At Mercy Housing, supporting the community isn’t just part of the mission—it’s at the heart of everything they do. That mission has extended to a meaningful partnership with Arrupe Jesuit High School through the Corporate Work Study Program (CWSP). It all started when corporate accountant John Supsic introduced the idea to Mercy’s Vice President of Human Resources, Chris Shott. John recognized that the values of Mercy Housing and Arrupe were deeply aligned, both committed to providing opportunities to families in the greater Denver metro area.
Since then, Arrupe students have become a regular and valued part of the Mercy Housing workplace. “Every student who has interned with us has brought their own perspective and positively influenced our culture,” said Cherie Harris.
That contribution is evident in the stories shared by Mercy staff. Enrique, a current CWSP student, supports the Mercy Community Capital team by handling mail, processing and coding incoming checks, and assisting with data projects in Salesforce. According to his supervisor, Kelsey Smith, he’s grown more confident in communicating professionally, has learned basic accounting skills, and is now comfortable using software tools like Excel, Outlook, and Salesforce. One of her favorite memories with Enrique was assembling holiday goodie bags for residents, a small but meaningful moment of connection and service.
Another student, Anahi, works with the Learning and Organizational Development team in Human Resources. She helps coordinate the quarterly Spirit of Mercy Award, edits training videos, and even completed a first manuscript review of a book about Mercy Housing’s mission. She also assists the Communications team by organizing photos in their digital asset system. Jennifer Covert, her supervisor, shared that Anahi has grown more independent and confident in her role. “Her eyes light up when she learns something new. She’s had a real impact on expanding our employee recognition and training resources. I truly value her contributions.”
For Mercy Housing, the CWSP partnership has been more than a way to fill entry-level roles, it’s a powerful connection to the broader community and a meaningful investment in future leaders. Arrupe Jesuit is deeply grateful to Mercy Housing for their long-standing commitment, generous mentorship, and the consistent support they provide to our students year after year.
