St Edwards University Editorial

Lives of Kay and Walsh leave inspiration

OUR VIEW

Updated: Tuesday, February 22, 2011 20:02

In the last two months, St. Edward's University has lost two giants.

The deaths of Br. Stephen Walsh, the former president of St. Edward's, and, most recently, former journalism professor Michele Kay have left huge voids in the St. Edward's community. Walsh was 69. Kay was 66. Both made the most of the years they had.

Without Kay, the newspaper that bears her obituary on the front page would not be what it is today. Without Walsh, the campus that allows Hilltop Views to exist would not be what it is today.

Most of us at Hilltop Views never had the pleasure of knowing Kay or Walsh, but both of them had a profound impact on our university.

Kay spent 40 years as a journalist before she came to St. Edward's to earn her bachelor's degree. A few years later, she had a master's degree and a teaching job at the university.

The paper was originally based out of Student Life's office as a student organization. The reviews were not positive.

As the faculty advisor, Kay turned Hilltop Views into a real newspaper. She brought the newspaper out of Student Life and into Andre Hall under the School of Humanities. She also won approval for a paid, rather than volunteer, staff. Hilltop Views publishes once a week instead of once every two weeks because of Kay. She gave just three years to teaching at St. Edward's—seemingly a mere footnote in a long, illustrious life—but her success at the university and strong, positive impact prove that she made every one of those years count.

Kay's students are almost all gone now. Not a single one of us had the chance to work with her on the Hilltop Views staff, but many of us worked with those who did. Through the examples that she set, her spirit is carried on. We can only hope that we continue to honor her drive, her commitment, her professionalism, her passion and her energy in our newsroom today.

Kay never stopped, never slowed, and never gave up. She was relentless to the very end in every aspect of her life. She truly was, as those who knew her said, "one of a kind."

In Kay and Walsh, we were given glimpses into what is possible in a life well-lived. We may not have known them personally, but we are lucky to walk the trails that they boldly blazed on this campus.

As we remember these two people who shaped our university, we should give pause and thanks. But we should always remember to move forward and help others, as Kay and Walsh did with such zeal.