On Monday, May 20th, Mount Mercy Academy’s 119th graduating class held its Baccalaureate Mass and Awards Ceremony at the Mercy Center Chapel. Presiding at the mass was Father Jim Ciupek, assisted by Deacon Tim Maloney and Seminarian C.J. Wild. The evening began with the class sharing its last mass together and concluded with the recognition of student accomplishments, the presentation of special awards and culminated in the announcement of all the academic monies earned by the Mount Mercy Class of 2024.
Caroline Tucker delivered the Baccalaureate address. She commented on how far the class had come as individuals and a class. She reminisced about some of their shared memories and fondly recalled the camaraderie the group of diverse individuals formed.
Gifts, medals, or certificates were distributed to the officers of various clubs and the editors of the school publications
The English department recognized Meghan Balen and Ashley Cirbus who showed dedication and excellence in their English courses by demonstrating a high level of maturity and thoughtfulness in reading and writing. They consistently exceeded expectations and strove for mastery in all tasks. In addition, they were recognized for displaying a genuine love for reading by expressing interest and engagement in their English courses.
The Social Studies department recognized Isabella Shea, Vayana Stoyanova, Rylee Strefeler and Tucker for their interest in and appreciation of history and the social sciences.
The Women in Social Sciences Academy is a program designed to encourage students' interest in the Social Sciences. Rosalie Bandura, Addison Barth, Maura Higgins, Madisyn Hoffman, Emma Labby, Samara Moss, Katherine Reagan, Tia Thourling, Shea, Stoyanova and Strefeler have completed requirements of the Academy through a combination of coursework and field experiences.
McAuley Scholars are those students who through their career at Mount Mercy Academy maintained a minimum of a 95 average. These students are required to take at least 2 AP or college level courses beginning in their sophomore year. The McAuley Scholars from the Class of 2024 are Emma Caughel, Lacey Sheehan, Avery Walker, Bandura, Barth, Higgins, Labby, Shea, Stoyanova, Strefeler and Tucker.
The Academy for the Visual Arts recognized Cirbus for her outstanding effort and creativity.
The Art department recognized Balen and Bandura for their artistic excellence and dedication to painting in.
The Business Academy was started in the 2021-2022 school year to give the students the real life experience of creating a small business. The students were asked to successfully complete the introduction to business class as well as put in at least 20 hours of work time between the Magic Market and the Wizard Wear store. The students who have achieved these goals are Aryel Adamczak Quinn Callahan, Charli Debose, Elyse Ellicott, Jayla Goodman, Madeline Hagner, Joyce Hibbs, Andra’Nique Hudson, Amelia Labby, Balen, Barth, Labby, Sheehan, Strefeler and Tucker. The Business Academy used some of its profits to award a scholarship to Ellicott.
The Mount Mercy Academy of Science and Healthcare provides an advanced academic track for students interested in the health and science professions. This unique pathway provides a variety of progressive studies, offering both Advanced Placement courses and college-level science courses, along with real-world opportunities in the fields of healthcare and science. Na Li, Trinity Mead, Ellicott, Shea and Thourling have completed a four-year journey that has included a rigorous course of academics, field studies, listening to guest speakers in the medical sciences, rotations of shadowing and/or internships and written work reflecting these experiences.
The science department honored six students who have shown dedication and excellence in Science by demonstrating a passion for the field, a collaborative and positive spirit, and academic excellence inside and outside of the classroom while taking a college level class and a science elective. Honored by the science department were Bandura, Higgins, Labby, Shea, Tucker and Walker.
The Mount Mercy Leadership Academy is a unique five-year program where students in 8th
grade compete for acceptance into the academy based on the recommendation of their middle school principals. Students in the Leadership Academy complete service work, both inside
and outside of school that incorporate the Critical Concerns of the Sisters of Mercy. This
graduating class is the second to experience the entire five-year academy. Members of the Leadership Academy are: Brogan Maloney, Bandura, Barth, Higgins, Labby, Li, Shea, Stoyanova and Thourling.
