Buck Receives Superior

Dr. Kim Oliver Makes an Immediate Impact

To say that the beginning of Dr. Oliver's time as Assistant Principal has been eventful would be an understatement. Since the beginning of July she has been on the move to prepare the school and herself for the new academic year. Indubitably, she has had some enormous shoes to fill, but she seems to be keen to the task. Aside from managing the schedule of events that happen on any given week, she's been busy updating the Emergency Response Protocols for Mercy, rallying interest in expanding the Monarch Parent's Club, and of course, most importantly - getting to know the incredible girls that attend Mercy.

Caring for these young women is where Dr. Oliver shines. Her infectious enthusiasm is palpable as she passes through the hallways and meets with Mercy girls in her second floor office. If a girl can tell her one thing they learned before they leave for home they will get a little treat from Dr. Oliver as a reward. She is building a lasting rapport with the students based on trust and mutual respect.

Mary Gibb is Commissioned as New President

On the Feast of the Assumption of Mary, Mrs. Mary Gibb was commissioned as the third president of Mercy High School. She follows Sr. Delores Hannon, RSM as the first lay president of the school. She comes from St. Edmond Catholic School in Fort Dodge, IA. Interestingly, that is the same school Sr. Delores led before coming to Mercy, as well. President Gibb was at St. Edmond's for 10 years before being hired by Mercy. President Gibb earned her Master of Science in School Counseling from Creighton University and PK-12 Principal/ Special Education Supervisor certification from Morningside College.

Director Sr. Lisa Griffith, RSM and Assistant Director Susan Smith of Mercy Education of the Americas traveled to Omaha to formally commission President Gibb. Also present were several members of Mercy High School's Board of Directors, past presidents and principals, and several members of the local Sisters of Mercy community.

Grace Swoboda Story

The Edge, an Omaha based magazine, featured senior, Grace Swoboda in a recent publication. They tell the story about Grace's family tragedy and how it spurs her to do great things in and out of the pool. Well done, Grace! READ MORE HERE!

First Day of School

Lehan earns Congressional Award

Senior, Landry Lehan earned a Congressional Award on August 9th. Congressman Mike Flood presented her bronze and silver medals. She has her eyes on the gold medal next summer which is presented in Washington D.C.

According to the organization, “The Congressional Award provides opportunities for young people to unleash their potential by achieving personal goals focused on volunteerism, character development, and fitness.” Anyone from ages 14-24 has can apply for the award by outlining their goals in the areas of volunteerism, personal development, physical fitness, and expedition/exploration. They are then granted the award for setting a course of action and then meeting the challenge.

“I am really proud of this accomplishment. It taught me how to set goals and provided an incentive to achieve them. Getting recognized by your country's government for achieving those goals is a great honor,” says Landry.

To learn more go to, https://www.congressionalaward.org/

Mercy Earns STEM Grant

Mercy High School received a $4,700 grant from the Burns and McDonnell Foundation to further their commitment to STEM curriculum. Spearheaded by Mr. Jim Mayberger, one of Mercy's Technology and Business teachers, the grant will go towards computer programs and materials. “We are excited and grateful to be granted this gift. Mercy has intelligent girls, dedicated to science and engineering. We have seen a growth in interest in the technology courses. This grant will allow them greater ability to deepen their understanding of the intersection of computer design with physical material construction,” says Mr. Mayberger.

Burns & McDonnell is a family of companies of 13,500 engineers, construction and craft professionals, architects, and more to design and build infrastructure around the world.

Cheer has 11 All-Americans

Eleven (11!) Mercy Cheerleaders have been named All-Americans! They earned this honor at the Universal Cheerleaders Association camp this summer.

“I'm extremely proud of our girls. They have really dedicated time and effort to improve over the summer and all that hard work paid off. They represent the spirit of Mercy Girls so well. I'm really looking forward to seeing how they grow as a squad this coming school year,” says cheer coach Laura Powers.

Make sure to come see them this year as they cheer on our volleyball and basketball teams.

