Thursday, May 20th was a celebratory night at Cristo Rey Jesuit as students, their families, and the faculty and staff gathered for a seated dinner in the Cristo Rey Café to honor students who exemplified excellence in academics and at work this school year. The Magis Awards Ceremony Dinner featured a buffet of pasta and salad, tables of black linen with floral centerpieces, and candlelight – all funded by an anonymous donor.
The keynote speaker, the Honorable Judge Hilda G. Tagle, United States District Judge for the Southern District of Texas Brownsville division, told of her career as the first Hispanic female judge in Nueces county, the first Hispanic female county court at law judge in Texas, the only Hispanic woman judge of a court record in Texas, and finally, the first Hispanic woman in Texas to hold the position of federal district judge. She stressed that education was the source of all her success and told students that they should never stop learning.
In addition to awards for honor roll, Corporate Work-Study and extracurricular activities, the school’s first group of Melody Family Scholars was named. Gwen and Larry Melody and family, strong supporters of the school and its mission, will contribute to the education of students who portray the characteristics of a Jesuit Grad at Grad: Religious, Intellectually Competent, Loving, and Work-Experienced.
In addition, the Melody Family sponsored the very first “Men and Women for Others Award,” the most prestigious award of the year, which will annually go to the student who characterizes the paramount goal of a Jesuit education: to embrace a life dedicated to the service of Christ and His Church –exhibited in a commitment to the spiritual and material needs and care of other people. This honor went to the very caring and humble Andrew Soliz.
