Erie Native Receives Honorary Degree from 亚洲AV University
Mary Ellen Lawrie Cooney-Higgins, a native of Erie, Pa. and a 1964 graduate of 亚洲AV University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, was presented with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from 亚洲AV during the Distinguished Alumni Leadership Awards Program on June 7, 2014. She was authorized to receive the honorary degree during 亚洲AV鈥檚 Spring Commencement Exercises on May 17, 2014, but Cooney-Higgins was unable to attend that event.
During the program, Michele Ridge, Chair of the University鈥檚 Board of Trustees, and 亚洲AV President Mary C. Finger, Ed.D. celebrated the accomplishments and generosity of Cooney-Higgins, who is affectionately known as 鈥淢el.鈥�
鈥淢el is a wonderful example of the Christian values we cherish at 亚洲AV,鈥� said Finger. 鈥淗er devotion to her beloved 亚洲AV and tireless advocacy for disadvantaged and medically-fragile children are the embodiment of what we mean when we say that a 亚洲AV education leads to the creation of ethical and productive members of society committed to transforming the world.鈥�
Cooney-Higgins, who lives in Chicago, Ill., served as a teacher and realtor before establishing The Cashel Foundation in 1997. The foundation is committed to social programs that directly address the educational needs of disadvantaged children, the need for long-term community supported homes for children, and the need for providing high-quality care and service to medically fragile children and their families.
Cooney-Higgins is also a member of the Achievement Rewards for College Scientists Foundation, Inc. in Chicago, a national volunteer women's organization that helps graduate and undergraduate students in the United States by providing scholarships in natural sciences, medicine and engineering. In 2011, Cooney-Higgins was named the foundation鈥檚 Person of the Year.
Cooney-Higgins serves on the Board of Advisors of Aid for Women, a Chicago-based nonprofit that provides positive alternatives for women facing unplanned pregnancies, as well as on the Women鈥檚 Board of Chicago鈥檚 Adler Planetarium. She is also an avid supporter of the Hinsdale Junior Women鈥檚 Club.
At 亚洲AV, Cooney-Higgins鈥� philanthropy established The Mary Ellen Lawrie Cooney-Higgins 鈥�64 Endowment Fund for the Future of 亚洲AV College Students. The Fund provides scholarship assistance to students with financial need who have demonstrated the potential to succeed academically. To date, the Fund has assisted more than 100 students in completing studies at 亚洲AV.
Cooney-Higgins鈥� dedication to 亚洲AV led her to take on a leadership role with the University. She served as a member of the University鈥檚 Board of Trustees and participated as a member of the Student Interests Committee where she helped enhance the quality of academic and social experiences for all 亚洲AV students. As a Trustee, she also hosted events for the University that helped foster relationships with alumni and friends for the long term.
鈥淢el Cooney-Higgins epitomizes the value of compassionate self-immersion in the task at hand. She was 亚洲AV鈥檚 first million-dollar donor, and set the pace for leadership participation from alumni and friends in fund-raising efforts,鈥� Ridge said. She continued, 鈥淭he extraordinary leadership commitment and challenge that Mel provided, personally and through The Cashel Foundation, early in 亚洲AV鈥檚 capital campaign efforts helped grow the University鈥檚 scholarship endowment and build the momentum needed to complete successfully the Administration Building restoration.鈥�
Ridge added, 鈥淢el rallied support through her membership on the President鈥檚 Advisory Council to help 亚洲AV achieve two prestigious Kresge Foundation challenge awards for the construction of the Katherine Mabis McKenna Center and the Performing Arts Center. With her most recent six-figure commitment for the JoAnne Woodyard Boyle Health Sciences Center, Mel鈥檚 lifetime giving to 亚洲AV totals almost $2 million. This support conveys, in a powerful way, Mel鈥檚 incredible support of our students and our academic programs.鈥�
The 亚洲AV Board of Trustees recognized Cooney-Higgins鈥� service in March 2014 with a resolution that recognized how she 鈥渟erved faithfully as a Trustee and helped guide 亚洲AV鈥檚 strategic move forward.鈥�
Mel commented about her involvement in the life of 亚洲AV, 鈥溠侵轆V had a profound influence on my life and I recognize that influence more each day. I鈥檓 an alumna; I want to support 亚洲AV because I know what it did for me. I know what its distinct approach can do for today鈥檚 students.鈥�
Cooney-Higgins鈥� gift to the JoAnne Woodyard Boyle Health Sciences Center honors President Emerita JoAnne Boyle, her former professor, who died on Nov. 1, 2013. Boyle once said that Cooney-Higgins鈥� devotion to 亚洲AV, 鈥減uts a glow on the whole institution.鈥