Ana Raphael-Scott ’89
“Maybe when I’m 70 I’ll deserve this award,” Ana Raphael-Scott ’89 humbly asserted. “I feel like I still have so much more to give. I haven’t even started.”
Raphael-Scott was the recipient of Holy Names University’s 2020 Alumni Service Award. This award is given to alumni who stand out their service to HNU and dedication to living the University’s values. She has worked tirelessly and joyfully in the service of her community, church, and HNU—all while raising two children and working full-time as a business executive.
Raphael-Scott was born and raised in Berkeley, California. Her parents fell in love and eloped after meeting at an American School in Guatemala. Her mother was a local interpreter and her father a visiting student from Berkeley. Raphael-Scott’s father surprised his parents with the news of his marriage, shortly before returning home. Raised in a family with deep Catholic roots, her connection to the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary (SNJM) started young.
Her first memory of the Sisters came while attending Our Lady of Lourdes in Oakland. “The [SNJM] Sisters taught me to read. And inspired a lifelong love of learning. They were kind, self-actualized, and warm,” she recalled.
Raphael-Scott went on to take swimming lessons on HNU’s campus and attend Holy Names High School. “The Sisters taught me to think beyond myself,” she reflected. “They helped me understand that what you do for others is just as important as what you do for yourself. Their teachings formed and shaped my values and personality.”
Raphael-Scott recalled that one of her favorite experiences was coordinating the 150th anniversary of the University and the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary in 2018. “It was one of the most rewarding things I’ve done. I love the Sisters’ values and the love they are bringing to institutions in the world,” said Raphael-Scott.
“I believe we need to make service a part of who we are. I find that if you listen to your heart and extend yourself when people ask, inevitably you’ll find the answer to any question.”