Students Assist Mercer Garden Club in Community

Through the coordinating efforts of Mrs. Peggy Lengauer, a group of Mercer students worked collaboratively with the Mercer Garden Club to plan flowers throughout the Mercer community. The gardening project took place on Thursday, May 19th.

Pictured from left to right: Britney Edwards, Haylie Glass, Rachel Bish, Jacob Weaver, Jordan Boitnott, Alex Denny, Miranda Wimer, Erica Peters, Liz Ludwig, Rachael Gilkey

Two Mercer Students Recognized as "Top of the Shop"

Two Mercer seniors have been named by the Mercer County Career Center as Top of the Shop winners for the 2015-2016 school year.

Allie Cameron has been recognized for her work with the Cosmetology program.

Brandon Anderson has been recognized for his work with the Precision Production Metals program.

Congratulations to these students for exemplifying the five core principles (STRIVE) of the Mercer County Career Center: Safety, Teamwork, Respect, Inspiration, Vision, and Effort.

Two Mercer Track & Field Members Heading to State Tournament

Members of the Mercer Track & Field Program will be heading to Shippensburg University to compete in the PIAA State Track & Field Tournament this weekend.

Congratulations to the following students who will be heading to the PIAA State Track & Field Tournament:

Bryanna Fedorchak - Javelin

Megan Parker - Shotput and Discus

Speech Team Heading to CFL Nationals

Ten members of the Mercer Speech Team will be heading to Sacramento, California this week to compete in the Catholic Forensic League National Tournament. These speakers qualified for the national tournament with strong performances at the Erie National Qualifier on March 5, 2016.

The following students will be competing:

Prose and Poetry Interpretation - Evan Daugherty and Sarah Turton

Duo Interpretation- team of Ryan Hamilton and Maddie Rowe

Declamation- Matthew Hoge and Jocelyn Brown

Humorous Interpretation- Andrew Brinker

Original Oratory- Rachel Bish

Extemporaneous- Mary Hogue and Rose Gigliotti

Best of luck to these accomplished Mercer speakers!

Good Luck to Students During Finals Week

There are only eight school days until the conclusion of the 2015-16 school year.

The week of May 23rd marks the beginning of finals week for students in grades 7-12.

We would like to wish the best of luck to all students with their final exams and final projects.

Mercer Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame Inducts Two New Members

On Wednesday, May 18th Mercer High School hosted its annual Academic Awards Banquet at 6:00 p.m. in the High School Cafeteria. The evening included a dinner as well as a student awards ceremony, where students received recognition for various accolades during the 2015-16 school year. Below is a photograph taken of all award recipients who were in attendance for the Academic Awards Banquet.

 

The evening also included the formal induction of the 17th class to the Mercer High School Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame. There were two members inducted into the Hall of Fame. Below is a brief description of their accomplishments.


S. Mark Courtney (Class of 1974)

Highly active is the best descriptor of both the Mercer High School life and post-secondary career of S. Mark Courtney, graduate of 1974. A heavily involved participant in a myriad of academic and athletic student organizations, Mark was renowned for his strong work ethic. Upon graduation, Mark earned his Bachelor’s Degree at Alderson-Broaddus College in Philippi, WV, earning a Medical Science degree in the Physician’s Assistant program in 1978. Mark went on to earn an additional Bachelor’s Degree in Health Science at Slippery Rock State College in 1980. Mark then worked as a Physician’s Assistant for Family Healthcare Partners, Grove City, PA, from 1981 until 2014. During that time, Mark also provided his medical services to the State Correctional Facility in Mercer and various local nursing homes.