The Outstanding Achievement in Leadership award was given to Higgins, Labby, and Shea who extended their involvement beyond Mount Mercy Academy and into the community. They served as role models for the student body by volunteering for numerous events, excelling in school, caring for fellow students, and maintaining an overall positive attitude.
The mathematics department presented an award to Cirbus and Tucker, students who have shown great dedication and interest in the field of mathematics. This student has achieved success in her courses, and has challenged themselves by taking college level mathematics courses in order to better prepare for the future.
The World Languages Department presented an award to Li and Stoyanova who have shown dedication and excellence in Spanish class by demonstrating a high level of maturity and thoughtfulness in the areas of speaking, listening, reading and writing. These students consistently exceeded expectations and strove for mastery in all task as well exhibiting an appreciation for Hispanic culture.
The National Choral Award is presented to the student who has made the greatest contribution to the vocal program. Earning the award this year was Stoyanova.
The Thomas DiNapoli New York State’s Comptroller Student Achievement Award was presented to Barth. The New York State Comptroller’s Achievement Award is presented each year to a student who has excelled academically and has also shown leadership potential by volunteering her time to serve the school or community.
The National Speech and Debate Association honors students who have excelled in the field of Speech and Communication during their years in High School. The National Speech and Debate Association Academic All American Award, in recognition of membership and receiving 750 points for Speech, Debate and Service was given to Barth, Hoffman, Li, Regan, and Stoyanova.
Business First’s Wellness All-Star Award is given to a high school Senior who goes above and beyond to demonstrate active leadership in engaging and encouraging health, wellness and healthier living throughout their school or community. Bandura was the recipient of this award.
Moss was the recipient of The Business First Diversity and Inclusion award. This award is given to a high school senior who is dedicated to advocating for those facing racism, bias and inequality and who has helped her peers take positive action bridging the social divide within the school or community.
The Amy Getty Award is presented to seniors who are dedicated to helping their classmates achieve their best selves while working to develop their own skills and talents at Mount Mercy Academy. The recipients of the award were Goodman and Sara McCoy.
Mount Mercy has a proud tradition of encouraging its students to complete service hours as a way of fulfilling the legacy of Catherine McAuley. Every single member of the senior class fulfilled her service requirements.
The Triple C Award is awarded to the young women who have a commitment to bettering themselves, their school and their community. Their strength of character has helped them to achieve their goals and will guide them in making the right decisions in the future. Their remarkable courage will aid them in meeting all of the challenges they may face ahead. Debose and Li were recognized.
Strefeler was recognized as the winner of the 2024 Community All-Star Award from Independent Health which recognizes a student who has made a positive difference in the lives of people at school and in the community.
The Ronald Reagan Student Leader Award was presented to Hoffman and Regan by the Reagan Library to the seniors who uses their communication skills to show compassion and leadership to their peers.
The Tammy Mink Memorial Award is a scholarship given by her family to a graduating senior who displays talent and dedication to the arts. Tammy overcame great obstacles to graduate from college and become a successful artist before she died at an early age. The Hughes family, who endows this scholarship, hopes Madeline Hagner will use this gift to further her education in the arts.
Terry Blake and Jillian Aguilar presented a special award. Karen Sacco Blake was a true “Mercy Girl” through and through. She was incredibly generous, kind and compassionate. She was so beloved that her friends and family wanted to honor her memory by awarding a scholarship to a graduating senior who demonstrates these same wonderful attributes. The Committee of Karen Sacco Blake has chosen Amayiah Wheeler as the recipient of this scholarship.
Theology and Campus Ministry was proud to recognize Eve Janak, Hoffman, Li, Regan and Stoyanova who shone above the rest in their faith and values through their understanding of the Bible, Christ like Spirit and their desire to serve.
The Senior Athlete Award is given to the senior who exemplifies not only athletic ability, but sportsmanship, leadership and character. During her four years at Mount Mercy Academy, this young woman excelled in soccer, basketball and lacrosse and was recognized by her coaches, teammates and other individuals within the Monsignor Martin League. This year the award went Bandura.
The young women of the Mount Mercy Academy Class of 2024 earned over nine million, six-hundred and seventy thousand dollars in merit-based scholarships and grants.
