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Support that makes a difference

Kathleen Benson’s journey to graduation spans decades and continents. She planned to attend college right out of high school, but her father became chronically ill. College had to wait as she worked three jobs to support her family. After her father died, Benson enrolled at Montgomery College in Maryland, where she met her husband, who was originally from Ireland.

When the couple decided to start a family, they wanted to move there, eventually settling near Limerick. 

Once again, life intervened. Benson’s first two children experienced serious medical challenges early in life, and while her son has since recovered, her daughter requires significant care and support.

“Una couldn’t sit up and couldn’t walk for the longest time or even chew properly,” said Benson. “All of my time went into just caring for everybody.”

Pregnant with her third child, the family returned to Maryland, and through sheer determination, Benson managed to continue her studies, graduating with an associate degree from Montgomery College in late 2022.

A web search led Benson to �����鱨վ’s Bachelor of Science in Health Services Management, a program that aligned with her desire to help others and with her life experience, which included finding specialists and support networks to provide her daughter with the care she needed. By fall 2023, she had secured the funding—including grants and scholarships—to enroll in the program.

“Lots of my time was spent making sure I’d get everybody what they need during the day, and getting everyone to sleep,” she said. “And then I'd stay up and do my schooling at night and just do the best I could.”

While completing her coursework, Benson had two more children, the last one born as she was completing her final class.

That’s when Benson’s success coach, Melodie Alajandro, stepped into a more active role. Alajandro helped Benson manage coursework, communicate with professors, and navigate the two pregnancies while maintaining her academic momentum.

“It makes a difference when you find someone that you really click with and you understand each other,” Benson said. “She was just so in my corner straight away, getting a hold of this professor, that professor, doing whatever we needed.”

Benson’s youngest child was due on April 5, after she had planned to submit her final paper. But the baby had other ideas. On March 18, when it became clear the baby would arrive early, Benson called Alajandro, who made sure everything was in place as Benson completed her coursework before heading to the hospital.

“I really don't know what I would have done without her,” Benson said. “She has been in my corner. She has been my constant.”

Balancing life and learning 

As a mother, wife, and full-time professional, Kendra Alston ’26 said pursuing her MBA required discipline, sacrifice, strong time management, and financial commitment. 

“Completing this journey showed me that setbacks do not define us; perseverance does,” she said. “Earning my MBA represents more than an academic achievement. It represents strength, healing, and determination. It’s a milestone that honors not only my hard work, but also the example I want to set for my children.”