Wednesday, July 12, 2023

HIGHLIGHT

Leaders and Members Elected to Board of Trustees and Alumnae Association Board

Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School is proud to announce that Melva Exner, Esq '77 P'11 has been elected as the newest Chair of the Board of Trustees. Melva opened her own firm, Law Office of Melva M. Exner, LLC, following a long career in various in-house legal roles. She served on the GMAHS Advisory Board from 1998 to 2001, the Alumnae Association Board since 1985, and has been the President and Vice President of the Alumnae Board. Melva received the Margaret Beirn Barger ’35 Distinguished Alumna Award in 2017 for her service to the school. She became a member of the Board of Trustees in 2022.

Two alumnae join Melva on the Board of Trustees this year. Bethanne Mascio Connolly '03 has been on the Alumnae Board since 2006 and served as President from 2018-2020. She is also a Mercy Associate and Director of Enrollment Management at Gwynedd-Mercy Academy Elementary. Alicia Jones, D.O. '87 has been on the Alumnae Board since 2021 and also sits on the Leadership Advisory Board. Dr. Jones owns a consulting firm, Vitus Consulting, LLC, which focuses on access to health care through the utilization of innovative technology for all people, regardless of their economic status.

The GMAHS Alumnae Association Board also elected its new President, Andrea Geppert '05. Andrea served as President from 2015-2017 and has been an active member of the Scholarship Committee, raising funds for the Alumnae Association's Legacy Scholarship through Quizzo events and fundraisers.

The Alumnae Board added two new members, welcoming Terri Mazzotta Hynes '88 P'19, '22 and Katie Redmond Oberlies '07. Terri is a Mercy Associate and works as a second grade teacher at Gwynedd-Mercy Academy Elementary. Katie is a a Member of the 1861 Society and works as a Senior Buyer at Burlington Stores.

Congratulations to the alumnae elected to these important roles! And thank you to our former Board of Trustees Chair Kathy Kirk Bellwoar '81 and former Alumnae Association Board President Anna Skoien Lall '02 for their years of hard work and dedication to our alma mater.

UPCOMING EVENTS

August 4, 2023, 6:30PM

Gwynedd at the Shore

Gather with members of the GMA community for cocktails and appetizers for our annual beach-side event at the Icona Avalon. Guests must be 21+.

Register

September 23, 2023, 9AM

CK5K Run, 1M Walk, Kids' Fun Run

Join the GMA community for the 15th Annual CK5K. All proceeds will benefit the Carolyn Keen ’10 Memorial Scholarship.

Registration opening soon.

October 2, 2023

Gwynedd Golf and Tennis Classic

Sign up to play in the 32nd Annual Golf Classic at North Hills Country Club at 11AM. The Inaugural Tennis Classic will be held at Cedarbrook Country Club at 9AM.

Registration opening soon.

October 20, 2023, 11AM

Circle of Mercy Luncheon

Alumnae who graduated from the Academy 50 or more years ago are invited to this special luncheon, now welcoming the Class of 1973 in honor of their 50-Year Reunion.

Registration coming in August.

October 21, 2023, 3-7PM

All-Class Reunion 

Come back to campus to reflect on your Mercy roots, to honor remarkable Mercy women who are making a difference in the world, and to catch up with old friends over cocktails and heavy hors d’oeuvres.

Registration coming in August.

SUMMER WITH GWYNEDD

Join GMA at the Beach

Gather with the Gwynedd community for a fun, relaxing evening down the shore on Friday, August 4 from
6:30-8:30PM. The cocktail reception will be held on the veranda next to the pool. Tickets are $50 each, which includes appetizers and one drink coupon. Please register by July 21.

*This is a 21 years and older event.

GWYNEDD FORCE

Work at GMAHS!

Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School and Gwynedd Mercy Academy Elementary are in search of a part-time Human Resource Specialist to fulfill various human resources responsibilities at both schools. GMAHS is seeking a full-time faculty member to join the Science Department to teach Biology and Physics, beginning in the 2023-2024 academic year. The Athletics Department is also hiring an Assistant Track Coach (hurdles, pole vault experience preferred).

We Still Need 14 Mentors!

The Gwynedd Force Mentorship Program is looking for Alumnae Mentors! The program, sponsored by the Alumnae Association in partnership with Gwynedd's Leadership Department, will pair students with alumnae mentors to connect with them throughout the school year.

Alumnae Mentors are asked to meet with their student mentees, virtually or in person, four times throughout the 2023-24 academic year. No matter what career stage you are in, all Gwynedd Mercy alumnae have valuable advice and experience to share with our current students as they embark on the college application process and their future careers.

Questions? Email Engagement Coordinator Caitlin Fitzgerald Straub '01 at cstraub@8782325.com.

Looking for a Babysitter or Babysitting Job?

Join the private Facebook group, The Babysitting Circle (of Mercy!). Gwynedd alumnae and students are welcome to become members of this exclusive group to find and offer childcare. 

SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES

Calling on Classes Ending in "7" to Make Gifts to Strawberry Market

In an effort to keep the shelves of Strawberry market consistently stocked, the Alumnae Association asks for donations from the members of the class years ending in the number that matches the current month. That means during July, we are looking for donations from the classes ending in 7. Please consider supporting this special alumnae-sponsored initiative in one or more of the following ways:

• Purchase items directly from the Strawberry Mansion Pantry Target Wish List and automatically ship to Alison McGrorty-Crotts, M.D., M.P.H. '04.
• Drop items off in a bin located inside Gwynedd's front door.
• Purchase a Target gift card and send it to strawberrymarketsmhc@gmail.com.
• Send money via Venmo to @Ali-McCrotts.
• Make a check out to Alison McGrorty-Crotts and mail to GMAHS.

CLASS NOTES

Submit Your Class Notes!

Did you have a baby? Celebrate a personal or professional milestone? Receive a degree or award? Get married? Fill out the form linked below to notify us!

And if you are preparing to get married or have a baby—let us know! We'd love to send you a GMA flag for your reception or a GMA bib for your little one. And be sure to snap photos, tag @gmahighschool on Instagram, and submit them with the Class Notes form.

Alumna Honored for Success in Law

Susan Dinneen, Esq. '97, co-founder of Strauss Massey Dinneen LLC, was recently recognized for her work defending insurance companies against fraud, extra-contractual and bad faith claims, catastrophe claims, and coverage disputes. This year, she has been named a 2023 Super Lawyer, a 2023 Biz New Orleans Woman to Watch, and a 2023 New Orleans Magazine Woman of Influence. Last year, she was selected to be part of New Orleans City Business' 2022 Leadership in Law Class. Congratulations, Susan!

Classmates Gather in Avalon

The Class of 1973 kicked off their 50th Reunion celebrations in Avalon, NJ at the home of Leslie Lagan Toolan '73!

Front row (left to right): Maria Wackerman Durkin '73, Patti Blust Morris '73, Bobbi Stokes '73 

Back row (left to right): Sherry Luff Shaw '73, Lori Stokes Powers '73, Rosemary Gates Ferrero '73, Leslie Lagan Toolan '73, JaneAnn Galbally Sheehan '73, Kate Flannery '73

Gwynedd Girls Graduate Together

Catie Catalino '19 and Grace Cassady ’19 both graduated from Drexel University this past June. Grace completed her degree in Television and Film Production and Catie completed her degree in Business Administration, Management Information Systems, and Technology Innovation Management. Congratulations, graduates!

Former GMA Athlete Competes in Ironman

Maura Ryan Pearsall '06 was invited to the 2023 Ironman World Championships, which will take place on August 26th in Lahti, Finland!

After a stellar athletic career at GMA, Maura went on to become a two-sport athlete at Penn State (soccer and track & field). Since becoming a mother just over two years ago, she felt that something was missing—the thrill that comes with competing.

So, she signed up for the 70.3 Ironman at PSU. After training for just three months and with little to no triathlon experience, she crushed her goal time of six hours and finished in an impressive 5:41. She was first in her age group in the running portion and fourth female overall out of 580 competitors!

Maura's family is currently raising money for her trip to the World Championships in Finland. 

TODAY AT GMA

GMA Sends Two Employees to Leadership Lab

Two GMA staff members recently attended the Gardner Carney Leadership Institute (gcLi) Leadership Lab in Colorado Springs, CO! Director of Leadership Initiatives Jennifer Cervone Guarnaccia '93 (first photo, far left), who completed her training in 2021, attended the institute as a scholar and trainer. Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice Anita Roberson (second photo, far left) competed the lab's training to become certified in teaching leadership. We are excited for these exceptional educators to bring their knowledge and expertise to benefit our students, faculty, and staff. Together, GMA is dedicated to perfecting the art of teaching leadership.

Students Enjoy Soccer Camp

Rising 6-9th graders joined the GMA coaching staff for Summer Soccer Sessions in June. They had the opportunity to play on the Monarchs’ turf, practice and improve their skills, and make new friends.

Gwynedd Girls Take Service Trip 

A group of Gwynedd Girls, along with Mrs. Mitchell and Mrs. Ryder, traveled to St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands. The service trip, in partnership with Catholic HEART Workcamp, allowed students to take part in a week of service and faith formation. They worked with and supported the locals, met students from other schools in the US, went to Mass on the beach, and explored the Caribbean.

Campers Work On Basketball Skills

Basketball Camp at Gwynedd has come to a close! Our gym and the red and gold corridors were bustling with girls in grades 5-9 while they worked with our coaches and student-athletes to grow their skills and practice team building, all while making new friends. 

STAY IN TOUCH

Please send any personal or professional updates, questions about how to get involved with GMA, or other inquiries to the Director of Alumnae Engagement Erin Reimel Clements '12 at ereimel@8782325.com.

© 2023 Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School

1345 Sumneytown Pike  |  Lower Gwynedd, PA 19002

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