Alumna Remembered Through Fund for Service An alumna’s love for her fellow human beings is recognized at her alma mater in a way that will benefit countless people, from her fellow Anselmians to needy children. Kathleen Mulcahy Miskell ’06 died tragically in a parasailing accident while on a vacation with her husband. As a student, Miskell participated in Road for Hope and in two Service & Solidarity trips: one to help orphans in Honduras and one to build a home in Jacksonville, Fla., with Habitat for Humanity. Because of her generosity, the alumna’s family decided to do something important in her honor. They began a annual fund in her name which helps other students make the commitment to service. Aid from the fund will be given to Saint Anselm students who need financial support in order to participate in the kinds
of mission trips that Kathleen deemed so critical. Spearheaded by Miskell’s father, Jim Mulcahy, the fund-raising has resulted in more than $31,000. Last fall, a group of friends, family members, and college staff attended a Mass for Miskell in the Saint Anselm Abbey Church, and then joined for the unveiling of a remembrance plaque. “Campus Ministry is touched and honored to be the recipient of the Kathleen Mulcahy Miskell Memorial Fund for the Service and Solidarity Program. We are proud to honor Kathleen’s love of service through our Service & Solidarity mission trips,” says Joycelin Raho, campus minister.
Pro Bono Pro: Kathryn Cooley ’02 Browsing in a gift shop, Kate Cooley found a card with a quote that has stuck with her: “If you can’t make waves, make ripples,” a statement she has taken entirely to heart. She is a labor and delivery nurse at Bethesda North Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio. While her job is a fulltime commitment and is certainly fulfilling, Kate’s other passion is photography. “Growing up, I was always the one with the camera,” she says. “From our eighth grade class trip to Spring Break Alternative trip with St. A’s, my camera is always at my side. I think memories will always be in your heart and your mind, but I also believe looking at a photograph evokes an emotion that reaches deeper. God has blessed me with the gift of seeing life through the lens and I wanted to make something good out of that.” This passion, coupled with her devotion to helping others, inspired her to start a photography business called Pay it Forward Photography. She does not charge a fee for her work, or even travel expenses. Instead, she asks her clients to give any and all payments directly to charity or to commit a random act of kindness. “Getting your pictures taken can get to be pretty expensive, but I feel like everyone should be able to have the opportunity to carry those memories,” Cooley says. “I love that when I show people their photos they smile from their soul. For me, that is a greater form of payment than any amount of money.” 40
Photo by Katie Brenkert
Last July, someone broke into Cooley’s home and stole over $5,000 worth of photography equipment. The story made the news, and soon many had heard about the theft that left a pro bono photographer without her equipment. Her plight was felt by the community, and sympathetic people contributed the funds to replace the equipment. Not long after the break-in, Cooley traveled to Connecticut to visit Amanda Cox ’00. While she was away, some of her co-workers took up a collection and surprised her by landscaping her yard. “I drove into my driveway and thought I pulled into the wrong place. I was overwhelmed, completely emotionally overwhelmed. My yard looked absolutely gorgeous.” Since January 2013, Cooley has worked more than 130 photo shoots and has a dozen more scheduled. One photo at a time, she is making ripples into waves.
Contributed by Michael Morse ’14