Greetings from Mercyhurst University -

Each year when May rolls around and the beautiful Magnolia tree begins to bloom, I cannot help but think back to the final few weeks of school when I was a senior. I remember trying my best to soak up all of the celebrations and the final moments with my roommates and friends. After all, that is what makes our Mercyhurst so special, the people!

As graduation weekend approaches, I see the students around campus taking their photos at all the best spots like the Magnolia tree, in front of Old Main, and at the rock. They're off to the Cornerstone for their final Wednesday night special, and they're taking advantage of their final days, certainly studying for finals too.

As our graduating students depart on Sunday for their final time, I like to remind them of my favorite line from our Alma Mater which states: Our gates stand always open. My wish for the Class of 2022, is that whenever they get the chance to return home and drive through our gates, that they will take it!

And, if you needed that reminder too, there are many opportunities for visiting campus coming up, from Reunion Weekend next month to Homecoming in the fall. All details for those events are listed in today's Newsletter.

Carpe Diem,

Lindsay Frank '12
Director of Alumni Engagement
Reunion Weekend 2022 will be celebrated next month, June 9-12, on campus at Mercyhurst University! Online registration will remain open until May 15.

We will also celebrate the Distinguished Alumni Awards and the Athletics Hall of Fame!
Hello fellow Lakers! It is an honor to serve as a member of the Alumni Association Board of Directors. Since I came to Mercyhurst in 2004 as an adult student in Intelligence Studies, I have been an evangelist for this great school.
 
As a kid attending St. Luke School, I played in the Grotto and rode my bike through the beautiful campus never realizing how much this place would change my life. I had been a researcher with venerable Washington, DC institutions for a number of years but never knew how to succinctly describe my profession until it was defined as an analyst. More than that, the most important gift of Mercyhurst was the amazing mentorship I received from our program’s professors. They knew each one of us, our strengths, challenges, and interests and strove to find opportunities for each of us to grow and succeed. Many of the friends I made here are still my very closest even though we don’t all still live in Erie.
 
I’m sure you have such fond memories of your alma mater and want to stay connected to it and to all of us alums. See you at Reunion Weekend June 9-12 where we will meet old friends and explore all the new things popping up on campus.
 
Carpe Diem!
Diane Chido ’06 
In March, we honored Women's History Month and National Criminal Justice Month with an alumni panel on the topic of Women in Criminal Justice. Thank you to our panelists Eliza Kisiel '18, Allessandra Gaiotti '18, Brittany Warren '20, Bev Sellers '89, and Kristie Lyon '00. The panel was moderated by Dr. Adam Sealer.

Additional thank you's go to...

Alumni speakers for our students in the Accounting Association: Kristen Melan '96, Allison Paine '16, and Brenda Rohm '06.

Business Alumni and Student Networking Night alumni volunteers: Jim Brody '10
Ryan Carroll '17, Evan Christenson '14, Jeffrey Hultgren '10, Pierre Priestley '81, Bernie Ramirez '18, Jaasiel Rivera '12, Brenda Rohm '06, Terrie Sackett '85, Eric Steinmetz '12 and Rebecca Voulgarakis '18.

The Young Alumni Panel volunteers who spoke to prospective students on topics from majors, to how to get along with your roommate, to how you just *knew* that Mercyhurst was the place for you: Tommy Angelicola '21, Marina Boyle '21, Lynne Gillott Markle '18, and Morgan Wangler Smith '18.

The semester was just completed by our Education Alumni Mentors who mentored current students who were completing their student teaching. Alumni mentors connect with their mentees 3-4 time throughout the semester and are valued professionals for our students to learn from!
Thank you to this semester's mentors:
Steven Alfieri ’16
Katrina Amann-Ross ’20
Brigitta Anthony ’12
Rachel Arthur ‘17
Megan Baniszewski ’14 ’16 Lauren Bruener ’09
Madison Bruno ’19 ’20
Christina Cacchione ’17
Ryan Cassidy ’07
Taylor Cavaretta ’19
Meaghan Christian ’11 ’14
Valerie Cicco ’06
Laura Drathman ’09 ’11 Claire Eichner ’20
Celeste Farison ’01
Alyssa Fiske ’14
Gina Gordon ’01
Shea Herbstritt ’10
Megan Hollern ’08
Hilary Jonczak ’07
Cathy Kane ’87
Amy Kennerknecht ’07 Kristin Kobert ’08
Hannah Kozich ’20
Tirzah Kurien ’20
Erica Lanzillo ’17 ’19
velyn Leap Cook ’02
Rachel Lewis ’15
Cole Lowe ’18
Carly Mazur ’17 ’19
Theresa Meyers ’87
Katy Miller ’01 ’05
Anne Narby ’77
Haley Quinn ’17
Beth Roebuck ’07
Sarah Palm ’06
Jane Scura ’74
Teri Sinnott ’17
Christa Smith ’99
Allie Smith-DiLisi ’20
Theresa Tonelli ‘05 ’07
Lauren Tucci ’20
John Weingart ’97
Kelsey Wilson ’16
Pamela Wruble ’06
Carla Wyrsch ’05
Kaitlin Zapolski ’17 ’19
Cindy Zelenak ’01
Women's Soccer Alumni gathered for dinner and drinks at the Roost with the current players and coaches!
Field Hockey Alumni played in the annual alumni game - and WON - against the current team, followed by a brunch gathering in the Waterford Room in Ryan Hall.
Ryan Palm '07 visited the Roost to speak to some of our student leaders! A part of his message was a great reminder to our students of how special their Mercyhurst education and experience is!
Mercyhurst University is proud to announce its second annual Mercyhurst University Athletics Golf Outing on Tuesday, May 24, 2022 at the Whispering Woods Golf Club in Erie, PA. Mercyhurst is proud to have over 750 student athletes competing in 25 varsity sports at the Division I and II levels, and support from this outing will assist with travel, equipment, apparel, and much more. 
Save the date for Homecoming Weekend 2022: Sept. 30-Oct. 2.

