RSVP by 1 p.m. Saturday for the Laker Parent/Grandparent Beach Bash
 

Contact Karen by 1 p.m. tomorrow at kgroshek@mpslakers.com for this FREE event and get your beachwear together!
 
Beach Bash includes:

You must be 21 or older to attend.  

You must be present to win the MPS basket valued over $1,200!
Download the Flyer

A Message from Campus Ministry

Dear Laker Parents,

Greetings from the chaplain’s office! Welcome to what promises to be a great year at Mercyhurst Prep!
 
Mrs. Tatar and I would like to warmly welcome all of our new families to the MPS community, and we are very excited to welcome back our returning families. Please know that our doors are open to your sons and daughters, but we also very much enjoy meeting you. We strive hard to be present and available, and to foster Christian discipleship as we journey through this world and toward the world to come. But we are pleased, as well, to minister to students and families who are not of the Christian community. Never hesitate to contact us if we can be of service.

The Campus Ministry calendar is already filling up. Freshmen, juniors, and seniors will have their retreat days in September and October. The sophomores have their class Mass on November 9 at the Mercy Motherhouse. Daily Mass is being offered at MPS at 7:45 a.m., and confessions are available at any time upon request. Senior Extraordinary Ministers of Communion will be commissioned at our Spirit of Mercy Mass on September 22, and on December 8-10, our popular MPS Girls Weekend will be held at Hope House. Look forward to an invitation to a festive Family Mass & Adoration night during Advent in our Lady of Mercy chapel.

Please consider two special events:
1. MPS is joining nearly 25,000 others in traveling to Indianapolis for the National Catholic Youth Conference on November 16-19. The cost is $300 (covering hotel, breakfasts, bus transportation, and tee-shirt). A number of MPS students are already registered, and the deadline for your son or daughter to have forms and money to Mrs. Tatar is September 15. We’d love to have a large Laker contingent. Contact me or Mrs. Tatar for more information. Download the flyer

2. The Erie Diocesan Youth Board is sponsoring the 2^nd annual Family Fest on October 15 at the Bayfront Convention Center. I attended last year and it was a wonderful event! I’ll be there again this year and I really encourage you and your family to participate. The cost is $10 per person or $40 for the entire family. Download the flyer

Finally, please know that Mrs. Tatar and I pray for your sons and daughters – often by name; for them to be the young Christians that you hope them to be, it takes all of us uniting in prayer and love. Please join us in prayer. And please pray for Mrs. Tatar and me!

God bless you,
Fr. Steve

Meet Our New Faculty Members

Dr. Marcia K. Farrell, Librarian/Research Scholar
Marcia brings much to the table with her faceted experience as a published author of books, articles and reviews, her numerous presentations as a keynote speaker, her teaching involvement, academic service, professional appointments, awards, grant writing and community service.

She holds a Ph.D. in English from the University of Tulsa, an MA in English with Distinction from Gannon University and a BA in English, Magna Cum Laude from Mercyhurst University.

At the University of Tulsa, Marcia has worked as a research assistant, a teaching assistant, a book review editor and a post-doctoral fellow.  From 2006 to 2012, she was an assistant professor, and from 2012-2017, an associate professor at Wilkes University.


Ryan Malone, Social Studies
As a resident of Hermitage, PA, Ryan’s most recent experience was at Kennedy Catholic High School beginning in 2014, teaching social studies in grades 9-12.  Beforehand, he was an iPad instructor at Carpe Diem Academy in Erie. 

He earned a BA in history with a minor in religious studies in 2013 and a master’s the following year in secondary education, pedagogy and practice, both from Mercyhurst University.

Ryan also worked as an assistant athletic director, a Model United Nations Club advisor and an assistant goalkeeping coach for boys soccer.  At MPS, he will also be the moderator of speech and debate club.


David W. Mitchell, Performing Arts
Upon graduating MPS in 1987, David had been extremely active in Erie Theatre for years, having performed at The Erie Playhouse, and having acted and directed at The Roadhouse Theatre for Contemporary Art, and Director's Circle Theatre.

He was the director of The Erie School District's and City of Erie's Footlights Theatre Program for Erie Youth ages 5-18 for 20 years, and has continued on with the program for the last eight years as Administrative Director and Technical Director.

In 2004, he founded All An Act Theatre with business partner Larry Lewis, and is now moving into his 14^th season, serving as co-owner, artistic director, director and performer. All An Act Theatre, donates $1 of every ticket to Community Shelter Services, which houses the theatre. To date, they have raised over $42,000 for Erie's homeless while providing quality theatre at an affordable price to the Erie Community.

David has also worked full-time as the box office/group sales manager at The Station Dinner Theatre since 2003, where he occasionally writes, directs, and performs as well.

For the past two years he has been the director of the winter play here at Mercyhurst Prep, and he is thrilled to rejoin the MPS community as a member of the faculty.


Mary Beth Whitford, Mathematics
A move from West Virginia has brought Mary Beth to Mercyhurst Prep.  She holds a dual degree from West Virginia Wesleyan College in mathematics and secondary mathematics education as well as a Master’s in mathematics.

She worked as a graduate research assistant at WVU for two years and then taught 6^th grade math at Eastern Greenbrier Middle School in Ronceverte, WV.  Mary Beth’s most recent experience was teaching math to high school students in Braxton County High School in Sutton, WV.

She has tutored high school and college students and also observed a South Korean school system.

THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO NOMINATE

We are now accepting nominations for Distinguished Alumni Awards.  Please take a moment to submit one or more nominations for noteworthy alumni.  It’s really easy, and anyone in the MPS family can submit names. Go to mpslakers.com/alumni-awards.   All nominations will be considered by our Alumni Board of Governors, and all awardees will be honored at our 2018 Laker Legends Scholarship Gala on February 3.

THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS SEPTEMBER 15, 2017.

Below are the MPS Alumni Association Awards and Criteria:

Distinguished Alumni Awards:
Career Award or Service Award
The nominees should be individuals who have achieved a high level of success in their careers or service and, at the same time, have been generous in support of Mercyhurst Preparatory School and community and/or have rendered exceptional volunteer service to the school, their workplace, or the community.
 
President’s Award
The nominees for this award, chosen by the Alumni Association President, should be individuals who have exhibited longtime dedication and unfailing support to Mercyhurst Preparatory School, its faculty, and its students.
 
Mercy Award
The nominees should be individuals who have demonstrated exemplary commitment to the Mercyhurst Preparatory School mission “to prepare students from all religious and ethnic backgrounds for a successful, productive, and compassionate life in an ever-changing and interdependent world.”
 
Young Alumni Award
The nominees should be individuals who exhibit leadership in their personal, professional, or volunteer accomplishments and also in their involvement with Mercyhurst Preparatory School. Alumni from the classes of 1998-2008 are eligible for the award.