In-depth journalism takes time, resources and community support. Your gift powers reporting that helps Tarrant County make sense of complex issues. Help us reach our $400,000 goal<\/strong> and keep this work going in 2026.<\/p>\n \u201cThe STEAM Center is a symbol of what\u2019s possible when faith, determination, and opportunity come together,\u201d said Christina Jimenez, Cristo Rey\u2019s Director of College Initiatives. \u201cOur students are dreaming bigger, working harder, and achieving more than ever before.\u201d<\/p>\n For Anna, that combination of academics and work experience has already shaped her aspirations. Through Cristo Rey\u2019s Corporate Work Study Program, she spends one day each week at Cook Children\u2019s Hospital, shadowing human resources and occupational health professionals who are now mentoring her on college pathways. A Model That\u2019s Thriving Where Dreams Take Shape \n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n Fort Worth Report is certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative<\/a> for adhering to standards for ethical journalism.<\/p>\n Republish This Story<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1763643983_542_2-edited.png\")
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\u201cEvery week, I see how what we\u2019re learning connects to real jobs,\u201d she said. \u201cNow I know I want to be in the medical field, and maybe one day come back and work in a hospital like Cook Children\u2019s.\u201d<\/p>\n
Since opening in 2018, Cristo Rey Fort Worth has seen enrollment rise by 15% annually, reaching 300 students this year. With the STEAM Center, the school expects to serve more than 400 within three years, ensuring that every student has room\u2014and resources\u2014to thrive. Alumni are now attending universities across the country, majoring in everything from biology and architecture to business and computer science.
\u201cThe skills they\u2019re learning here; critical thinking, creativity, and resilience, are exactly what they\u2019ll need to lead in the future,\u201d Barton said. \u201cAnd this STEAM Center gives them the foundation to build those skills.\u201d<\/p>\n
At the ribbon-cutting ceremony, community leaders, partners, and families gathered to celebrate not just the completion of a building, but the growth of a movement. Cristo Rey Fort Worth\u2019s approach is working\u2014and thriving\u2014transforming the lives of students who might otherwise be overlooked.
For students like Anna, the impact is deeply personal. \u201cWhen I walk in here,\u201d she said, \u201cI don\u2019t just see a classroom. I see my future.\u201d
For Cristo Rey Fort Worth, that\u2019s exactly the point. The new STEAM Center adds to the resources and experiences deserving students need to fulfill their potential\u2014one student, one dream, and one bright future at a time.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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