Mount Mercy Academy held its 119th graduation ceremony on May 22 in the Mercy Center Auditorium. Thirty-seven members of the Class of 2024 received their diplomas from Michele Melligan, Mount Mercy’s Head of School.
Salutatorian Lacey Sheehan (Orchard Park) welcomed and addressed the audience to open the ceremony. Sheehan told her classmates not to be afraid to make mistakes and to try new things. She also urged her classmates to remember that they can do anything that they set their minds to do.
Vayana Stoyanova (Gowanda), the valedictorian, delivered the valedictory address. She thanked the faculty, staff, her parents, and classmates for aiding both herself and the class on their journeys. She spoke of memories that the class shared together. Stoyanova challenged her classmates not to forget what they had learned at Mount Mercy. In her eloquent speech she also assured her classmates that it was acceptable to be sad and excited at the same time with the changes that come with becoming more independent.
“We have the potential to change the world,” Stoyanova remarked. “We can do it because we are Mercy and we have been taught that we can accomplish anything. Remember to go out and change the world.”
Patricia McGrath, Class of 1974, was the graduation speaker. She is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) who was a principal at the accounting firm of Tronconi, Segarra and Associates. She was a past president of the Buffalo Chapter of CPAs, as well as a member of the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants Board of Directors. McGrath was also chairperson of the Accounting and Auditing Committee of the Buffalo Chapter of CPAs.
McGrath told the graduates to be confident for she attributed her success to the foundation she received at Mount Mercy. She urged them to continue the journey of learning and to find things to be passionate about. She encouraged the graduates to stay in touch with their classmates and become involved in the community, and congratulated the class on all of their accomplishments.
Graduate Linda Li (China) was presented with the Frances Warde Leadership Award and Stoyanova was presented with the Catherine McAuley Service Award.
The graduating Class of 2024 from Mount Mercy Academy earned over $9.6 million in college scholarships and merit-based grants.
