MERION MERCY ACADEMY YEAR-END AWARDS FOR EXTRA-CURRICULARS CLASS OF 2015

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1 MERION MERCY ACADEMY YEAR-END AWARDS FOR EXTRA-CURRICULARS CLASS OF 2015 The Irish claddagh is a symbol befitting the cultural heritage, corporal works, and spiritual legacy of Catherine McAuley, foundress of the Sisters of Mercy. Often as an adornment to a ring, the claddagh depicts a pair of hands holding a heart topped by a regal crown. These three elements form a kind of trinity: the heart, it can be said, represents hospitality and compassion; the hands: service and care; the crown: leadership and fidelity to one s cause. Here at Merion Mercy Academy we celebrate the ways in which these symbols similarly embody our students exceptional character and achievement. Today we honor three graduating seniors, in particular, who have been recognized by their peers and their teachers as demonstrating personal qualities in keeping with one of each of the claddagh s special features. The Heart of Mercy Award is presented to a graduating senior who exemplifies the essence of Mercy. It is an honor bestowed upon the person who has shown continuously that she lives in the spirit of Catherine McAuley, offering time, effort, talent and compassion to ensure a better life for her peers. Mercy is doing and acting out of love, believing in it and living it. The person receiving this award is recognized for her commitment to the values of the Gospel and her example of acting with Mercy in the name of God. By an overwhelming nomination from the faculty and seniors, the Heart of Mercy Award is presented this year to: Jasmine Raj The Service Award is presented to a graduating senior in acknowledgment of her demonstrated spirit of servant leadership. While meeting her academic requirements, this student has also responded generously to the Gospel call to action. Dedicating herself to easing the burdens of those in need, this young woman has shown exceptional commitment to the core value of living mercy and seeking justice through her volunteer efforts with MMA-sponsored projects and/or community-based programs. By an overwhelming nomination from the faculty and seniors, the Service Award is presented this year to: The Loyalty Award is presented to a graduating senior who has demonstrated extraordinary loyalty and pride in being a member of the Merion Mercy school community over the past four years. She embodies the Academy s mission to educate the whole person through her own academic and personal excellence. Beyond the moment, she always sees the bigger picture of what it is to represent the ideals of Merion Mercy, demonstrated through her courage to speak and work on behalf of her school community. She acts with conviction and integrity in all she does, and she understands the importance of being a woman of Mercy.

2 By an overwhelming nomination from the faculty and seniors, the Loyalty Award is presented this year to: Erin Donnelly For generously sharing her many talents and for the unfailing dedication that she demonstrated as editor-in-chief of the 2015 Image Explosion, an award is Julie Bevilacqua Honorable Mention: Emma Ibrahim and Maura Avington In recognition of and appreciation for her dedicated service to Meriannal as editor-in-chief, an award is Gabriela Ferroni For outstanding commitment and faithful service to Ricordia as editor-in-chief, an award is presented to: Grace Mullen For active participation in and dedication to the French Club, awards are Emma Drennen and Emma Ibrahim Honorable Mention: Megan Bevilacqua For dedication and excellence as a member of the Latin Club, an award is Marie McFalls For outstanding enthusiasm and commitment to the Spanish Club, and for working very hard to unite the club and to plan exciting events that celebrated the Spanish language and Spanish culture, an award is Valéz Jackson Honorable Mention: Emily Conroy, Ann Marie McShea, and Sara Figueroa Mock Trial is a rigorous academic activity, demanding excellence in analytical, writing, and forensics skills. By consensus vote of the members of Mock Trial, the following students have been selected as the Merion team s outstanding seniors for : Julie Bevilacqua and Olivia Diaz Honorable Mention: Grace Mullen and Emma Ibrahim For being outstanding members of the Varsity Mathletes team, awards are Moira McChesney and Erica Murphy For earning the highest individual score on our senior team of Varsity Mathletes, a medal is

3 Erica Murphy The entire senior leadership on Student Council is to be congratulated for devising and implementing a plan for this year s Mercy fundraiser which exceeded expectations and effected real change. They partnered seamlessly with the administration in fostering compassionate service to both local and global communities. They provided an effective voice for all of their sisters, and they led the student body in the duties and responsibilities of good citizenship, while encouraging leadership qualities in others. For raising awareness of the many works of mercy and service performed by students, parents, and alumnae of MMA as members of Mercy Works, an award is Mary Katherine Magee For their commitment as members of Women for Life and Love to promoting chastity and a greater respect for the life and dignity of every human person, awards are Katherine DeVlieger and Elizabeth Schrieber For exemplary dedication to the Alice Club, showing outstanding curiosity and creativity in learning the skills and applications of computer coding, awards are, Catherine Maurer, and Erica Murphy Community Service Corps Awards for demonstrating outstanding commitment to promoting social justice in our community and participating in service projects at Merion are presented to the following students: For the La Salle Academy newspaper: Ashley Miller Honorable Mention: Jacqueline Koob For St. Francis Inn: For Philabundance and the SHARE food program: Dierdre McCloskey For CSC Tutoring: Raven Edwards-Ford and Cameron George For their relentless interest in the exciting field of biotechnology, and for the passion that fueled their hard work in creating a new club to share the contemporary, practical applications of this area of scientific study, awards for excellence in leadership and organization are presented to the following founding members of the Biotechnology Club: Emily Hall, Julia Roccato, Erica Murphy and Catherine West

4 For superlative teamwork, effort, and dedication as a member of Communications Club, an award for the Good Morning, Merion! broadcast team is Julia Battin Honorable Mention: Elaine O Hara For her creativity, teamwork, and perspective in organizing the Photography Club, an award is Rebecca Loonstyn Honorable Mention: Rebecca O Neill For outstanding leadership, motivational skills, and commitment as a member of Merion Mercy s Literary Bears Book Club, an award is Madeleine Procopio For outstanding representation of the values and beliefs of the Multicultural Club, for fostering the belief that all cultures enrich the world, and for the spirit and joy of sharing oneself, an award is Jamilah Jones Honorable Mention: Valéz Jackson The production staff of Merion Mercy Music Theater commends the company of Disney s Mary Poppins for its tremendous accomplishments. For going above and beyond what was expected, and for their professionalism, enthusiasm, leadership, and excellence, MMMT Director s Choice Awards are presented to the following students: For performance: Annette Young Honorable Mention: Kristina Leuzzi For technical matters (stage crew): Clare Hegarty Honorable Mention: Megan Baker and Jamilah Jones Recognizing our communal prayer in the liturgy, the following student has served the Merion Mercy community by enhancing all of our liturgical celebrations. For outstanding service and commitment through time and talent, an award for the Liturgical Ensemble is Elizabeth Mattera Honorable Mention: Emma Ibrahim For outstanding performance and dedication to the MMA Ensemble, an award is Honorable Mention: Anna Moretto

5 For excellence in performance and dedication to the Glee Club, an award is Jasmine Raj Honorable Mention: Mary Katherine Magee For excellence and commitment as distinguished members of the Chorale, awards are Audrey Rake, Emma Ibrahim, and Annette Young For commitment to excellence in performance, consistency in rehearsal, and sharing the gift of music with an infectious spirit and joy as members of The Merionettes (a cappella group), awards are Kristina Leuzzi and Annette Young Honorable Mention: Audrey Rake For excellence in performance and dedication to the Handbell Choir, awards are Madeleine Procopio, Megan Rolfes, and Michaela Scanlon Honorable Mention: Haoshu Amy Jia