an International Baccalaureate degree which involved advanced college-level courses and considerable extracurricular service projects. In addition, Aniya competed in both Varsity volleyball and Varsity basketball and in Senior year was elected captain of both teams. Graduating with a 4.35 GPA and numerous awards, Aniya began her studies at the University of Georgia in August 2013.

Aniya had a stellar career at UGA, majoring in Environmental Sciences, maintaining the Zell Miller Hope Scholarship and graduating with Honors. While achieving academic excellence, Aniya also managed to play intramural volleyball and basketball and at least one of her teams won the school championship! She spent two semesters studying in Ghana. But most impressively, Aniya mentored an elementary student in the community for three years.

Aniya has been accepted into the Peace Corps and will be stationed in Togo, West Africa for two years.

Melanie’s excellent academic record and compassionate spirit contributed to her selection for the MJB scholarship. She was elected to the National Honor Society in 10th grade and graduated in the top 10% of her class with an International Baccalaureate diploma. Melanie also directed her talent and energy towards helping others. During her junior year she co-founded iHeart, Inc, and organized a 5K race to raise funds for a friend undergoing heart transplantation.

Melanie graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a degree in Computational Media. She was president of the Salsa Club. Throughout her college career, Melanie spent Saturdays teaching computer coding to 3rd, 4th and 5th graders at Kids4Coding. She made many connections in the Atlanta coding community and in 2016 was invited to Boston to be a counselor at a coding camp sponsored by Microsoft.

Melanie, who co-authored the MJB manual, Making the Jump to College, was invited to speak to the Tucker seniors and their parents at the Top 10% Ceremony. She described the evolution of her own attitude towards education and how her priorities have changed. Her top tips for the seniors: 1) Relax… you are already impressive, 2) Call home, 3) Failing is not the end of the road; it’s part of the journey, and 4) Be more than a GPA. Melanie now works at Turner Broadcasting/CNN designing web user interfaces.

Raven’s commitment to educating and mentoring others exhibits the principals of the MJB foundation. During high school, Raven became the Lead Advisor of the non-profit Girl Talk, where she mentored nearly 30 middle-school girls on self-awareness and responsible decision making. The discussion topics included: Being Real, Cliques, Bullying, Goal Setting and Relationships. Raven graduated from Kennesaw State University with a degree in Psychology in December 2017.

Bea’s artistic talent, thoughtfulness and vision made her a recipient of the MJB Scholarship. As a child Bea enjoyed creating her own toys and this activity later influenced her decision to become an artist. After graduating from Tucker High and receiving the MJB Scholarship, Bea went on to attend the Savannah College of Art and Design. She graduated magna cum laude in 2014 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interactive Game Design. She created a tabletop game called “Grow” that has competed at numerous conventions and festivals.

Yemesrach Tadesse’s life has been full of incredible challenges, to which she has always responded with determination and hope. Growing up in Ethiopia, Yemesrach lost her parents at a young age. She and her siblings were adopted by her uncle in Atlanta and she attended Tucker High. While at Tucker, Yemi excelled academically, served as the Student Government President and founded the Tucker High School Mentoring Program.

Graduating Tucker at the top 1% of her class, Yemi went on to attend Emory University, studying economics and anthropology. She graduated from Emory University in December 2013 and currently lives in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where she is a Partnership Manager for Iceaddis, which is the first technology innovation hub in Ethiopia. She is working with several international corporations including the British Council, Harvard Business School, and the International Research and Exchange Corporation.

In preparation for the 2017 G20 Conference, German Development Minister Dr Gerd Müller hosted the One World No Hunger Policy Forum in Berlin on April 27 and 28 with the goal of highlighting the need to reduce world hunger by creating jobs and better prospects for young people in rural areas. A number of international dignitaries attended. Yemi was one of 31 young people from Africa invited to Germany to participate in the crafting of the Berlin Charter.