In 1979, Mark started a sole proprietorship, Runner’s High, a road race timing service. This company began by providing timing services to organizations within the Mercer County region. A family enterprise, Runner’s High developed a machine to prepare computer chips for running events. The business continued to grow and in 2000, Runner’s High became the first timer in Pennsylvania to time runners with computer chips on their shoes. By 2010, the company was providing services to over 350 races per year, sometimes 10 races at time. These encoded shoe chips, which are prepped in Grove City, PA, have been shipped to places across the world like Puerto Rico and Indonesia. Some of the most notable races that have used the services of Runner’s High include the Pittsburgh Great Race, Pittsburgh Marathon, Air Force Marathon, Baltimore Marathon, Boston Marathon, and the Gate River Run.

An avid runner, Mark has not missed a single day of running since December 19, 1979 (13,000+ days), which currently ranks him 33^rd on the United States streaker list of consecutive running days. He has competed in the Boston Marathon for 36 consecutive years, which currently ranks him as 18^th on the active streaker list. In 2006 Mark won the 50-59 age group of the Boston Marathon with a time of 2:46:44. Overall, Mark has completed 160 marathons with a personal record of 2:28:48 in the Chicago Marathon of 1990. As of 2016, Mark has a lifetime mileage of 98,000 miles and has competed in more than 1,800 races

Kelly Jones (left) represented his late mother, Anna Belle Jones; Inductee S. Mark Courtney (right)

 

 

Anna Belle (Kelso) Jones (Class of 1941) (Award accepted on her behalf by son, Kelly Jones)

Anna Belle (Kelso) Jones graduated valedictorian of the Mercer High School class of 1941. She furthered her education at Grove City College and graduated as an honor student in 1945. After college, Anna Belle worked as a court stenographer before becoming the legal secretary at Stranahan/Sampson Law Firm. At the encouragement of these attorneys, especially James A. Stranahan Jr., she trained to become an attorney under the old “clerkship” process and passed the Pennsylvania bar exam in 1965 without the benefit of law school. Anna Belle Jones became the first woman admitted to full-time practice of law in Mercer County when she was sworn-in on November 12, 1965. She practiced with the Stranahan & Stranahan firm until 1979, when she and her niece, Mary Anne McConnell incorporated a law firm, Jones-McConnell, P.C. It was there that she practiced until July 2008, when her health suddenly declined.

In addition to an outstanding law career, Anna Belle served as a public servant to the Mercer community. She and her family were active members of the Coolspring Grange and the Mercer United Methodist Church. In her adult years, she served on the boards of United Way, Children’s Aid Society, and the Regional Jail Prison Chapel. She was President of the Brandy Springs Park, Inc. for over 30 years, during which time she spearheaded fundraising for construction of an additional pool, and both sought and received land donations to enlarge the park.

Anna Belle and her husband, William North Jones, had one son, James K. (Kelly) Jones, who graduated from Mercer High School in 1971. She was also the proud grandmother of two grandchildren. Anna Belle (Kelso) Jones passed on October 31, 2013.

 

Congratulations to these inductees for receiving this honor!

Mercer Softball Heads To Opening Round of District 10 Playoffs

The Mercer Softball Team will travel to Harbor Creek to play in the opening round of the District 10 Playoffs on Saturday, May 21st.

The game is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.

Co-Region 1 Champions -- Mercer Baseball Team

The Mercer Baseball Team has claimed Region 1 Co-Champion status for the 2016 season.

The team received a 'bye' in the first round of the District 10 Class A Playoffs.

The Mustangs will play in the District 10 Class A Semifinals on Memorial Day at a site to be determined.

Art Show and Equus Premier- TONIGHT

Running alongside the Academic Awards Banquet will be the Equus Premier and Spring Art Show. These events will take place this evening from 7:30 - 9:00 p.m. in the High School Library. There is no cost to attend the art show.

Please consider stopping in to see the works of Mercer Middle and High School students. Many of these pieces have received notoriety for their excellence.

Sophomore Jessica Cameron Honored at Congressional Art Exhibit

Earlier this month is was announced that Mercer sophomore Jessica Cameron won 2nd place honors in the U.S. Representative Mike Kelly Congressional Art Competition. Jessica was honored at a ceremony on Saturday, May 14th at Slippery Rock University. Here are some pictures of the event:

Congratulations to Jessica for this outstanding accomplishment!

