There are moments in the life of a school that remind us why our mission matters. Graduation is one of those moments.
As families, faculty, corporate partners, alumni, benefactors, and friends gathered to celebrate the Cristo Rey De La Salle East Bay High School Class of 2026, the joy in the moment was unmistakable. The ceremony marked the culmination of four years of academic excellence, professional growth, spiritual formation, and personal transformation.
This remarkable class leaves behind more than memories. They leave a legacy of resilience, compassion, and courage.
Many arrived at Cristo Rey as first-generation college-bound students, uncertain about what the future might hold. Four years later, they leave with diplomas in hand, professional experience gained through the Corporate Work Study Program, college acceptance letters, lifelong friendships, and an unwavering belief that they belong wherever their dreams take them.
Throughout the ceremony, each speaker reflected on a different part of that journey. Together, their stories painted a portrait of a class that has grown into confident young leaders.
Graduation was held at the the La Sallian college St. Mary’s in Moraga, pictured above Stephen Murphy (President & CEO) Brother Edmond Laroch (a De La Salle Christian Brother and Cristo Rey Board member) Brother Nick González, FSC, De La Salle Christian Brother and Visitor of the District of San Francisco New Orleans) (Jessica Murray ( Principal Cristo Rey De La Salle)
Love as a Way of Life
Senior speaker Citlalli (pictured above) opened the ceremony with words that captured the spirit of the day. Quoting Bad Bunny, she shared:
“Mientras uno esté vivo, uno debe amar lo más que pueda.”
“While one is alive, one should love as much as possible.”
For Citlalli, love was more than a feeling—it was an action reflected in every person who had invested in the graduates’ lives.
She spoke about the teachers who challenged them, the families who sacrificed for them, the friends who became family, and the mentors who believed in them before they fully believed in themselves.
Looking out across her classmates, she reminded them that no one reaches graduation alone.
“Parts of me were made by you.”
Those simple words captured what makes Cristo Rey De La Salle unique. Education is not simply about earning grades; it is about becoming the kind of person whose life is shaped by community.
Citlalli encouraged her classmates to carry that love into every classroom, workplace, and community they enter.
Finding Confidence
Senior Jamae G. spoke with remarkable honesty about arriving at Cristo Rey.
“I never wanted to go here.”
Her opening line drew laughter from the audience, but what followed revealed the transformation that had taken place over four years.
She described how uncertainty slowly became belonging.
She found teachers who encouraged her, classmates who welcomed her, and a community that helped her discover her own voice.
Perhaps the most moving moment came when she reflected on how deeply Cristo Rey had changed her.
Her vulnerability resonated throughout the room because her story reflected the experiences of so many students whose confidence has grown through the support of this community.
As graduates prepare to enter colleges and universities across the country, Jamae left her classmates with a challenge they will carry with them for years to come.
“Do not let them make you think you don’t deserve to be there.”
It was more than advice about college.
It was a reminder that every graduate has earned their place through hard work, determination, and perseverance.
Ready for What Comes Next
Assistant Principal Miguel Martinez(pictured above) reflected on the shared journey that brought the Class of 2026 to this milestone.
“We’ve been through quite the journey.”
His words acknowledged not only the academic challenges of high school, but also the personal growth that occurs during four formative years.
He reminded students that graduation is not an ending but the beginning of a new chapter.
“You are prepared to be there. You are ready to be there. You belong there. Take up space.”
His message reflected Cristo Rey’s mission to prepare students not simply to attend college, but to thrive there—to become leaders whose perspectives and experiences enrich every community they join.
The Strength of Community
One of the strongest themes woven throughout every speech was gratitude.
Graduates repeatedly returned to the people who made their success possible.
Teachers who stayed after school.( faculty and staff are pictured abvove)
Parents who worked long hours.
Many families turned out to celebrate their graduates the atmosphere was fun and festive as students celebrated this important milestone.( pictured below Juan and his Mother)
Corporate Work Study supervisors who became mentors.
Friends who encouraged one another through difficult moments.
The Class of 2026 understands something profound: achievement is never accomplished alone.
As Noah Tran Student Body President( pictured below) reflected during the ceremony,
“We got here together.”
Those four words perfectly captured the spirit of Cristo Rey De La Salle.
Every diploma represents an entire community standing behind a student.
Teacher Stephanie Gonzalez Martinez reflected on the power of community, ancestry, and education rooted in humanity and justice.
In a heartfelt and deeply personal commencement address, teacher Stephanie Gonzalez Martinez (pictured below) reflected on the power of community, ancestry, and education rooted in humanity and justice. Drawing on her own journey as the daughter of immigrant parents and a student who overcame significant challenges, she reminded graduates that their success was built on the sacrifices, love, and resilience of those who came before them. She celebrated their transformation into confident, compassionate leaders and encouraged them to move forward with hope, purpose, and a commitment to creating a more just and caring world.
This Mother’s Day, while spending time with my mom and sister, I came across a dicho that resonated deeply with the transformations of my existence: “Vuelo con alas que me dieron otros.”// “I fly with wings that were given to me by others.”
Every Journey Is Different
Anna Karina and Julisa (pictured below), co-valedictorians and best friends, delivered a heartfelt joint address celebrating the resilience of the Class of 2026, the friendships and mentors that shaped their journey, and the enduring bonds that will connect them long after graduation..
Those words drew smiles from the audience while offering an important lesson.
Each graduate arrived at this moment through different experiences and different challenges.
Some discovered their passions early.
Others found confidence later.
Some overcame obstacles few people ever saw.
Yet every student crossed the stage with the same accomplishment—a high school diploma and the confidence to pursue their dreams.