What to look forward to:
  • Your favorite traditions like the Alumni Tailgate
  • A new event prior to the Men's hockey game against Ohio State
  • 50th Anniversary Celebration of the Hospitality Management Department
  • 30th Anniversary of Intelligence Studies at Mercyhurst
  • Registration opens early July
Connect with Lakers near and far!



Alumni Chapters are available all over the country and are continuing to gather and form. Take a look at the full list to the right for an Alumni Chapter in your area.
We need YOUR help with the Alumni Chapters - interested in volunteering as a Chapter representative? Please email Lindsay Frank '12.

Each Chapter will have a few alumni who will serve as the Chapter representatives!
Mercyhurst University will honor the accomplishments of its Class of 2022 this weekend.

The traditional commencement will celebrate 652 students, among them 548 baccalaureate degree recipients and 104 associate degree candidates. The ceremony takes place at 1 p.m. in the Erie Insurance Arena on Sunday, May 15.

Meanwhile, the evening of Friday, May 13, will see 213 master’s degree candidates graduate at the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center at 7 p.m.

Read the full story and view the list of Graduation Awards here.

Congratulations to the Class of 2022, we are proud to welcome them as ALUMNI!
To submit a Class Note, please visit mercyhurst.edu/alumni/class-notes to have your news featured here and in the next Mercyhurst Magazine!

Career News

Marie (Watt) Palano '01 was recently promoted to the the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Assessment for the Seneca Valley School District.

Carla (Okorn) Wyrsch '05 and Ben Vanhook '21 coauthored the article: Embracing Autism, Moving Beyond Awareness. Read the article here.


Awards and Achievements

Pamela (Scandarito) Distefano '82 has released her first in the series of children's books: Razel Dazel and the Lost Ornament. The book is Available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Births

Elyse (Lagana) Jones '08 and Al Jones '09 welcomed son Dean Philip Jones on April 7, 2022. Dean joins older brother Emerson.

Deirdre Best '14 and husband Joe Weidenboerner '11 welcomed their first baby, Jude Cillian on Sept. 29, 2021.

Alicia Rossi Carney '13 and Shaun Carney '13 welcomed a baby boy, Rory Oscar, to their family on Feb. 23, 2022. He joins older brothers Killian, 5, and Cormac, 2. The Carney's currently reside in Columbia, SC.

Sarah Herhal '10 and husband Mike Herhal '12 welcomed their third child, Charlotte Elizabeth on Dec. 30, 2021.
Alumni Deaths

Marilynn (Miller) Jewell, Ph.D. '48
Margaret (Phelan) O'Connell '51
Mary Louise (Dwyer) Kaufman '53
Alexandra (David) Peeler '60
Mary Margaret Dill Pompeo '65
Giorgina (Tomeo) Sbarro '70
Nancy (Lundstrom) Barton '72
John Sabol '73
Jay Ericson '92


Condolences

Kathleen (Zaffina) Harrold '76 and Kenneth Harrold and Donna (Zaffina) Grandinetti '79 and Nick Grandinetti '80 on the death of their daughter/niece, Ashley Harrold Hamilton.

Maureen (Milan) Carroll '68 on the death of her daughter Allison Carroll Smith.

Mary (Kirk) Barber '84 on the death of her husband Dr. Robert A. Barber.

Linda (Ravenstahl) Gruss '80 on the death of her husband Raymond Gruss '79.

Diane (Becker) Borenstein '77 on the death of her sister, Jeanette Becker Bliss.

To the family and friends of Dr. Scott Tomlinson, the former coordinator of Music Education and chair of the D'Angelo Department of Music at Mercyhurst.
In Memoriam:
Mercyhurst mourns passing of Heidi Hosey-McGurk

Heidi Hosey-McGurk, Ph.D., beloved wife, daughter, sister, and aunt, passed away at St. Vincent Hospital on Tuesday, April 12, 2022, after a brief illness. Born on October 14, 1961, Heidi was the daughter of John and Ilene Hosey of Albion. She earned her BA in English from Villa Maria College, her MA from Gannon University, and her Ph.D. in literary theory from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
 
Heidi began her career at Mercyhurst University in 1988. In her 34 years at Mercyhurst University, Heidi was an exemplary teacher and administrator. She was dedicated to the mission and to the vision of the Sisters of Mercy. Among her most important contributions was her work establishing the Office of Global Programs and Experiential Learning, where she served as dean and created the signature study-abroad program in Dungarvan, Ireland. Besides serving hundreds of students in recent years, Mercyhurst College Ireland created a deep and abiding friendship with our Irish partners.
 
Heidi loved travel, books, cooking, and sharing meals and laughter with her friends and family. She was a valued mentor to hundreds of students and an important role model and caretaker to her nieces and nephews. Most of all, Heidi was devoted to her wife, Joanne, and to their life together.

Members of the community are invited to gather for a memorial service on Monday, May 16 at 3:00 p.m. in Christ the King Chapel, followed by a reception in the Roost. Memorial contributions may be made online to Mercyhurst University to support international education, or mailed to: Office of Advancement, Mercyhurst University, 501 East 38th Street, Erie, PA 16546. Please include your intention to support this memorial for Dr. Hosey-McGurk.
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