Mrs. Christy Honored by Pennsylvania VFW as Teacher of the Year

On May 6th it was announced that Mrs. Michalee Christy, chorus teacher at Mercer Middle-High School, was selected by the Department of Pennsylvania Veterans of Foreign Wars as Teacher of the Year. The Pennsylvania VFW selects only three teachers each year across the commonwealth to be recognized with this honor. Mrs. Christy was nominated by VFW Post 6345.

Congratulations to Mrs. Christy for receiving this honor!

Academic Awards Banquet -- Wednesday, May 18th

Mercer Area Middle-High School will be hosting an Academic Awards Banquet on Wednesday, May 18th. Students will be recognized for their achievements during the 2015-2016 school year. A dinner will be held prior to the awards ceremony.

In addition, the Mercer Area Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame will be inducting two new members with the Class of 2016. S. Mark Courtney (class of 1974) and Anna Belle (Kelso) Jones (class of 1941) will be inducted. Check back later this week for a complete bio for each of the incoming Hall of Fame members.

The Academic Awards Banquet will begin at 6:00 p.m. and it will be held in the Mercer High School Cafeteria.

Mercer Middle-High School Students Participating in "Lip Dub"

The students of Mercer Middle-High School will be participating in a "Lip Dub" event on Tuesday, May 17th. These challenges have taken place for the past few years in high schools across the country. The student body lip-synchs through a selected song as the cameraman travels through a designated path throughout the school. While completing the Lip Dub, the various student clubs and organizations add their own extra flair while the cameraman works towards their section.

The students of Mercer Middle-High School will be performing their Lip Dub to the song "We Are Family" by Sister Sledge. The video will be posted on YouTube in the next few days.

Athletic Events Week of May 16th

The following Mercer athletic events will take place during the week of May 16th:

Monday:
Baseball vs. Kennedy Catholic @ Brandy Springs Park (4:00 p.m.)
Softball @ Franklin (4:15 p.m.)

Tuesday:
Softball vs. Wilmington @ Brandy Springs Park (4:15 p.m.)

Wednesday:
Baseball vs. Lakeview @ Brandy Springs Park (4:00 p.m.)

Thursday:
Softball vs. Jamestown @ Brandy Springs Park (4:15 p.m.)

Friday:
Softball @ West Middlesex (8:00 p.m.)

Saturday:
Varsity Track & Field @ District 10 Championships @ Spire Institute (10:00 a.m.)

School Board Meeting -- TONIGHT

The Mercer Area School Board will meet tonight at 8:00 p.m. in the Mercer Area High School Library.

NJHS Induction Ceremony Held Tuesday, May 10th

The National Junior Honor Society inducted its new members on Tuesday, May 10th. The ceremony took place at 2:30 p.m. in the Mercer Middle-High School Library.

Student inductees have demonstrated high character with a dedication to service and academics. The following students (who are pictured in the front) were inducted into the National Junior Honor Society:
Cayla Caruso
Bailey Grossman
Peyton Miller
Merrick Morneweck
Lillian Roman
Taylor Truran

These new inductees joined the existing members of National Junior Honor Society, who are pictured in the back row:
Jenna Blaus
Ella Garner
Darby Miller
Isaiah Phillips
Adrienne Schupp
Emalee Hosteler
Carly Stabile

Athletic Events Week of May 9th

The following Mercer athletic events will take place during the week of May 9th:

Monday:
MS Track & Field @ Wilmington Relays (3:00 p.m.)
Baseball @ Jamestown (4:00 p.m.)

Tuesday:
Track & Field vs. Farrell, Kennedy, Sharpsville @ Mercer High School (4:00 p.m.)
MS Baseball @ Lakeview (4:00 p.m.)
Softball vs. Sharpsville @ Brandy Springs Park (4:15 p.m.)

