New scholarship links Ripon College to Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Milwaukee

A new endowed scholarship will link graduates of Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Milwaukee and Ripon College. The Franzen/Cristo Rey Endowed Scholarship is named for Ripon College graduates Mark Franzen ’83 and Janice Heinz Franzen ’83 of New Berlin, Wisconsin, who are supporters of the initiative.

”We are delighted to support this scholarship which will enable deserving students from Cristo Rey Jesuit High School to attend Ripon College,” the Franzens said. “The values and mission of Cristo Rey Jesuit High School and Ripon College are very much aligned, with a focus on academics and lifetime learning. Both schools are committed to providing opportunities for first- generation students and preparing them to succeed.”

Cristo Rey Jesuit High School integrates rigorous academics, professional work experiences and spiritual development to empower graduates to succeed in college and life. Its innovative work-study program allows students to gain confidence, connect the relevance of their academic coursework to future employment, acquire skills that will benefit their career, and receive unprecedented access to the professional world.

Andrew Stith, president of Cristo Rey Jesuit High School, said, “Nearly all of our graduates are in the first generation in their families to attend college. The Franzen/Cristo Rey Endowed Scholarship gives them an incredible opportunity to pursue their higher education at Ripon College.

“As our students grow into active, engaged leaders, we want them to understand that the learning they do and the gifts they develop should be in service to and with others in our community. Thanks to this generous gift from the Franzens, this value will continue to be nurtured in our graduates who will deepen their search at Ripon for what it means to have a Life Well Lived.”

Ripon hopes to award the scholarship annually to two or more first-year students who have graduated from Cristo Rey Jesuit and demonstrate financial need. The scholarship will supplement other financial awards with the goal of covering the full cost of a college education.

“The Franzen/Cristo Rey Scholarship will ensure that future generations of students from Milwaukee will be able to continue their education at one of the premier liberal arts colleges in the nation,” said Zach Messitte, president of Ripon College. “The gift that Mark and Janice Franzen are making will have a direct impact on the lives and careers of dozens of young people for years to come.”

Ripon College values a learning environment that honors different cultures, faiths and backgrounds. The diversity of Ripon’s student body has changed significantly over the past decade with more than one in five students now self-identifying as non-white. The Franzen/Cristo Rey Endowed Scholarship will build a sustainable pipeline of Cristo Rey Jesuit High School graduates who will then go on to graduate from Ripon College.