BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Carlton Hicks, a senior at Holy Family Cristo Rey Catholic High School in Ensley, likes to work on cars.
But he envisions himself as more than just a mechanic: he wants to design cars and other moving vehicles as a mechanical engineer.
Thanks to a 3.7 GPA, acceptance letters from 16 colleges and over $250,000 in scholarship offers, Carlton is on his way to fulfilling his dream. He has just been selected as co-Salutatorian of Holy Family Cristo Rey, joining Valedictorian Khayla Jones and fellow Salutatorian Elijah Brown.
As top students of the Class of 2014, the trio will address fellow seniors at Holy Family Cristo Rey’s graduation on Saturday, May 24, at St. Paul’s Cathedral downtown.
Carlton, whose scholarship offers include Alabama A&M, Talladega College and Miles College, said Holy Family Cristo Rey is opening doors he never imagined.
“I want to be able to go to school with it already paid for so I won’t have to stress my parents out,” he said. “Holy Family has provided a better opportunity for me to pursue my dream. Because it is a smaller school, I get more hands-on learning from teachers who are willing to help me.”
School officials said Carlton’s commitment to academics and strong work ethic led them to make an exception from past years and add him as co-Salutatorian.
“One of the greatest assets for our school is to have students like Carlton who are great ambassadors for us in corporate Birmingham,” said Father Alex Steinmiller, president of Holy Family Cristo Rey.
Carlton’s parents, Hershell and Patricia Hicks, said they are proud of how he has consistently made honor roll throughout his four years at Holy Family. Their older son, Clifton, also got good grades and is a student at Lawson State Community College.
“We thank God for giving us a good son who hasn’t given us any problems,” Hicks said. “It is a blessing to have a rooted child doing well in school and active in the church usher board.”
Since affiliating with Cristo Rey Network in 2007, 100 percent of the school’s seniors have graduated and been accepted into college. As of Feb. 6, the 41 seniors in the Class of 2014 have received $2.37 million in scholarship offers from over 45 colleges across the nation.
Holy Family Cristo Rey’s unique work-study program allows students aged 14 and up to offset much of their tuition by working in more than 85 businesses across metro Birmingham one day a week. The high school’s college preparatory curriculum, small class sizes, and safe learning environment allow students like Carlton, Khayla and Elijah to thrive.
Holy Family Cristo Rey is currently enrolling students for the 2014-15 school year. For details, call Director of Admissions Beverly Dixon at (205) 263-0133, email bdixon@hfcristorey.org, or go to www.hfcristorey.org. Follow the school on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