Wednesday:
None

Thursday:
Track & Field @ Mercer County Meet @ Slippery Rock High School (3:30 p.m.)
Baseball vs. Cambridge Springs @ Brandy Springs Park (4:00 p.m.)
MS Baseball @ Kennedy Catholic (4:00 p.m.)
Softball @ Franklin (4:00 p.m.)

Friday:
None

Saturday:
JV Baseball @ Greenville vs. Greenville & Hickory (1:00 p.m.)

Sophomore Jessica Cameron Wins 2nd Place At Congressional Art Competition

Mercer sophomore Jessica Cameron took 2nd place honors for the U.S. Representative Mike Kelly Congressional Art Competition. Below is a picture of her artwork entitled "City Block".

As a result of being selected in the Top Three, Jessica's artwork will be displayed in Representative Mike Kelly's Washington D.C. office!

Congratulations to Jessica for receiving this amazing honor!

Mr. Michael Piddington Wins Principal of the Year Award

Mercer Middle-High School Principal Michael Piddington has been named as the winner of the Pennsylvania Music Educator's Association District 5 Principal of the Year Award. Mr. Piddington will receive this award during the Spring Band Concert on Thursday, May 5th by the President of PMEA District 5, Mr. Les Fine.

Congratulations to Mr. Piddington for receiving this honor!

Two Mercer Teachers Selected for HOPE Award -- May 2016

Ms. Stephanie Martin and Mr. Doug Schmid have been selected as the winner of the HOPE (Honoring Outstanding Professional Educators) Award for the month of May.

Students of Mercer Middle-High School have the opportunity to nominate any teacher, coach, advisor, or staff member that has positively impacted their lives.

Mercer junior Alex VanWoert nominated Mr. Schmid with the following nomination:

"The word professional takes on a new meaning for Mr. Schmid. He takes his career choice seriously, devoting himself to teaching students willing to learn. I had Mr. Schmid as a teacher and a coach. A foundation was built for my ability to perform mathematics and working with others as a team to achieve a common goal. Mr. Schmid takes the time to better every student that walks through the threshold of his classroom, not just me. There are some teachers that most students, myself included, will quickly forget about to struggle to remember their name, but I can confidently say that no one will forget how Mr. Schmid has made an impact on their lives. Another student and I have agreed that he has made learning easier and more enjoyable. I have classmates that do not appreciate him now. I know as well as Mr. Schmid does, that they will understand one day and realize that he helped shape who they are today and who they will be tomorrow in a positive way."

Mercer senior Ryan Hamilton nominated Ms. Martin with the following nomination:

"Miss Martin is undoubtedly one of the best educators and mentors that I have had throughout my life. Even as a new teacher, she commanded respect while bringing a new sense of vibrancy to the art room. She has such an expansive knowledge of art and truly brings her students to a new level in their artwork. Under her instruction students are challenged to bring their best to the table. I have been inspired by her dedication to her craft, and I hope that I can one day be as integral in the workplace as she is in the art room. Her future as an educator is a bright one here at Mercer High School."

Congratulations to Mr. Schmid and Ms. Martin and thank you for all of the work that you do for the students at Mercer Middle-High School.

PRIDE Award Winners -- May 2016

The PRIDE Award is something unique to Mercer Middle-High School. There are many different awards and recognitions that students may receive during the course of the school year. The PRIDE Award is a complementary component to the Student of the Month.

To receive the PRIDE Award, a student is nominated by one of their peers in the middle school or high school. To receive the Student of the Month recognition, the student is nominated by a teacher or administrator.

Every student in the building has the chance to anonymously nominate a fellow student. If a person is selected as a winner of the PRIDE Award, they will not know who nominated them. This helps promote the idea that character counts, not only to the teachers, but to peers as well.

