Four students from Cristo Rey Atlanta Jesuit High School will trade their school uniforms for scrubs every week at Emory Saint Joseph's Hospital and Emory University Hospital Midtown as part of their school's Corporate Work Study program. Emory Healthcare is one of more than 40 Atlanta businesses that have become a corporate sponsor of Cristo Rey, a Catholic college preparatory high school that serves young people with limited economic means.

Cristo Rey Atlanta is located in Midtown at 680 W. Peachtree Street, and is the 28th and newest member of the Cristo Rey Network, which provides educational opportunities for more than 8,000 students nationwide.

The Corporate Work Study Program is a core component of the Cristo Rey Network model, allowing each student to work five full days a month in a corporate work setting, in addition to carrying a full load of classes. Earnings from the program pay for the majority of students' education costs, and students also gain invaluable experience and mentorship by college-educated adults.

"Through working with these wonderful corporate partners, our students will learn workplace skills, gain job experience, and make valuable connections with other professionals," said Bill Garrett, President of Cristo Rey Atlanta Jesuit High School.

In preparation for their corporate jobs, more than 160 Cristo Rey 9th-graders completed a two week training program last month through the school's Business Training Institute, learning computer and other workplace skills in preparation for their placement. After completing the training, Cristo Rey held a 'Draft Day,' similar to a professional sports draft. During the event, teams of four students were drafted by a corporate partner, and the representatives were on hand to greet their new work study students as they were called to the stage.

During the 2014-15 school year, students Nina Dunwoody and Gabrielle Wilson are sharing an entry level job at Emory Saint Joseph's Hospital, while Hannah Kassa and Diana Garcia are job-sharing at Emory University Hospital Midtown. These young women will have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the health care field assisting doctors, nurses and staff in a variety of areas.

Some of Dunwoody and Wilson's duties include transporting patients, delivering supplies around the hospital, working with the communications team and providing comfort measures for patients at Emory Saint Joseph's Hospital.

At Emory University Hospital Midtown, Kassa and Garcia perform clerical duties and also learn about the importance of safety in a hospital environment through their work in safety and facilities management. Additionally, they are also assisting with the Energy Action Campaign next month at the hospital.