Since 2003, Arrupe Jesuit has sent over 1,500 graduates out into the world, each one carrying a piece of Utica St. with them. This September, we're celebrating that legacy in a brand-new way: the first-ever Arrupe Jesuit 40 Under 40.
This inaugural class will spotlight 40 alumni under the age of 40 whose stories capture what an Arrupe education makes possible, the risks they've taken, the paths they've built, and the light they're bringing to their communities. Honorees span industries including business, education, healthcare, law, finance, technology, nonprofit work, and public service, and many started their journeys the same way: as students in Arrupe's Corporate Work Study Program, placed in real professional environments years before they had any idea where those experiences would lead.
As Arrupe President Michael J. O'Hagan writes in his letter introducing this year's honorees:
"As you read the profiles of these featured alumni, I hope you appreciate the distance they have travelled to reach this point, and I hope you take great pride in knowing that you have accompanied them on this journey."
It's a fitting way to frame this first class — and a reminder that their achievements belong not just to them, but to the entire Arrupe Jesuit community that invested in them along the way: the teachers, the CWSP supervisors, the donors, and the families who believed in them before they believed in themselves.
You'll hear that same spirit in the honorees' own words. Ximena Gonzalez, a 2020 graduate now working as a High Risk Labor and Delivery Registered Nurse at HCA Healthcare, put it this way:
"Being a woman for others carries into my nursing career where every patient interaction reminds me of my time at Arrupe Jesuit. There I learned to see challenges as opportunities for growth and to lead with empathy, resilience, compassion, and integrity."
Stories like Ximena's are exactly why we're launching this program. Each profile in the 40 Under 40 will include the honoree's career path, their degrees, the companies where they trained through CWSP, and a personal reflection on how Arrupe shaped who they've become. Look for special recognition of alumni who are Arrupe Champions giving back to current students, first-generation college graduates, advanced degree holders, and nonprofit leaders.
Mark your calendar. Full profiles of all 40 honorees launch this September. Keep an eye on your inbox and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn — you won't want to miss it.
