Anne Linton works with DBCR students at the Leadership Academy program
IVC member Anne Linton has found a new vocation in retirement: working with the faculty and staff at IVC partner Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School (DBCR) to prepare first generation college-bound students with tools to succeed in the workplace, in college and life. It’s a great fit for her, having spent 37 years on the staff at George Washington University’s health science library, and as its director from 1998 until her 2021 retirement. She learned about IVC through a Holy Trinity parish bulletin announcement, applied, and immediately felt at home at Don Bosco. “They were super welcoming and eager to have me,” she says.
Now in her third year at DBCR, Anne serves two days a week, teaching freshmen essential writing and English language skills and updating a database she created of national pre-college programs available to students. Her service allows DBCR to build staff capacity and expand opportunities for students. For Anne, it’s rewarding to be part of a unique education program that truly makes a difference in the lives of young people.
Founded in 2007, DBCR serves over 400 economically disadvantaged students from the greater Washington, D.C. area through traditional classroom learning and a Corporate Work Study Program (CWSP). Students earn a portion of their tuition cost by working one day a week during the school year, empowering them to succeed professionally. The program also exposes them to a variety of career pathways and networking opportunities to engage with professionals.
Beginning in their freshman year, students are placed with a corporate partner to start their journey of career exploration and employment. But before that, they spend one day a week at the school’s leadership academy – learning skills taught by a team of three that includes DBCR CWSP Relationship Manager Luke Morris, Cap Corps volunteer Peter Schemel and Anne on how to succeed in work and school. Those skills include learning to write papers and professional emails through the proper use of the English language. Students also receive individual attention from Anne.
“Anne has been extremely valuable,” says CWSP Director Gabe Obregon in describing her role working with students to research a topic and present what they’ve learned – all to help them develop skills to interact with employers in workplace settings. “She’s an essential part of our team.” Adds Luke Morris: “Ann has been instrumental in helping our ninth graders get ready to go to work, and particularly with the kids who need the most help, she’s extremely patient and can identify both their academic and emotional needs.”
Anne’s other role at DBCR is with the College Success and Alumni Persistence Center (CSAP), which she joined at its 2022 inception. CSAP provides college and career exposure for students and equips them with skills to identify colleges and universities they would like to attend, compete for and earn scholarships and explore career options. The database Anne created of national pre-college programs provides opportunities for students to apply for summer programs so that they can experience college life for the first time.
CSAP Director Andrea Leonard points out that Anne’s role was essential in helping to create the school’s internal scholarship program known as Don Bosco Summer Scholars, which aids rising juniors with full or partial scholarships to attend summer pre-college programs across the country. “As of 2024, over 60 students have participated in pre-college opportunities all over the country from Stanford University to the University of Chicago,” she says. “This has afforded them early access to real college exposure and allowed them to become more competitive candidates during the college admissions process.” As a result, CSAP has become a model office for college counseling for the Cristo Rey Network – thanks to several best practices that Anne had a key role in helping to create.
Anne really enjoys her IVC service at DBCR. “I think it’s a great program,” she says. “Getting first generation college-bound students to experience college so they know what they are getting into is important for them to know what to do to succeed.”