CTSO: Better education leads to a better future

Watching our scholarship recipients walk across the stage to receive their high school diplomas has been one of the most exhilarating experiences during my tenure at CTSO.

In some cases, these children have been the first in their family to be college-bound or even the first to attend and graduate from high school. We are proud of the fact that 98 percent of our high school graduates are well on their way to fulfill dreams of higher education. A significant number of our graduates have been blessed with generous scholarships to prestigious colleges and universities.

Many of the students enrolled in our Catholic schools come from households that represent first-generation immigrants to our country. Some of these children’s parents have not yet mastered the English language, yet value the benefit of a quality education. As such, the children are enrolled in our schools, thanks to the availability of financial assistance for tuition.  Other students are faced with the challenges brought about by single parent families who struggle to provide the necessities in their daily lives. Some of these parents work more than one low-paying job.

Several of our schools serve high numbers of students within the demographic mentioned above. Without the access to an education rooted in values of rigid academics, community service and faith, some of these children may not have continued in school and might be among those poorly equipped to navigate the challenges of the demands of the ever-changing workplace. Rather than joining the statistics of a 99 percent high school graduation rate, they could very well be among those lacking skills and opportunities to move beyond low-wage jobs.

A CTSO scholarship recipient, now enrolled at Pepperdine University is Majok Deng. He and his family came to Tucson in 2011 as refugees from South Sudan. Upon arriving in Tucson, he picked up the game of basketball and subsequently became a standout at Salpointe Catholic High School. Deng, also Senior Class president, was a finalist for Player of the Year both in his junior and senior year. He was highly recruited by several PAC-12 universities, including Stanford and other midwestern basketball powerhouse colleges. He chose Pepperdine “because of the coaches and the great education.” His academic major is international studies.

In his own words, Majok stated “When we came here to escape South Sudan, CTSO gave me the chance to attend Salpointe Catholic High School where I’ve been able to grow both my mind and my body. The help I received from CTSO made it all possible.”

Beyond success stories such as that of Majok, the impact of CTSO scholarships on families has been life-changing and perhaps, lifesaving. A few years back, one child who transferred to one of our schools in the fourth grade, had been bullied to the point of physical injury. Despite his mother’s repeated attempts to have the school address and resolve the issues, nothing was done. While enrolled at one of our schools, this child blossomed academically and gained enough self-confidence to participate in competitive athletic activities. Without the financial assistance provided by CTSO to this child, he would not have been able to move out of what was turning out to be a very unpleasant and unsafe educational situation.


These are merely two of the many student stories that have arisen out of the varied experiences and opportunities provided by our Corporate and all our Individual partners through CTSO. I am grateful for continued support to our tax credit programs that have and continue to impact individuals as well as our community. On behalf of CTSO Board of Directors and staff, we thank you for your past generous support. Please continue to support such a worthwhile cause. For more information on how you may help families participate in Catholic education, please call (520) 838-2558 or visit https://donor.ctso-tucson.org/donate-as-a-guest/billing to make an online contribution.

- Gracie Quiroz Marum, CEO