On Sunday, April 26th over 200 Mercy women joined in on the fun of the 5th Annual Tea for Tuition.  I personally want to thank those who were able to attend and also those who supported the event as an AbsenTEA donor.  Mercy women enjoyed tasty treats, entertainment by the Mercy mimes, bidding on auction items, and a time to enjoy the company of friends over a cup of tea.  The event was truly a success thanks to the generous support of alumnae, parents and friends.  Special thanks to the Tea for Tuition Co-Chairs Stephanie Dickow Surowiec '91 and Gina DeAgostino Gray '91.

If you attended the Tea for Tuition we would love to see your pictures!  Email the Alumnae Office with your favorite picture or post it to the Mercy Alumnae Facebook page.  Stay tuned for a photo gallery on the Mercy website and an update including the dollars raised to support tuition assistance for the '09-'10 school year.

~ Jennifer Stark, Alumnae Coordinator

2009 Distinguished Alumna

Congratulations to our 2009 Distinguished Alumna, Diana George Jacokes '67.  Diana was nominated by a member of the Mercy Alumnae Board (and 2006 Distinguished alumna) and was honored at the Tea for Tuition on Sunday.

Mr. Tom Schusterbauer is retiring at the end of this school year. If you would like to send a card or an email to wish Mr. Schusterbauer a happy retirement please email the Alumnae Office at alumnaeoffice@mhsmi.org or send cards to Mercy High School, Alumnae Office, 29300 W.  11 Mile Rd, Farmington Hills, MI  48336.  All well wishes will be made into a booklet and shared with Mr. Schusterbauer at the Honors Convocation in June.

If you would like to participate please email or mail all of your notes by May 21st.

Student Artists

Many of you were part of the amazing Art Program while attending Mercy.  We invite you to return to Mercy to check out the 2009 Mercy Student Art Exhibit held Thursday, May 7, 8am to 8pm and Friday, May 8, 8am - 6pm. Take a stroll through the Mercy gym and be awed by all the breathtaking artwork from approximately 280 students.

Media featured will include drawing, painting, ceramics, sculpture, jewlery, fiber arts, digital photography, and computer graphics.  Click here for more details. 

Newspaper Dress by Tara Ellis '10

Tee Off with Meg Mallon

Save the date for the 2009 Meg Mallon Golf Outing:

Monday, August 10, 2009
Western Golf and Country Club, Redford, MI

For more information contact Jennifer Stark in the Alumnae Office. 

Alumnae Swim and Dive

All Mercy swimmers and divers be sure to join us for the 4th Annual Mercy Alumnae Swim and Dive Event. 

Saturday, August 15
5:00pm
Mercy Pool

To register please email Laura Bargardi or call 313-563-0929.

Impressive Alumna

Nadia Bazzy '03 stopped by AP American Government Class to discuss international relations with a riveted class of Mercy girls.  Her presentation focused on the many layers of conflict resolution, democracy, peace building, and international societies in our world governments.  Nadia graduated from University of Michigan with a political science degree and just recently from Eastern Mennonite University with an M.A. in Conflice Transformation and Peacebuilding.  Most recenty Nadia worked for the Peacebuilding Initiative which is housed at the Humanitarian Policy and Conflict Research (HPCR) at Harvard and in partnership with the United Nations Peacebuilding Support Office. She she supported the development of an online encylocpedia of Peacebuilding in the Psycho-social recovery subsection at Georgetown University.

This past year Nadia has consulted for 3-D security which aims to foster dialoge between civil society leaders in crisis regions, the U.S. military, and Washington policymakers.  In addition Nadia lectures and consults on the Arab world and Islam.  She credits Mercy for igniting her passion for building peace and seeking justcie. 

Many thanks to Nadia for sharing her experiences with current students!

Mercy on the Move

Mercy alumnae gatherings are popping up all over the country! 

On Saturday, April 4th nearly 30 alumnae gathered at the home of Karen Blotkamp Brunhofer '88 in Winnetka, Illinois.  The group enjoyed getting a chance to meet alumnae in the area and reminicsing over Mercy memories. 

Stay tuned for more pictures from the event and details about another gathering for Chicago area.

The Mercy Alumnae DC Chapter has been busy!  On March 31st members of the Chapter gave back to their community by staffing a soup kitchen that serves needy women. 

The group met again recently for a social event at Proof Restaurant in Washington, DC.

Stay tuned for details about upcoming Mercy events.  Who knows . . . Mercy might be on the move to your neck of the woods soon!

Sweepstakes

The 2009 Sweepstakes Drive is in full swing!   If you would like to help support Mercy and take a chance to be a big winner this year, please send an e-mail to specialevents@mhsmi.org and include your name, full address, and the number of books you would like to purchase.  Each ticket is $5.00 abd a book of 5 tickets is $25.00. 

Help us make our goal this year by purchasing tickets today!

Habitat for Humanity

SPRING BREAK! The time when many take off for some rest and relaxation in the tropical sun. Spring Break meant something totally different to 22 women. It meant putting on overalls, work gloves and boots. It meant work, hard work, tedious work in the cold, wind, rain, and mud on a mountain ridge in rural eastern Kentucky.

Judi Dennis, Pastoral Minister organized a 7-day trip to Beattyville, Kentucky to help the needy in the area.  19 Mercy seniors and 3 staff chaperones worked with the Beattyville Habitat for Humanity organizer.  The students and staff spent their days doing chores to get the Habitat facility ready for the summer work season by removing and replacing vinyl siding, building a tool shed, and painting houses inside and out.  This trip marked the 12th year that Mercy students have helped Habitat for Humanity in Beattyville, Kentucky.