“My mom was a single mother. I remember she was asking herself, ‘How do I give my children a better education and how can I afford it?'”
In the heart of south Minneapolis, this is the story of Diana, a Risen Christ graduate, and the remarkable impact of Catholic philanthropy on her educational journey. Beginning with a single mother’s determination to provide her children with a better education, Diana encountered a community of unwavering support. Her story celebrates the dedication of the entire Catholic philanthropic community to helping students dream of a future far bigger – and achieve it.
Diana recently graduated from the University of St. Thomas with a Bachelor of Arts in Family Studies and a minor in Communications. Driven to give back to the community from which she came, she hopes to become a youth social worker. In the spring of 2023, Diana returned to Risen Christ’s hallways to volunteer, using her bilingual skills to assist students in our 2nd grade classrooms. “Risen Christ was such a big part of my childhood, where else would be better to volunteer than where it all started?”
Supporting the highest concentration of children and families in need, many of whom are first or second generation Americans, Risen Christ is identified by the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis as a Drexel Mission School, generously supported by the Aim Higher Foundation, Catholic Community Foundation, Catholic Services Appeal Foundation and GHR Foundation.
“My mom was a single mother. I remember she was asking herself, ‘How do I give my children a better education and how can I afford it?’ Risen Christ made it work for her. When you are young, you don’t know what your parents had to go through. Now that I am older, I have seen [these hardships] for myself. It has taught me the real value of everything and makes me even that much more grateful for my experience at Risen Christ.”
Her story celebrates the dedication of the entire Catholic philanthropic community to helping students dream of a future far bigger – and achieve it.
After graduating from Risen Christ in 2014, Diana continued her studies at Cristo Rey Jesuit High School. Students attending Cristo Rey participate in a work-study program, earning 43% of the cost of their education. During her time at Cristo Rey, Diana had the opportunity to work at Pohlad Companies, one of the largest corporations in the Twin Cities. When Diana was growing up, she said most students didn’t think they could go to college, but Cristo Rey actively encourages students to think about their future, making the idea of attending college and pursuing a professional career more possible.
After graduation, Diana was accepted into another groundbreaking Catholic philanthropic mission – the Dougherty Family College at the University of St. Thomas. In fact, Diana was a member of the second student cohort at Dougherty.
“I really did not believe I could afford to go to college, but Dougherty made it work for me.” Diana, speaking of her time there, said that Dougherty offered support every step of the way. Providing technology, transportation, books and meals, Diana also had the opportunity to do a work-study program, meaning students pay as little as $1,000 in tuition.
“After you graduate with the associate degree, they don’t stop supporting you. They stay in contact with you and point you in the right direction.” With the help of Dougherty, Diana was awarded a scholarship from the Page Education Foundation to attend University of St. Thomas where she would earn her four-year degree in Family Studies. As a Page Scholar, Diana ended up right back at Risen Christ to volunteer.
Diana’s story is not just her own; it is a reflection of the power of cooperation, and the strength that comes from working together.
“My mother is a native Spanish speaker. As an English Language Learner, I had a language barrier growing up with my academics, but Risen Christ was always a big help. Coming back, I am really impressed with the dual immersion program and wish that I would have had a similar opportunity growing up to push me forward in my academics.”
Diana graduated from Risen Christ right as the school began implementing Dual Immersion, an educational model in which students learn in both English and Spanish across academic subjects. Dual Immersion is nationally recognized as the best method for obtaining English proficiency and academic achievement for ELL students.
“Seeing these children advance in both languages is so amazing. They are much more advanced than I was at that age. I get to listen to them speak to each other in both languages – back and forth – it is really adorable. They are helping each other become bilingual. I [worry] about the hardships that might come to those students without this help.”
Stepping in to help, the Aim Higher Foundation, founded in 2012, provides scholarships to over half of Risen Christ students, many of whom were mentored by Diana in the Spring of 2023. Aim Higher makes it possible for Risen Christ to provide tuition assistance to 96% of its 300 students. Diana voiced her hopes for the next generation of Risen Christ graduates, that they might all aspire to higher education, expressing her gratitude for each school for supporting her ability to succeed.
In the end, Diana’s story is not just her own; it is a reflection of the power of cooperation, and the strength that comes from working together, regardless of our differences or limitations. It is a reflection of countless encounters with the advocates, donors, champions and institutions dedicated to the transformational impact of a Catholic education and their steadfast faith — providing support from day one to the moment of college graduation, totaling almost 3,000 days of education.
As Catholic schools, we make it work for our students. Inspired by our 40-member bilingual class of 2023 — many following in Diana’s footsteps — we are reminded of Mother Teresa’s words, “I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot; together we can do great things.”
“It is everyone at Risen Christ that comes together to do something greater for the community. I will always have Risen Christ in my heart.”
-Diana Tirado ’14