ALUMNA HIGHLIGHT: Calla Kessler '14

Calla Kessler was commissioned by the Smithsonian Magazine to photograph Red Cloud, Nebraska highlighting author Willa Cather. Check out her work and the article.

Mercy Girls Travel to Ireland

Eleven members of the Mercy community traveled to the Young Mercy Leaders Pilgrimage in Dublin, Ireland to give them the opportunity to learn more about Catherine’s life, her commitment to her faith and justice, and their call to live similarly as women of Mercy. The conference is extremely impactful because it takes place at the Mercy International Centre, the building that Catherine had built to provide a place to educate and care for poor women and children, and eventually began the Sisters of Mercy. Being in such a sacred space brings Mother McAuley to life in a meaningful way that cannot be experienced anywhere else. To top everything off, the girls meet other Mercy students from around the world and get a better idea of the power, strength and friendship that comes from being united by Catherine and the charisms of the Sisters of Mercy as partners in the Mercy Education system.

“My time at the conference was an experience I will never forget. I feel very lucky to learn about Catherine’s leadership style and cannot wait to implement it into my own experiences throughout my life. One of my favorite opportunities was meeting girls from other countries. I learned so much about their own cultures and have made some true friends for a lifetime!” - Hailee Davis '23

Lehan Selected for Girls Nation

Senior, Landry Lehan, has been selected to attend Girls Nation in Washington D.C. next month. Recently, she attended Nebraska's Girls State where she was one of two selected to represent our state. There she will learn about how the federal government works.

Two participants are chosen from each ALA Girls State program. The girls are known as “senators.” During ALA Girls Nation in Washington, D.C., the girls participate in a mock legislature. They are responsible for submitting bills and resolutions, participating in senate sessions, and electing officials such as president and vice president.

Participants leave ALA Girls Nation with leadership lessons for life and an understanding of the fundamentals of U.S. government, along with the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of citizens. This seven-day experience has laid the foundation of thousands of bright futures in not only public service, but other careers as well. Some notable industries include government, military, law, education, and media.

ALA Girls Nation connects participants with their peers from across the country, allowing the young women a unique opportunity to spend time with others who share common interests and those who have different perspectives from their own. The girls leave Washington, D.C. with a deeper understanding of government, a renewed sense of patriotism, and an appreciation for veterans. https://www.legion-aux.org/ala-girls-nation

Mary Gibb Named New President

Mercy High School Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Mary Gibb has been ratified by the Mercy Education System of Americas Board of Directors and will serve as the school’s 3rd President effective July 1, 2023.

The Board of Directors commissioned a search committee consisting of board members, alumnae, faculty, staff, and an ex officio representative from Mercy Education to select the next president from a strong pool of applicants. “The Board was particularly drawn to Ms. Gibb’s skill set as a leader. We believe that her ability to unite a school through clear and fair communication, her vision and ideas to enhance enrollment in a competitive market, and her strong educational background rooted in a Catholic, faith-based tradition were paramount to her selection as Mercy’s next president,” says Board Chair, Nicole Hahn Jesse ‘80.

Her career started as a middle and high school science teacher for Malvern Community School District before becoming a school counselor for 19 years in Malvern, Indianola, West Des Moines, and Fort Dodge, IA. Since 2013, Mary has served as President of St. Edmond Catholic School in Fort Dodge, where she recently resigned when asked to add the role of principal to her presidency. She was able to accomplish many improvements during her tenure at St. Edmonds, such as, adding honors courses and diploma options, increasing enrollment by 50 students her first year, enhancing technology in the classrooms, and improving fundraising efforts through a multitude of events and programs.

Mary Gibb earned her Master of Science in School Counseling from Creighton University and PK-12 Principal/ Special Education Supervisor certification from Morningside College. She’s excited to return to Omaha and settle with her husband Judd, to whom she has been married for 25 years, and their daughter, Lauren, who will be a junior at Mercy next fall. They also have a son, Andrew, who is a senior at Simpson College.

