When Mickey Carroll was at Trinity-Pawling, most people knew him as a standout hockey player and a popular prefect. But no one really knew his true passion: wildlife and nature. In 2017, he shifted from a career in tech sales to pursue his dream: wildlife conservation, fighting to combat the insidious poaching of rhinos and elephants in South Africa.
“A hockey friend of mine and I started SFW (Soldiers for Wildlife) Conservation, supporting rangers and conservationists in South Africa,” Mickey explains. “Last year, more than 150 rangers were killed globally – the majority in Africa and Asia – trying to protect rhinos and elephants from being poached. It’s a war no one talks about.”
In October 2024, Mickey Carroll reached out to Slade Mead and offered to serve as a mentor in the Senior Independent Project (SIP) program. Slade put Mickey in touch with Nick Brandmeyer ’25 and Beni Maly ’25, and the seniors developed their projects centered on rhino and elephant poaching. Mickey sent documentaries and research papers about the topic, and the boys immersed themselves in this critical issue. They discussed what they learned on video calls and group chats with Mickey throughout the fall and early winter.
The bonus? The young men spent ten days over spring break with Mickey and his team at the SFW Conservation preserve adjacent to Kruger National Park. “It was an intense, exhausting ten days, anything but a vacation,” Mickey and Beni Maly agreed. “And that’s what made it so mind-blowing,” Beni said. “We did some meaningful, hands-on projects that really helped the conservationists. We flew in a helicopter with a ranger to survey a new plot of land. We assisted a group of trainers who work with Dutch Shepherds specifically for tracking and anti-poaching. We went on some game drives and did an overnight camping under the stars in Kruger National Park. We experienced first-hand reality about poaching and the people who put their lives at risk to protect these animals.”
Beni is in the process of completing a 20-minute documentary based on what he learned through his SIP and trip to South Africa, hoping to earn a diploma of distinction at Commencement in May. He also plans to return to South Africa in the summer of 2026 to continue his work with Mickey and SFW Conservation.
As for Mickey, his reward comes from being able to give back to his alma mater and share this conservation opportunity with Trinity-Pawling students. “You see the rawness of life when you’re in South Africa. It gives you appreciation not only for wildlife but for humanity. I always come back from Africa with such a perspective shift, and I try to apply that to my daily life back in the States. I think the boys got a taste of that mindset as well.”
by Maria Buteux Reade