Earlier this month, juniors Justin Whittwell and Noah Mondaca from Christopher Columbus High School (Miami, FL) traveled to the Dominican Republic to participate in Blue Missions. They spent the week serving local communities, building meaningful relationships, and deepening their understanding of solidarity through service.
Their experience reflected the Marist commitment to forming servant leaders who respond to the needs of others with compassion, humility, and faith. Through their work and witness, Justin and Noah embodied the values of leadership, service, and Christian discipleship that are central to our Marist mission.
We are proud of the way they represented Columbus and grateful for the impact this experience had on both the communities they served and their own personal growth.
BLUE Missions holds a special connection to Christopher Columbus High School and the Marist community. Co-founded by Columbus alumnus Daniel Rodriguez ’04, the Miami-based nonprofit has partnered with the school for more than a decade to provide students with meaningful opportunities to live out the Gospel through service. Through mission trips to the Dominican Republic, participation in the school’s BLUE.Club, and ongoing advocacy for global access to clean water and sanitation, Columbus students are challenged to become servant leaders committed to solidarity, justice, and the dignity of all people. This enduring partnership reflects the Marist tradition of forming young men who put their faith into action and respond to the needs of others with compassion and humility.