We have two winners of the PRIDE Award that we would like to recognize for the month of May:

Luke Hartwell (11th Grade)

Elizabeth Ludwig (11th Grade)

We would like to say thank you to these winners for being positive student leaders!

Photographs From Top 10 Dinner

Each year the Top Ten Seniors are honored with a special evening to the Iron Bridge Inn. These students have the opportunity to invite a current teacher, former teacher, advisor, coach, ect. who has had a positive impact on their lives.

Here are some of the pictures that were taken from the Top Ten Dinner held on Monday, May 2nd:

Jeremiah Robertson and Mr. Bill Chess

Sean Strain and Mr. Justin Gadsby

Jordyn Buchanan and Dr. Travis Weller

Kyle Wamboldt and Ms. Merrilynn Giles

Rebecca Simcik and Ms. Stephanie Martin

Noah Minarik and Mrs. Jill McCracken

Mark Peters and Mr. Derek Myers

Derrick Thompson and Mr. Luke Rust

Janalyn Miklas and Mrs. Danielle Stemen

Ryan Hamilton and Mrs. Nicole Walzer

Students of the Month -- May 2016

Each month the staff members at Mercer Middle-High School have the opportunity to submit the names of individuals that represent the following qualities to the highest degree: Honor, Excellence, Respect, and Determination. The following students have been selected to receive the Student of the Month Award for the month of May:
Alex Tomson (8th grade)
Leah Fuge (11th grade)
Taylor Truran (7th grade)
Megan Reed (9th grade)
Ashley Eiler (8th grade)
Matthew Lontz (10th grade)

Congratulations to these students for being such positive student leaders!

Athletic Events Week of May 2nd

The following Mercer athletic events will take place during the week of May 2nd:

Monday:
Baseball @ West Middlesex (4:00 p.m.)
Softball @ Sharon (4:15 p.m.)

Tuesday:
Middle School Baseball vs. Hickory @ Brandy Springs Park (4:00 p.m.)

Wednesday:
Baseball vs. Rocky Grove @ Brandy Springs Park (4:00 p.m.)

Thursday:
Middle School Track & Field @ Mercer County Meet @ Greenville HS (2:00 p.m.)
Middle School Baseball @ Sharpsville (4:00 p.m.)
Softball vs. Titusville @ Brandy Springs Park (4:15 p.m.)

Friday:
Varsity Track & Field @ Pine Richland Invitational (2:00 p.m.)
Baseball vs. Wilmington @ Brandy Springs Park (4:00 p.m.)

Saturday:
JV Baseball @ Sharpsville; Doubleheader vs. Sharpsville & Lakeview (11:00 a.m.)

In-Service Day -- Friday, May 6th

The Mercer Area School District will be operating as an In-Service Day on Friday, May 6th.

There will be No School for students that day.

Prom/Grand March To Be Held Friday, May 13th

The Mercer Area School District will be hosting the Junior-Senior Prom on Friday, May 13th. The prom will be held at Tiffany's Banquet Center in Brookfield, OH from 6:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. Registration for prom attendees has already taken place and no tickets will be sold at the door.

 

The Mercer Middle-High School Student Council will be holding the annual Grand March in the Mercer High School Auditorium from 4:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. This is an opportunity for all prom couples to be on showcase for the community to meet and take pictures.

The master of ceremonies will be Mr. Hugh Ringer. The Grand March is open to the public at no cost. Pictures may be taken in the auditorium or in the Mercer High School Gymnasium following the Grand March.

Spring Band Concert To Be Held Thursday, May 5th

The Spring Band Concert will be held in the Mercer High School Auditorium on Thursday, May 5th. Student band members from grades 7-12 will be on performance for the community.

The program will begin at 7:30 p.m. There is no cost for the event. Please consider attending to show your support for our students in the Band program.

The theme for the concert is "Distant Lands and The Hometown Bands" with the emphasis on folk music from around the world, music by foreign composers, and music that takes the listener to a different place and time.