In a short interview she says that “I am honored and excited to be named the next president of Mercy High School. To be at an all-girls, Catholic school, with such a strong commitment to the entire Omaha community is a delight. I thrive in settings where I am building relationships and making connections for a cause as important as Mercy’s dedication to educating young women.”

We owe a huge debt of gratitude for Sr. Delores’ leadership. She has had a hand in some sort of renovation in nearly every part of the building but more importantly she has cared for every member of the community by making sure that any girl that wanted a Mercy education was able to receive one. Her commitment to diversity and upholding the Mercy Core Values are paramount to her legacy as Mercy’s president.

Please help us welcome Mary Gibb to the Mercy Community.

The Graduating Class of 2023

Mercy High School's tag line is Faith In Her Future. This is what we mean. We have the faith that girls will come to Mercy and receive an educational experience inside and outside the classroom that will shape them into Women of Mercy. They will graduate from Mercy with a stronger sense of self to continue with their lives impacted by the five core values: Compelled by Mercy, Educational Courage, Inspired by Faith, Principled Leadership, and providing a Voice for Dignity and Respect. The graduating class of 2023 embodies these values and with the strongest voice, the faculty, staff, alumnae, and parents of these young women have the sincerest faith in their future. Congratulations to you, our newest Women of Mercy!

All-Academic Honors

Five Mercy seniors were honored with the World Herald Nebraska All-Academic Program and earned Honorable Mention Award: Hailee Davis, Lucy Euteneuer, Riya Ketelsen, Mary Kate Nussrallah, Eleanore Slavik.

Each school could nominate up to five students. Nominees had to rank No. 1 or No. 2 in their senior class, or they had to have scores of at least 32 on the ACT or at least 1450 on the SAT college entrance exams.

Honors Convocation

This year's Honors Convocation was held on May 10th and celebrated the numerous accomplishments our Mercy community achieved this academic year. 290 names were read for various achievements and roles the students played in the life of the school.

Some of the highlights included 12 endowed scholarships that have been generously funded by members of the Mercy community.

Symone Sanders VOICE Scholarship – Saniah Swait
Jane M. Keller ‘66 Math Scholarship – Kaitlyn List
Jane M. Keller ‘66 Fine Arts Scholarship – Kayla Caniglia
Richard Chadek III Scholarship – Rosa Tripp
Renae Von Tersch Art Scholarship – Emily Caniglia
Phillip S. and Louise Battaglia Franco SM ‘50 Service Award – Catherine Krause, Lauren Schmidt
Kelly Ann Taylor ‘97 Memorial Award – Mara Trautman
Kevin Dunn Memorial Theatre Scholarship – Alexandria Huss
Kevin Dunn Memorial Music Scholarship – Clara Baumker
Jane Stultz McKernan ’63 Memorial Science Scholarship – Malanna Muse, Molly Pensick
Mercy Advantage Scholarship – Mary Euteneuer, Alyssa Daniels
Abby Verkuilen Spirit of Perseverance Scholarship – Emma Jungferman, Sally McClellan

Individual departmental awards were given, along with recognition to the National Honor Society Members, Perfect Attendance, Academic Letter Award recipients, and this years Salutatorian and Valedictorian, which were awarded to Mary Kat Nussrallah and Eleanore Slavik, respectively.

Finally, all of the many scholarships the graduating class were granted from colleges and university were named. Those totaled over $12 million!

Congratulations, to all of the recipients of these honors and to the tremendous work done by the Mercy Girls this year.

For a complete list of the award winners, please click HERE.

Katie Beran & Emily Browning Qualify for Nationals

Kate Beran ’25 and Emily Browning ’25 qualified for National History Day’s national competition in College Park, MD, in June. Kate and Emily’s senior group exhibit, Alan Turing and the First Artificial Intelligence, earned the second-place ribbon in the group exhibits category at the state NHD competition today. The two Mercy sophomores were part of a fourteen-student Mercy contingent that journeyed to the competition at Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln to compete against high school students from all over the state. Kate and Emily had earlier won first place in the same category at the Douglas County NHD competition, held last month at Metropolitan Community College in south Omaha, to advance to the state competition. The top two entries at state qualify for the national competition.

