January Newsletter
WELCOME TO OUR NEW ACCOUNTING ASSISTANT
We extend a very warm welcome to Bridget Downey to the CFNEK team. Bridget will be taking on the role of our new accounting assistant. Bridget will be working closely with Bobby Venable, our controller.
Bridget graduated from Baker University with a Bachelors in Accounting. She is the middle of nine childern and has 10 plus (it keeps going up) nieces and nephews. In her spare time, she participates in Catholic Challenge Sports with City on a Hill. She also leads Catechesis of the Good Shepard classes at both Holy Spirit and Queen of the Holy Rosary Wea. She enjoys cake decorating, playing with her dog, helping her sister with her goats and hanging out with her nieces and nephews.
Students pictured Left to Right: Rebecca Negus, Mike Sosa Loyola, Anthony Rogers and Sebastian Alferez. Not pictured: Brianna Smith and Amy Rivera
Cristo Rey Kansas City gratefully acknowledges the beautiful legacy of Antoinette and Charles Berkel through the Antionette D. Berkel Scholarships. Their stewardship continues to bless the students and families at Cristo Rey Kanas City.
Berkel Scholars Report for 2021-2022
Anthony Rogers ’22 As a senior, Anthony is focused on a strong academic finish with eight straight semesters on the First Honor Roll. He has been accepted into four colleges including University of Missouri Kansas City and plans to focus on pre-med with the end goal to become a heart surgeon. For his Corporate Work Study job, Anthony works in Cristo Rey’s new remote work office space for Blue Cross Blue Shield and at Quik Trip after school to help his mom out with finances.
Amy Rivera ’22 Amy finds her inspiration for success at home. In her own words, “My parents are my biggest blessing and my biggest supporters. My whole life I grew up believing that giving up will never get you anywhere, you need to fail and fall to stand up stronger. I will never know if I never try.”
Amy has been accepted at UMKC, Rockhurst University, and the University of Missouri and anticipates attending college in the metro area to be near her family. Amy’s current Corporate Work Study job is as an intern at Fenaroli & Associates where she assists with research and preparing for events.
Brianna Smith ’23 Brianna continues to learn remotely the majority of the time to reduce exposure to immediate family members at risk if they contract Covid. Although Brianna finds learning remotely challenging, she has maintained a solid academic record. Brianna uses her extra time reading and drawing Manga, a type of Japanese comic that reads right to left and covers a wide span of subjects. She wants to major in history and go into education after college.
Rebecca Negus ’23 Rebecca continues to excel academically and enjoys her CWSP job at Royals Charities. She is glad to be back in the school building this year, growing relationships with her classmates and has become a student Christian leader. She hopes to attend UMKC to go into the medical field, perhaps a nurse but she is still exploring options.
Mike Sosa Loyola ’23 Mike is one of four Sosa siblings currently at Cristo Rey. His Corporate Work Job is at JCI Industries, an industrial supply company where Mike works in the office and occasionally dons steel-toe shoes to assist in the warehouse with inventory. Mike plays both varsity basketball and baseball for the Pumas and plans to attend college to possibly pursue a pharmacy career. Mike deeply admires how hard his father works as a welder to send money back to his grandmother in Mexico.
Sebastian Alferez ’24 Sebastian is following in the footsteps of two siblings at Cristo Rey and as a sophomore, he works in the office of JE Dunn Construction where his duties include managing documents and distributing mail. In his off hours, Sebastian enjoys working side-by-side with his dad who supports the family by remodeling and “flipping” homes in the community.
We love sharing the good news of Antoinette Dorothy and Charles Berkel's stewardship legacies. But more importantly, for the faithful and kind people they were. We are pleased to award six students tuition scholarships from the Antoinette Dorothy Berkel Scholarship Fund for Cristo Rey Kansas City.
BOARD MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
ROY MESSICK
Joined the CFNEK Board in 2022
Finance Committee Member of CFNEK
Partner at TPP Retirement Plan Specialist, LLC
Oboe Player with the Overland Park Orchestra
Member of the Crossroads WoodWind Quintet
*Former Nativity Parish and Finance Council Member
*Home Parish: Nativity, Leawood
The Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas has a very active board with extremely talented individuals. Thank you, Roy Messick, for sharing your talents not only with the Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas but with the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas.
