To help high school students on a path to success, Comcast recently partnered with Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School to become one of its largest supporters by offering 20 of the 125 students paid internships at the company’s headquarters. Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School is one of 25 high schools across the country serving nearly 7,500 students. These schools are open to highly motivated students who meet certain criteria, including strong GPAs and test scores and who otherwise might be challenged to pay for a private education. An impressive 99% of Cristo Rey graduates are accepted into college.
John Schanz, Executive Vice President and Chief Network Officer for Comcast Cable, and Board of Trustee member for Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School, was instrumental in building Comcast’s partnership with Cristo Rey. Partnering with the school will introduce the students to careers in the media and technology industries and will help cultivate future leaders of tomorrow.
As part of the school’s curriculum, the students each spend one day per week at Comcast working in departments that include Engineering, Marketing & Operations, Business Services, and Financial Operations. Over the next several years, the students will gain the experience, hone the skills, and build the confidence that will help them achieve their academic and professional goals.
In addition to having a Comcast supervisor, each student has a mentor who they meet with one or two times per month for advice and guidance. Many of the mentors share similar backgrounds with the students and have a genuine passion for developing the youth of the Philadelphia community.
With almost two decades of success, the Cristo Rey Work Study Model is a proven method of developing and empowering future leaders within their community and Comcast is a proud supporter. We look forward to watching the students grow over the next several years and succeed in their future academic careers.