When Justin Coleman starts his first year at Birmingham-Southern this fall, the Hilltop will already feel like home. He has spent the past academic year helping our faculty, staff, and current students with technology – all as a high school senior.

On May 23, Coleman graduated from Holy Family Cristo Rey Catholic High School, a school located in the Titusville neighborhood that provides innovative academic curriculum for low-income families and students. As part of the school’s Corporate Work Study Program, Holy Family Cristo Rey students work five full days a month at job placements around Birmingham. This past academic year, four Holy Family students worked at BSC: Roland Spann in Striplin Fitness Center, Aubrey Eatman and LaMya Hunter in the Office of Advancement, and Coleman in the IT department.

After working in the Volunteer Services Department at the McWane Science Center for three years, Coleman was ready to spend his senior year in a job that connected more of his interests. He is planning to study computer science to prepare him for a career in programming or game development, so BSC’s IT department was a great fit.

“I felt like it was time for me to go somewhere new that would help me with the career I want to pursue,” Coleman says. “I wanted to explore some more.”

Working closely with System Administrator Christopher Jackson, Coleman has learned about coding, computer security, and Ethernet, and has been responsible for checking technology in labs on campus and troubleshooting common problems.

On slower days, Jackson and other IT staff members would give Coleman challenges to complete to further increase his IT knowledge. Coleman also shadowed Jackson to observe what he does day to day. He has always been interested in technology, but Coleman says the BSC job inspired him to pursue computer science or other media and communications studies.

“I haven’t had the chance to do a lot of that growing up, and I wanted to see what it takes to get to that level,” Coleman says. “They’ve taught me a lot I didn’t know at all.”

When the first Cristo Rey school was founded in Chicago in 1996, the Work Study Program helped fund the school. Staff, teachers, and students discovered that the experience gained from job placements was incredibly beneficial.

“When our students go into these settings, they develop skills that are important to college success, like persistence, self-management, emotional intelligence, a work ethic, and an understanding and appreciation of teamwork,” says Constance O’Brien, Holy Family’s director of mission advancement. “Our students graduate high school with a resume. Our Work Study Program builds greater aspiration.”

Holy Family students find placements in law offices, nonprofits, labs, and other professional workspaces throughout the city. The jobs can often help guide students like Coleman toward a career they might be interested in.

As a graduate of BSC, Shequita Malone ’09, development associate at Holy Family Cristo Rey, was excited to see the partnership launch in 2019. As one of many Holy Family Cristo Rey graduates who have attended BSC, she says opportunities to work at the College while in high school help prepare students for campus life.

“When I came to Birmingham-Southern, the small family and community atmosphere really spoke to me,” Malone says. “Hopefully, when the students from Holy Family Cristo Rey come to BSC, somebody will truly see them and their potential. My professors took time to get to know me when I was here. I know the students will learn a lot and grow from their experience.”

Along with Coleman, three other 2020 Holy Family graduates will attend BSC this fall: Jazmine Fox, Britney Gonzalez-Ezquerra, and Tomea Hagler.