As I reflect on Cristo Rey Jesuit High School’s 16th Commencement Ceremony, my heart is filled with profound gratitude, pride, and hope.
Commencement is always a sacred milestone in the life of our school, but this year’s celebration carried a special significance. Gathered in the beauty of the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen, I experienced what St. Ignatius would describe as a moment of consolation. Looking across the Cathedral and witnessing the joy on the faces of our graduates, their families, faculty, staff, trustees, corporate partners, alums, and friends, I was reminded once again of God’s faithfulness and the transformative power of our shared mission.
Author and educator Jason Green writes that “community begins when you can hear and feel someone else’s story.” Commencement embodied that truth. We celebrated not only academic achievement but also the stories of perseverance, sacrifice, resilience, faith, and possibility that brought each graduate to this remarkable day. During the Senior Awards Ceremony, we had the privilege of hearing about the many gifts, talents, and accomplishments of our graduates, reminding us that every diploma represents a unique journey of growth and determination.
I extend my deepest congratulations and gratitude to our faculty and staff. For the past four years, you have faithfully accompanied these young men and women through successes and setbacks, victories and challenges, moments of confidence and moments of uncertainty. You have invested countless hours teaching, coaching, mentoring, counseling, encouraging, and believing in our scholars. While the accomplishments we celebrated belong to our graduates, they also stand as a testament to your vocation in the ministry of education and the transformative power of accompaniment.
I am especially grateful to our Graduation Committee for leading this extraordinary experience. Thank you to Kia, Brandi, Greg, Ted, Pat, Jaishon, Mark, and Millie for your leadership, thoughtful planning, attention to detail, and unwavering dedication. Your collective efforts ensured that every aspect of the ceremony reflected the dignity, excellence, and significance of this important milestone.
Special thanks are also due to our security team for creating a safe and welcoming environment for every family and guest who joined us in celebration. I am equally grateful to Derrick Lifsey and Dr. Joe Mitala, whose daily presence, encouragement, handshakes, and accompaniment helped make this commencement experience joyful, personal, and memorable. I also want to recognize Beatriz and Emily for the care they took in ensuring that every graduate’s name was pronounced correctly and heard with the dignity each scholar deserves.
This year’s commencement marked an important milestone in the history of Cristo Rey Jesuit High School. With the graduation of the Class of 2026, our alumni community now exceeds 1,000 graduates, a remarkable testament to the enduring impact of our mission. Each alum represents a story of opportunity, achievement, and hope for Baltimore and beyond, carrying forward the values of faith, purpose, leadership, and service into colleges, careers, and communities.
The Class of 2026 also distinguished itself through its commitment to careers in HVAC, trade school, and higher education; collectively earning millions of dollars in college scholarships and financial aid. Their accomplishments reflect both their extraordinary perseverance and the confidence that colleges and universities place in Cristo Rey Jesuit graduates.
Our Valedictorian and Salutatorian offered powerful testimonies that beautifully captured the spirit of this class. Their remarks spoke of gratitude, resilience, faith, and moments shared that strengthened their sense of belonging. They reminded us that success is built upon relationships, strengthened through community, and sustained by those who walk alongside us. Their words affirmed that a Cristo Rey Jesuit education extends far beyond the classroom and continues to shape lives long after graduation.
The Class of 2026’s motto, “Through the Challenges We Still Bloom,” perfectly captures the character and aspirations of this remarkable group of young men and women. It is both a reflection on their journey and a call to their future, a reminder that adversity does not define us but can become the soil from which resilience, hope, and purpose grow. Their motto challenges each of us to pursue excellence while remaining rooted in faith, committed to justice, and dedicated to serving others.
As we celebrate this historic class, I am reminded that the true measure of our work is not found solely in diplomas, college acceptances, or scholarship dollars. It is found in the formation of young people who are prepared to lead lives of faith, purpose, leadership, and service, young people who will transform their communities and become women and men for and with others.
To the Class of 2026: thank you for inspiring us. Thank you for your perseverance, your courage, your joy, and your unwavering belief in what is possible. You leave Cristo Rey Jesuit High School as members of a growing network of more than 1,000 alums who are changing lives, strengthening communities, and creating brighter futures for generations to come.
May God continue to bless our graduates on their journeys. May you always seek God in all things, lead with compassion and integrity, and remember that wherever life takes you, you will always be Hornets for Life.
With gratitude,
Walter D. Reap, Sr., President
Cristo Rey Jesuit High School -Baltimore
