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Bridging Education and Opportunity: Corporate Work Study and Gesu in Action

Gesu Catholic School has proudly served students in the University Heights area for over 90 years, fostering a rich tradition of academic excellence and community. With a commitment to building strong, trusting relationships between faculty, staff, and families, Gesu creates an environment where over 600 K-8 students receive quality education. This commitment to relationship-building extends beyond the classroom, as seen in the efforts of Kenneth Grant, the Assistant Principal at Gesu who has forged a strong, supportive bond with Saint Martin student associates. As a mentorship-driven and supportive supervisor, Grant ensures our students receive real-world work experience that will open up career pathways in education.

As a Corporate Work Study partner since 2023, Grant sees the value that Saint Martin students bring to his organization. He shares, “We value Corporate Work Study because our Gesu students get mentored while the Saint Martin students grow.” This year, he has the pleasure of working with Symphony '26, a student who consistently goes above and beyond to support him. “Symphony does an incredible amount of work, and when I say that, I truly mean it,” says Grant, reflecting on the impressive range of tasks Symphony handles each week.

Among her many responsibilities, Symphony assists with Gesu’s Magis Moments program, which encourages students to embody the school’s five pillars, much like Saint Martin. She assists in the Stream Center, a technology lab, and provides valuable help to Gesu students. This fall, Symphony played a key role in planning school-wide events like the Father's Walk, where she designed all the event signage and created photo frames for families to pose with. She is actively involved in Gesu’s Faith Families program, a program dedicated to older students mentoring younger students and taking on a leadership role in fostering community connections.

Grant speaks highly of Symphony’s proactive approach to her work, noting how she took the initiative from the very beginning. “The first week she was here, she sent me an email after her shift reflecting on her day—what she did, how she felt about it, and where she saw room for growth in her CWS role,” Grant remarks. He also recalls how Symphony was initially a bit shy encouraging her to “step out on faith” and that’s exactly what she did. Her willingness to embrace new challenges and step outside her comfort zone has made a lasting impact, and Grant is excited to see all that she will continue to accomplish in the future.

Reflecting on his role as a CWS Supervisor, Grant shares his philosophy: “It’s okay to try new and positive things.” His support has been a key factor in Symphony’s growth and success at Gesu, and he takes great pride in watching her flourish. The opportunities provided through Saint Martin’s Corporate Work Study have equipped Symphony with the tools she needs to succeed, and Grant looks forward to seeing how she will continue to make a difference in the future. We thank the Conway Family for sponsoring the Corporate Work Study job at Gesu and the opportunities it provides for students like Symphony to gain professional work experience.