Name, Catholic School(s) attended, years graduated:
Kailey (Fraher) Gahan
Schools attended: Our Lady of Perpetual Help Scottsdale (Graduated 2012); Seton Catholic Preparatory
High School (Graduated 2016)
Background:
After attending Catholic school through my senior year, I went on to attend a Catholic university starting at Avila University in Kansas City, MO then transferring to Benedictine University in Mesa. I graduated
from Benedictine in 2020 with a bachelors in psychology and went on to earn a masters degree ineducation with a concentration in School Counseling. I worked at Seton Catholic Preparatory High school as a school counselor and was given the opportunity to join The Matthew 19:14 Project, a local Catholic non-profit organization that supports students with exceptional needs in our Arizona Catholic Schools, in October of 2023. I have been working with The Matthew 19:14 Project since then as their Development Coordinator.
What impact did Catholic schools have on you and your family?
I spent the entirety of my schooling in Catholic schools. Both of my sisters also attending Catholic schools and both of my parents worked in Arizona Catholic Schools as well. Having an education that was rooted in our faith was a priority to me and my family. The quality of the education I received has set me up to be successful both in my career and in my personal life as my husband and I prepare to grow our family. The combination of the lessons and morals my parents instilled in me along with the echoing lessons and morals I learned while in school allowed for me to grow in my faith and understanding of just how important Catholic education is. I am incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to attend Catholic schools throughout my life and grateful to CEA for also being a part of allowing me to attend OLPH and Seton.
After attending Catholic schools, I now have a passion and desire to give back to our schools. This motivated me to join the mission of The Matthew 19:14 Project. We are actively working to support all of our Catholic schools so that all students are able to experience the benefits of being educated in a Catholic school.
What Challenges/Obstacles, over the years, were you able to overcome that you would attribute to your Catholic education and Faith?
My faith has been really important and helpful navigating the typical challenges and obstacles that I have encountered. I have rooted myself in the understanding that God does not make mistakes when challenges are presented or when my “plan” doesn’t work out. Reminding myself that there is a larger purpose to the challenges and obstacles I face has kept me grounded throughout the many changes that
life has thrown at me.
What is one or two special memories of your Catholic School Experience that you would like to share?
One special memory I have of my time at Our Lady of Perpetual Help was being able to attend mass regularly as a school and have Msgr. Tom Hever as our priest. Msgr. Tom knew my grandparents and parents pretty well so it was nice to have a familiar face at all our school masses. He would always lead
us in a prayer that I still know by heart today, “Jesus I believe in you, I hope in you, I love you and I thank you for loving me.”
Accomplishments:
Masters Degree in Education – School Counseling