Bella Earl wins Gold in Scholastic Art Awards

Congratulations to senior, Bella Earl, who won a Gold Key in photography for her piece titled, “Grabbing at Nothing.” For this honor she and Mrs. Langenfeld are invited to attend a reception at the Governor's residence. The piece will also be part of the My Life in Nebraska exhibit at the Governor's Residence this summer.

Walter Scott Jr. Scholarship Winner

Lucy Euteneuer has been named the Walter Scott, Jr. Scholarship winner for Creighton University. As a Scott Scholar, Lucy will receive full tuition, room & board, fees, and books coverage.

The Scott Scholarship is Creighton’s premier merit-based scholarship program, made possible through the generosity of the Suzanne and Walter Scott Foundation. The Scott Scholars program seeks to attract and equip future business leaders, who are entrepreneurial in spirit and strive for excellence, innovation and community impact.

Omaha History Day Success

Ellah Hoge and Elizabeth Troia won the Schwalb Center's History Day Award for the their entry, “The Golden Library” in the Senior Exhibit Group category. Their exhibit provided the historical context for the rise and fall of the famous library, The House of Wisdom in present day Baghdad. The library was constructed in the 8th century and destroyed by the Mongols in the 1258.

Ellah and Elizabeth with be honored at a lunch in late March where they will receive scholarships for their outstanding work.

Two State Runner-ups

Grace Swoboda and Sally McClellan competed in the State swimming and diving finals and both earned runner-up medals. Swoboda earned her in the 100 yard breaststroke and the 50 yard freestyle. McClellan earned hers in three meter diving.

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK

This week we celebrate Catholic Schools Week.

Our theme for the week is Mercy Education is Universal, so we are really focusing on Mercy's global connection. Each day is focused on a particular country where a Mercy school is located, and a few facts will be read about that country and/or that particular Mercy school over the morning announcements. In addition, throughout the week, we will be posting photos of a cardboard cutout of Catherine McAuley placed around Omaha, and it will be a competition for the girls to find out where the picture was taken. ("Where in Omaha is Catherine McAuley?" instead of "Where in the World is Carmen San Diego?")

Monday's country is Ireland. Students get a free dress down day in orange, white, and green: the colors of Ireland's flag. At the kickoff assembly - we play a trivia game. Then, we dance an Irish jig to the "Just Dance" Irish Meadow Dance together - student body and staff! We will hide pots of gold around the school and whoever finds them, gets to keep the candy.

Tuesday's country is Honduras. The free dress down day colors are blue and white. Students can visit the Media Center to color flags from the different countries where Mercy schools are located. Flags will be displayed, and each flag colored will earn the student their name in a drawing for a prize.

Wednesday will celebrate Jamaica. Students dress down in black, green, and yellow for free. We will play music during each passing period.

Thursday's country is Australia. Students dress down in red, white, and blue, but must bring in a donation to the Open Door Mission to participate in the dress down day. Socks, hats, gloves, underwear, etc. will be collected and donated.

Friday's focus will be on our favorite Mercy school right at 48th and Woolworth! Students dress in blue and gold (or other Mercy spirit wear) for free. Classes 1-8 will be held in the morning. Staff serve the students pancakes for lunch after 8th period. Then, students will participate in a special activity that will test their knowledge and international prowess.

Great times are sure to be had to celebrate our Catholic Mercy Schools around the world.

NATIONAL HONORS SOCIETY BLOOD DRIVE

NHS is hosting a blood drive on Saturday 1/28 with Holy Cross.

The blood banks around Omaha are still very low and could really use our help. Sign up today and save a life!

When: Saturday, 1/28 from 7 am - 12:30 pm
Where: Holy Cross School Cafeteria
How: Sign up at redcrossblood.org by searching MercyHolyCross

Dr. Kim Oliver Named New Assistant Principal

With great excitement, Dr. Kim Oliver has been named the Assistant Principal. She'll begin her post this summer. She is a member of the Class of 1998! She earned her doctorate in Education-Leadership and Transformation from Concordia University Portland. She is departing the beloved community at All Saints Catholic School. Congratulations and welcome back, Dr. Oliver!

