LATROBE, PA – Chaely Raynor, a junior data science and mathematics double major from Cleveland, Ohio, was recently named the recipient of the 2026-27 Saint Giles Scholarship.
Established by Dr. Mary Regina Boland, C’10, assistant professor of data science, along with a former student, the scholarship is open to students enrolled in the data science program housed in the Herbert W. Boyer School of Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Computing at Saint Vincent College.
“Chaely embodies the spirit of the Saint Giles Scholarship beautifully,” Boland said. “She excels in data science and exemplifies many of the Benedictine Hallmarks through her amazing talents.”
Raynor participates in SVC Honors as part of the Benedictine Leadership Studies program at the College and has worked on several research projects on campus in addition to off-campus summer research internships. She has chosen on her own to take advanced Greek language courses to enhance her foreign language skills.
“Saint Giles, as a native Greek, would surely approve,” Boland said. “The diversity and wealth of her talents make her the ideal candidate for the Saint Giles Scholarship.”
The award, valued at $1,250 per semester, is named in honor of Saint Giles, who lived a life of solitude embodying the Benedictine Hallmarks. Saint Giles befriended a doe that would feed him with her milk. One day, a group of King Wamba’s hunters tried to shoot the doe, but Saint Giles shielded her with his body. An arrow pierced Saint Giles, disabling him for the rest of his life. King Wamba, ashamed of his actions, gave money to Saint Giles, which he used to build a Benedictine monastery that was later named Saint-Gilles-du-Gard.
Saint Giles has a natural connection with data science through his patronage of many diverse topics, including those related to health and animals, and others that are seemingly random in our modern understanding, such as blacksmiths and spur makers. He is one of the 14 Holy Helpers—saints in the West honored for their healing intercessory power—connecting him with healthcare.
“In data science, we explore correlations and patterns using complex algorithms to draw conclusions from seemingly disparate and unconnected phenomena,” Boland said. “These phenomena often intersect with the natural world and deal with human issues, animal issues and other random topics. This fact, coupled with Saint Giles’ embodiment of the Benedictine Hallmarks and love for humanity, make him the perfect role model for data scientists. Hippocrates said, ‘Wherever the art of medicine is loved, there is also a love of humanity.’ Saint Giles was a beautiful reversal of this by loving God and thereby humanity first. His healing arts stemmed from that first point.”
Scholarship applicants are tasked with writing essays describing how their life experiences, community service or interests align with some of the elements of Saint Giles’ life.
“In data science, we analyze things that personally affect people or businesses,” Raynor wrote in her essay. “In the hopes of finding the best course of action, people entrust their personal information to data scientists, who are then responsible to protect this information and work to help the people. Saint Giles teaches us this in his display of the Hallmarks of stewardship and love, where we care for the things entrusted to us and the people who are trusting us.”
In addition to her work in the classroom, Raynor is a two-year member of the women’s swimming team at the College.
“Being on the swim team likewise offers opportunity to practice the Hallmark of love in caring for others by caring for the team and doing my part wholeheartedly,” she wrote. “Even the small things like carrying the boxes to the bus for my teammates helps me live more like Saint Giles.”
Raynor graduated from The Lyceum, a coeducational school in South Euclid, Ohio, providing a classical Catholic education.
The feast of Saint Giles is celebrated yearly on Sept. 1.
