8/9/2019 The Sun Spot on San Miguel High School

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Corporate Internships Pave the Way for San Miguel StudentsBiz Tucson Magazine- Summer 2009By Mae Lee Sun

To Jared Juan, doubt is only a temporary state of mind. And it was the farthest thing from Juans mind when he and 23other students graduated from San Miguel High School on May 23. The real world seems like a daunting place, Juan said

in his speech to fellow classmates, family, friends and others gathered to celebrate San Miguels second graduating class.But Juan said he and classmates will definitely be ready for the corporate world upon graduation from the colleges anduniversities where all 24 graduates will enroll this fall.

Juan attributed their readiness to San Miguels Corporate Internship Program- an innovative program that requires each SaMiguel student to work one day a week at entry-level jobs in professional settings around Tucson.

The money each student earns is poured back into San Miguel, on Tucsons south side, where it covers about half the costof each students $8,500 annual tuition. Donations cover 30 percent, and parents-most of them low-income, many of whichnever graduated from high school-pay the remaining 10 percent.San Miguel High School, started in 2004, is one of 22 private Catholic high schools in the nationwide Cristo Rey network.

The Corporate Internship program is Cristo Reys cornerstone, providing students with entry-lev

jobs with lawyers, bankers, doctors, engineers, accountants and others.Juan worked for four years at the Tucson Citizen and will enroll at Northern Arizona Universitythis fall.

Classmate Margarita Quinones will go to Pima Community College for two years, then transfer tArizona State University or The University of Arizona. She interned this last year with El RioCommunity Health Centers, where she helped with filing, called patients to remind them ofappointments, and mailed out physician referral slips.

Because of her experience with El Rio childrens clinic, Quinones wants to become a pediatriciaor a childrens dentist. All 37 of San Miguels seniors graduated last year, and went onto collThe same is true of all 24 of this years seniors. Youre going to be the leaders of thecommunity, once you graduate from the college of your choice, honorary speaker Jim Click tothe students. Click also was an honorary speaker at last years graduation, San Miguels first.

ege

Humberto Stevens, Commerce Bankf Arizona with Elizabeth Goettl,

President of San Miguel HighSchool

He also is one of the community leaders credited with starting San Miguel High School, and he is one of its top donors.I thought, My kids had the benefit of a private, college-prep high school-they both went to Salpointe- and I thought, whyshouldnt kids on the south side have the same advantage, Click told BizTucson.Were changing lives, he said. I think its the best thing Ive ever done since Ive been in Tucson.Elizabeth Goettl, president of San Miguel High School for the past three years, calls the Corporate Internship Program avery practical way to serve our population of students who typically could not access a private, college-preparatory educatioand on-the-job-training.

During the schools first two years, it was under-enrolled, Goettl said. The families in the neighborhood did not necessarilyhave the benefit of a secondary or college education themselves, she said. A cultural shift had to happen. The word hadto get out into the community. This year, we met and exceeded our enrollment goal.

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The schools Corporate Internship Program draws support from 65 of the citys business and education leaders, includingCommerce Bank of Arizona, Carondelet Health Network, The University of Arizona, Jim Click Automotive Team, PimaCommunity College, Cox Communications and ABA Architects.

San Miguel is a win-win for students, businesses and ultimately the community, said Humberto Stevens, vice president ofbusiness development at Commerce Bank. He also serves on the board at San Miguel High School and is president of theHispanic Alumni Association at the UA.

It really helps the students learn the skills necessary to be part of a team and blossom into an adult, Stevens said.Carlos Ibarra, 17, just finished his junior year at San Miguel while working in the administrative offices at Commerce Bank o

Arizona.

I can do everything except handle money, because of my age, Ibarra said. Im learning more about the business worldand myself. I feel I can either go on to become a teller or even to owning a bank. Its also helping me to narrow the optionswhat I want and dont want.

BizTucson contributing writer Jane Erikson contributed to this storyBizFACTS

San Miguel High School

A total of 243 students were enrolled this past school year. The school expects an enrollment of 360 this fall. Enrollment is 85 percent Hispanic; 10 percent Native American; and 5 percent African-American, Anglo and Asian.

The school has 18 teachers and 15 staff members.

To learn more about the Corporate Internship Program, contact program director Mark Neimeyer at (520) 294-6403, ext.1429.

Tags: biz, conscious leadership, social change, tucson, women and business

business, leadership, social change | maeleesun | July 13, 2009 4:26 pm

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