ABRIENDO PUERTAS DONATES TO REFUGEE EMPOWERMENT CENTER

Abriendo Puertas donated nearly 75 gifts to the Refugee Empowerment Center. They raised money, bought, wrapped, and delivered the toys for refugees in the Omaha area. Check out the video to learn more.

ALL-STATE SCHOLAR ATHLETES

Congratulations to the following student-athletes for being named to the The Nebraska School Activities Association (NSAA) Fall 2022-2023 Nebraska Chiropractic Physicians Association (NCPA) Academic All-State Awards.

Molly Pensick (Golf)
Julia Batenhorst (Softball)

Clara Behounek (Softball)
Lucy Euteneuer (Volleyball)

Abby Mills (Volleyball)
Mary Kate Nussrallah (Cross Country)

Sophia Rau (Cross Country)

NSAA Awards Program recognizes students who meet the criteria for nomination by their school in the season of their activity.

FALL SPORTS RECAP

Volleyball finished the season with 18 wins. That's the most since 2007. Great start for new head coach Brittany Spekhals. Emily Lee and Abby Mills earned 1st team All-Conference and Lydia Boyce and Lucy Euteneuer were named to the Honorable Mention team.

Mercy softball tied the mark for most wins for a season with 17 wins and a trip to the District finals. That's the most wins for the program since 2001. First year head coach, Maren Angus has to be very pleased with her first campaign. Victoria Placzek and Adrienne Pruss were named to the All-State Honorable Mention Team.

The golf team had two state qualifiers, Addy Powers and Molly Pensick.

Finally, every member of the cross country team set a personal record during the district meet.

LIZETTE CABRERA WINS ARTSONIA'S ARTIST OF THE WEEK

Congratulations to freshman artist, Lizette Cabrera! Artsonia's online voting ended on Saturday and Lizette's artwork came in 1st in the 7 - 9 grade division with 691 votes! She had close to 200 more votes than the 2nd place finisher and edged out a 7th grader from Holy Cross! She will be getting a plaque from Artsonia and a gift certificate from Dick Blick

NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY INDUCTS NEW CLASS

The McAuley Chapter of the National Honor Society inducted its latest class on Tuesday, November 1st. The latest members are:

Ahok Apayo Landry Lehan
Julia Batenhorst Kaitlyn List
Clara Baumker Sydney Malesker
Clara Behounek Malanna Muse
Aislinn Bilgere Mia Norton
Alyssa Daniels Hannah Peatrowsky
Kaylee Epp Rylee Rempe
Karol Franco-Barrios Hanna Riha
Isabella Hajek-Jones Amaya Sims
Savannah Hemsley Grace Swoboda
Maren Hollinger Delani Wiedel
Emily Lee

They join the ranks of current members:

Kailey Anson, Gabrielle Brock, Hailee Davis, Sarah Day, Therese Drake, Isabella Earl, Lucy Euteneuer, Valeria Figueroa Garcia, Charlotte Hearn, Danielle Hoer, Reece Keenan, Riya Ketelsen, Abigail Mills, Mary Kate Nussrallah, Sophia Rau, Megan Riesberg, Eleanore Slavik, Grace Weber, Claire Wichita

The ceremony included short remarks by four current members of the chapter on each of the four pillars of the National Honors Society: Scholarship, Leadership, Service, and Character. The key note address was presented by alumna Erin Whiteside '07 on how her life has been impacted by those same four pillars since graduating from Mercy.

Congratulations to all the members of the National Honor Society of Mercy High School, especially our newest inductees, for your tremendous hard work and dedication to scholarship and character.