More Than a Diploma
The Class of 2026 achieved remarkable success.
Every senior earned acceptance to college.
Together, they received hundreds of acceptances from colleges and universities throughout the United States and millions of dollars in scholarships and financial aid.
For many graduates, they will become the first in their family to earn a college degree.
But perhaps equally significant is what cannot be measured.
Over four years, these students developed professional skills through Cristo Rey’s Corporate Work Study Program, serving one day each week in Bay Area businesses, hospitals, law firms, financial institutions, nonprofits, and government agencies.
They learned how to communicate professionally, collaborate with colleagues, solve problems, and contribute meaningfully to organizations long before graduating from high school.
They leave with resumes, references, mentors, and the confidence that comes from real-world experience.
The Story Continues
As tassels were turned and caps filled the air, the celebration marked not the end of a journey but the beginning of countless new ones.
The graduates of the Class of 2026 will soon be studying engineering, nursing, education, business, psychology, the sciences, and the arts. They will become teachers, entrepreneurs, healthcare professionals, attorneys, engineers, community leaders, and mentors for future generations.
Their stories will continue to unfold on college campuses and in workplaces across the country.
Yet wherever they go, they will carry with them the lessons learned at Cristo Rey De La Salle East Bay High School: to lead with faith, to serve with compassion, to work with integrity, and to believe they belong.
As Citlalli reminded her classmates, the greatest legacy they can leave is one rooted in love.
As Jamae reminded them, they have earned their place.
And as Assistant Principal Miguel Martinez challenged them, they should never be afraid to take up space.
The Class of 2026 leaves Cristo Rey not only prepared for college and career, but prepared to change the world.
Congratulations, Class of 2026. Your Cristo Rey family is proud of you, believes in you, and will be cheering you on wherever your journey leads next.
Student Spotlight: Fatima G.
Answering the Call to Care
For Fatima G., becoming a nurse has never simply been about choosing a career—it has always been about answering a calling.
This fall, Fatima will begin the next chapter of her remarkable journey at Villanova University in Pennsylvania, a Cristo Rey Network partner university, where she plans to pursue a degree in nursing. As the recipient of the Wilcox Family Foundation Scholarship and the Summit Bank Foundation Scholarship, she leaves Cristo Rey De La Salle East Bay not only with outstanding academic achievements, but with a deep sense of purpose and a commitment to serving others.
Her story reflects the transformative power of opportunity, perseverance, and community support. Equipped with the knowledge, confidence, and professional experience she gained through Cristo Rey’s Corporate Work Study Program, Fatima is prepared to make a meaningful impact in the healthcare field and beyond.
“I’ve always wanted to work in oncology,” Fatima says.
Her passion comes from personal experience. Like so many families, hers has been deeply affected by cancer. Watching loved ones navigate treatment opened her eyes not only to the medical side of care, but also to the emotional journey patients and their families experience.
“I’ve seen the fear that families have,” she explains. “I want to be there for them.”
As a proud Latina, Fatima also hopes to help bridge language and cultural barriers that can make healthcare even more overwhelming.
“I know how important it is for Hispanic families to have someone who understands their language, culture, and fears,” she says. “I want to be that person.”
Growing up in Oakland with her mother, Fatima learned the importance of perseverance, compassion, and giving back to her community—values that have shaped every step of her high school journey.
Those values were reinforced through Cristo Rey De La Salle’s Corporate Work Study Program.
Over four years, Fatima gained professional experience in organizations whose missions closely aligned with her own aspirations. She worked with the American Cancer Society, supported families through Make-A-Wish, and developed strong customer service and organizational skills in front desk roles.
Each placement taught her something different.
“I learned how to communicate with all kinds of people, work as part of a team, and be professional,” she says. “Those experiences have prepared me for nursing because so much of healthcare is about working together and making people feel cared for.”
Outside the workplace, Fatima embraced leadership opportunities throughout her four years at Cristo Rey.
She served as a LaSallian Student Leader all four years, welcoming new students and helping foster the school’s faith-filled culture. As a Mustang Ambassador, she proudly represented Cristo Rey to prospective families and visitors, sharing the story of a school that transformed her own life.
Fatima also served as Co-President of the National Honor Society, organizing tutoring programs and supporting fellow students alongside faculty mentors Ms. Sanding and Ms. Alvarez.Strong women role models and mentors have been a theme in Fatima’s journey.
Looking back, she says the people made all the difference.
“I really appreciated the small community,” she reflects. “Everyone was on the journey together.”
She especially treasures collaborating with classmates on projects, supporting one another through challenges, and celebrating each other’s successes. As a member of the school’s very first mentor class to graduate, she helped shape traditions that future students will continue.
Asked to describe Cristo Rey De La Salle in just a few words, she doesn’t hesitate.
“Community. Forgiving. Supportive. Faith-filled.”
Those words reflect the environment that nurtured her growth—not only as a student, but as a leader and future healthcare professional.
Although she is excited to begin college nearly 3,000 miles from home, Fatima knows Cristo Rey will always be part of her story.
She hopes to stay connected after graduation, returning for alumni events, checking in with students, and encouraging future Mustangs as they begin their own journeys.
“I want students to know that they can do this too,” she says.
As she heads to Villanova University, Fatima carries with her the compassion, leadership, and resilience that define a Cristo Rey graduate.
Her goal is simple yet profound: to become an oncology nurse who helps patients and families feel seen, heard, and supported during some of life’s most difficult moments.
For Fatima, nursing isn’t just about treating illness.
It’s about bringing hope, comfort, and healing—one patient, one family, and one act of compassion at a time.
