The day that every Mount Mercy Academy student eagerly awaits occurred on Thursday, Feb. 4 as the juniors from the Class of 2022 received their school rings in a ceremony held in the Mercy Center Auditorium. At this event, students placed the distinctive Mercy ring on their fingers for the first time.
Beth Ilecki, chairperson of the Languages Other Than English Department and junior class moderator, as well as an alumna from the Class of 2005, served as the mistress of ceremony for the evening. Junior class President Dominique Khoury (Buffalo) welcomed parents and classmates to the socially distant ceremony which followed all the Covid 19 protocols. Elisabeth Radwan (West Seneca), a member of the Class of 2022, explained the history of the ring.
The signature Mercy ring, a rite of passage and responsibility, was first worn in 1916. The ring is a reminder of the virtues held dear by Mercy students and alumnae. The gold band represents loyalty to God, country and school. The seven pearls represent faith, hope, charity, obedience, humility, patience and joy.
Students received their rings from Michele Melligan, head of school. Melligan, a Mount Mercy graduate, also shared her own reflections on the meaning of her Mount Mercy Academy ring.
Tina Scarpello Webster, Mount Mercy’s director of admissions and a 1991 graduate of Mount Mercy, addressed the members of the Class of 2022 about what her ring has meant to her and the significance of the Mount Mercy Academy ring for the newest ring recipients.
Mount Mercy Academy is a distinctly Catholic college-preparatory high school dedicated to educating young women for academic excellence, compassionate service, Christian leadership, global awareness and life-long learning. Rooted in Catherine McAuley’s vision for women and those who are poor, Mount Mercy affirms the uniqueness and dignity of individuals and fosters faith with a commitment to the challenges of building a just society.