FRESHMEN UNITY DAY

On Friday, October 28th, the Class of 2026 participated in Mercy’s annual Freshmen Unity Day. The goal behind the day is to assist the acclamation of the freshmen class and build community among them. Throughout the day, the students participated in small and large group activities to promote unity. They learned about each others’ strengths and completed challenges working with students who share similar personalities and were grouped with individuals who had different personalities from their own. One activity even required them to create a “human machine” – where everyone in the group had to have an active part in the machine.

At the end of the day students exchanged bracelets that they created and the final challenge activity was to successfully complete a “human chair sit” with all of the attendees. Check out some of the photos.

Valentina Arriola Tirado Wins inSpire Scholarship

On Wednesday, October 26th, Valentina Arriola Tirado was awarded the Inspire Scholarship. It was a part of a larger ceremony put on by inSpire Celebrating Women's Leadership sponsored by Union Bank & Trust. This honor recognizes “An Omaha metro-area female high school or college student who has contributed to her community, excels in the classroom, and has great career aspirations.”

At that same lunch, Class of ‘66 Sr. Maryann Stevens, RSM received the Woman of the Year Award for her tireless dedication to the College of St. Mary’s. Read more at Omaha.com. We're so proud of each of our women of Mercy. Thank you for all that you do!

WILLEY DWYER '03 NEW VP FOR ADVANCEMENT

Anna Willey Dwyer has been named Mercy High School new Vice President of Advancement. She will begin her new role on Monday, November 7, 2022.

Willey Dwyer is an alumna of Mercy High School’s class of 2003. She is very excited about returning to Mercy. “Mercy has taught me so much. At the forefront has been service and giving back. It’s been my hope that I would have the opportunity to return and continue this school’s important work of educating young women.” She’s most excited about promoting its sense of community and hospitality. “To me, Mercy’s hallmark has been its sense of welcoming. Once a Mercy girl, always a Mercy girl. I want to make sure that this mission continues for several more generations.”

Willey Dwyer comes to Mercy with a wealth of experience helping to lead the development efforts for the Child Saving Institute. She’s been with that organization since 2016, exceeding annual fundraising objectives five years in a row. President of Mercy High School, Sister Delores Hannon, RSM believes that Willey Dwyer will be most successful at connecting with the various community members that support Mercy High. “She is a dynamo at making people feel welcome. Her joy is infectious and by the time the conversation ends you feel like you have known Anna for several years, regardless of having just met. She’s a welcomed addition to the Advancement Office at Mercy.”

Willey Dwyer is married to her husband Scott Dwyer and has two children: Rex, who is three, and Stella, who is one.

Valeria Figueroa Garcia Wins Scholarship

VALERIA FIGUEROA GARCIA WINS SCHOLARSHIP!

Valeria was one of 10 Latino Nebraska Students to win the Jesusita and Santos Courage and Fortitude Scholarship. She earned this by presenting an essay highlighting her leadership skills and how they will apply to her future plans after high school. She wants to become an elementary school teacher. She was awarded $1,000 to put towards any college of her choosing. Well done, Valeria!

Riya Ketelsen named National Merit Scholar Semi-Finalist

This fall Riya Ketelsen was honored with the distinction of National Merit Scholar Semi-Finalist. In the video below you'll see the surprise and pride from Riya, her parents, and the Mercy school community. We couldn't be prouder of the dedication and accomplishment of Riya. This make 3 National Merit Scholar Semi-Finalists in the past two years.

Congratulations to Ahok and Mary Kate!

First, congratulations to our own Ahok Apayo, who was recognized in the National African American Recognition Program. She is one of 62,000 students from across the country to earn academic honors from the College Board’sNational Recognition Programs! Ahok earned this recognition by excelling on her PSAT and AP Exams and in her classes. These National Recognition Programs grant underrepresented students with academic honors that can be included on college and scholarship applications and connects students with universities across the country, helping them stand out during the admissions process. Colleges and scholarship programs use these honors to identify students from underrepresented groups through College Board’s Student Search Service.

Congratulations, also, to Mary Kate Nussrallah, who was named a Commended Student based on her outstanding performance on the PSAT test last year. She is one of the top 50,000 students nationwide and one of only 60 Nebraska students from 36 high schools to achieve this honor.

