Our Work

At our recent Building Minds Scholarship Fund Gala, many of you were moved to tears by Jada Nguyen. On that stage, she shared her story as the daughter of a hardworking Vietnamese immigrant nail technician, explaining how your generosity turned her family's sacrifices into a pathway toward academic excellence.

Today, we are overjoyed to bring you the next chapter of her journey. Jada has officially graduated as the Class of 2026 Valedictorian of Cristo Rey Boston High School!

This spring, Jada stood before her classmates at the St. Teresa of Calcutta Church in Dorchester to deliver the valedictory address. Your belief in our mission gave Jada the stability to thrive, excel in corporate work-study internships, and confidently secure a full QuestBridge scholarship to Princeton University this fall. (And in another incredible milestone for her family, Jada's twin sister is heading to Harvard University!)

Because you could not in the pews to witness this unforgettable milestone, we want to share the full text of Jada’s address with you below. Her words are a direct reflection of the resilience, joy, and community leadership that your gifts unlock every day.

Jada Nguyen’s Valedictory Address

Welcome. My name is Jada Nguyen and I am honored to speak for my class today.

Thank you to the parents, guests, CRB faculty members, Mrs. Powers, Dr. Ryan, and my classmates for being here. A huge thanks to St. Teresa for hosting this moment.

To my family, thank you mẹ, ba, Jasmine, Jaxon, Fiona, Aunt Phuong and Aunt Yen for supporting me. I love you all and I am so grateful for your support.

When I first walked through the doors of CRB, immediately I noticed the strength of the community. The connection of a wide range of cultures, passions, and experiences fueled the relationships between staff, faculty, and students. 

Community Day during Thanksgiving stuck with me. I enjoyed watching Dr. Ali and Mr. Singh competing against my classmates in ping-pong. It was beautiful to witness the joyful conversations students, friends, and teachers had as they talked about sports, music, and hobbies. My favorite part about Community Day was eating with my classmates. I enjoyed the closeness in being present with each other as we made jokes and talked about our future aspirations. If I was a guest on Family Feud and Steve Harvey asked me for a person who could make others laugh uncontrollably, Quismairy would be the correct answer[GA1.1]. Familial bonds are truly present in the CRB community.

During my time here, every CRB event was created with a shared common goal: bringing the community together. The support I got from my teachers throughout my high school career taught me the importance of doing something that makes me happy. I’ve witnessed this from Ms. Scharmann’s enthusiasm in teaching literary analysis to Mr. Golden giving me a long tangent about the athletic history of colleges with no relevance whatsoever. Though, by the end of our small-talk, I would leave with a smile on my face.

As I stand here today, I am reminded of the countless memories I share with each and every of you–memories that mark the growth we’ve experienced and offer lessons to live by.

Two weeks ago, we participated in the Senior Walk-Out Parade. This event marked the end to the academic year for us seniors as we proudly wore shirts from the colleges we will be attending next year.

My fellow classmates and I walked out the doors of Cristo Rey Boston with excitement and curiosity for our future, a future where we are the next generation of leaders in this world. 

Some of you will go on to horizons that feel unfamiliar yet intriguing. Others may explore new ambitions or cultures. But no matter where you go next, each of us will be given a chance to develop into our own unique selves.

I want you to think of a time when you felt like giving up, when everything seemed impossible to accomplish and you felt lost.

Although you may have struggled in that moment, you are present here today. Today marks a day that celebrates you for your resilience throughout the past four years. There is beauty in our achievements and struggles. The actions we took to combat our challenges reveal our dedication to our hopes and dreams. Hopes and dreams that are pivotal to our success as we live out our lives.

From this point on, challenges are inevitable. But you are capable of persevering through those unforeseen obstacles.[GA2.1] Not only can you do the things you love, but you can grow into a person who is shaped by everything you’ve accomplished. 

You are here today, and you deserve to be here. It’s human to experience hardship, but no matter where you are at, you will always have the determination to succeed. And that will always be true, take that with you as you go on to pursue your dreams.

Thank you.
 

The Power of Your Investment

Jada’s journey to the Ivy League began in the fourth grade with a Catholic Schools Foundation scholarship. Because of you, she was able to attend school free from the crushing weight of financial anxiety. Your support gave her the freedom to master complex cancer-screening research at the Broad Institute, serve as Student Council Vice President, and grow into the visionary leader she is today. 

When you invest in our students, you are not just funding a scholarship. You are creating valedictorians, future doctors, and global changemakers. As Jada recently shared with us:

"Knowing that a community of people I have never met believed in me and invested in my potential means more than words can express... Their support didn’t just help pay tuition—it gave me the freedom to focus on learning, explore opportunities I never imagined, and grow into the person I am today."

Thank you for being the foundation beneath Jada's wings, and for continuing to make the dreams of the Class of 2026 possible.

Help Create the Next Success Story

Jada's journey proves that when we remove financial barriers, there is no limit to what our students can achieve. You can help open these same doors for the next generation of leaders by making a gift today.

👉 Donate Now to Support Future Scholars