Congratulations, Ahok and Mary Kate! We are so very proud of both of you!

Sr. Dee Leaving at the End of the School Year

On Wednesday, September 7th, Sr. Delores Hannon announced her resignation as president of Mercy High School to the Board of Directors effective June 30th, 2023. She has served as president since 2009, having served for 14 years.

Sr. Dee, as she is affectionately known to students, faculty and parents, has overseen many changes at the school. The school facilities have experienced improvements with The Hannon Center for Academic Success, heating and cooling systems, new lockers, bathrooms, a dramatic facelift to the front offices and entryway, to name a few. By the time Sr. steps down, most of the school will have gone through some sort of renovation. Mercy High School has also experienced growth in their academic reputation. “One of the things I’m most proud of is the expectation that our students will be readily prepared for college” Sr. Delores explains. “We’ve expanded our counseling and SAT/ACT preparation, while faculty and staff have increased the expectations of what our students are capable of accomplishing. I have a very strong faith that the Mercy spirit continues to thrive through our students as they serve in their respective communities.”

Sr. Delores has been an educator for more than 40 years. She grew up in North English, Iowa on a mixed livestock farm, the only child of William and Mary Hannon. She joined the Sisters of Mercy in 1969 and quickly was tapped for leadership in schools. She became a principal at St. Matthew’s Grade School in Kalispell, Montana, in 1978 followed by a short stint at Our Lady of Grace School in Edina, Minnesota, from 1981-1983. From 1983-1995 Sr. Dee was the principal at several grade schools in Iowa. She moved on to serve as the Vice President of the Sisters of Mercy in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and the President of St. Edmond Catholic School in Fort Dodge, Iowa before ultimately coming to Mercy High School in 2009.

The Board of Directors will form a search committee to begin the search process in the near
future.

Mercy Welcomes Two New Faculty

Jim Mayberger is our new business and technology teacher. He comes to us from OPS where he was a curriculum specialist.

He managed the Business Marketing and Information Technology, Family and Consumer Science, Skilled and Technical Science, and Robotics departments.

“I am excited to teach in a faith-based school. I really enjoy being in the classroom and I look forward to being part of the Mercy community.”

Jenna Saraka joins our math department. She comes to us from Omaha Central, where she taught for five years.

“I am most excited about joining a staff and community that offers strong educational opportunities and many extracurricular activities for students that are centered around faith.

I am also excited to work with students who are eager to learn in and out of the classroom!”

Two New Hires for the Advancement Team

Sammie Emsick Becker ’05 has accepted the Director of Events position at Mercy High School and began her new role on June 13, 2022.

Since graduating from Mercy, Sammie earned a bachelor in elementary education, a certificate in Catholic School leadership, and most recently, a Master of Science in educational leadership. Outside classroom teaching, she has served as the athletic director for St. James for the past three years where, in conjunction with supervising all things athletics, annually planned the “Spring Fling” fundraiser where dollars raised went straight to the athletic program. Her most recent “Spring Fling” event set a record for money raised for St. James. She further has event planning experience by way of her time at Dundee Bank, where she was the community involvement coordinator and worked closely with various Omaha businesses to promote and grow relationships with key stakeholders of the bank via special events.

She’s married to Tyler Becker and has two boys Ty (12) and Drew (10).
Welcome back to Mercy Sammie!

Brian Altenhofen began his new position as Director of Marketing and Communications on July 5th.

He comes to Mercy with a wealth of knowledge having earned a doctorate degree in communication and technology studies from Texas A&M University and teaching at Truman State University for the past five years. He also served as the Director of the Truman Leadership Scholars, mentoring and programming leadership experiences for Truman Scholars. Prior to his academic career he spent five years as a Jesuit Scholastic.

He is married to Michaela Cullan Altenhofen who will return to Mary Our Queen Catholic School teaching 3rd grade. They have four children Dylan (16), Lily (9), Dominic (7), and Clara (3).

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