Mercy Women Around the World

Mary Bartman ’77

Creating Her Own “Rome Adventure” for 40+ Years

It’s actually not too surprising that Middletown native Mary Bartman ’77 has chosen to live in Rome, Italy, for the past 40+ years. For one thing, she grew up spending lots of time with her maternal grandmother, who was an Italian immigrant. For another, she loved languages and took four years of Latin at Mercy (one of only three girls in Latin IV). “The Latin really helped me,” she said. “If you have a good Latin background you have the foundation for so many other languages.” She is now fluent in Italian and can “fudge” her way through French and Spanish, as well, she said. And lastly, she double-majored in Greek and Classical Near Eastern Archaeology at Wellesley College and spent her junior-year spring semester in Rome—as well as one additional summer during college. Her “Rome Adventure?” Era destinato ad essere! (It was meant to be!) “I fell in love with Italy when I studied here in college,” Mary said. “After graduating from Wellesley, I decided to take a job as an RA at the school I had attended when I was abroad. I never thought I was moving there for good.” But the more time she spent in Italy, the more she found to love —and so she has stayed in Rome ever since. With her father and siblings still in CT, she has always come home each May for an extended visit: “We have a lot of family birthdays at that time, so that was always when I arranged to be home,” she said. “But the pandemic interrupted all that, and I hadn’t been home in 18 months— so I came home this past Christmas. It was my first Christmas in Connecticut in 15 years.” She remains devoted to her nieces and nephews and is grateful that her brother, Richard Bartman X ’78, and sister Betsy Bartman Feery ’79 live close to her father, Reed Bartman, who is 94 and still living in Middletown. “I am lucky that my siblings live nearby and can help with my dad,” she said, adding that he is still quite independent. Mary lives in an apartment outside the North Gate of Rome, not far from the soccer stadium that was built as part of the 1960 Olympic Village. She doesn’t own a car, but doesn’t need one: Her office is in the heart of the city, right above the Spanish Steps, and public transportation is easily accessible. She and her longtime boyfriend get away when they can to their timeshare on the island of Elba, off the West Coast of Italy.

Since 2009, she has worked as the General Secretary at the Fondazione Merck Serono, a not-for-profit organization sponsored by the Merck Serono Pharmaceutical company. “The Foundation has a tiny staff of 3-4 people, so we all do everything,” she said.

England Italy

“We all wear many hats. You really get to see the whole picture of the operation. I work better that way.” Previously, Mary had worked for nearly 30 years at Serono Pharmaceutical Company, which was later bought out by the German Merck Corporation, known as EMS in the United States. (It is the for-profit sponsor of the Serono Foundation.) She advanced through a series of administrative support roles, including personal assistant to the Corporate Executive Vice President of the company, before switching over to the non-profit Foundation about 14 years ago. This Fall, Mary will begin a new chapter of her life—still in Italy, but no longer working at Serono. “I’m ready for retirement,” she said. She looks forward to more leisurely days and to perhaps helping her partner with the operation of his retail shop, which specializes in fine leather goods and high-end stationery and writing accoutrements, such as Mont Blanc pens. Although she has lost touch with most of her Mercy friends, she welcomes visitors—in the mid-1980s, Sister Eleanor Farren met up with her for an afternoon in Rome—and would love to hear from classmates (maryvbartman@icloud.com): “The last person I saw from our class was Patricia Daly Banning ’77, when I ran into her at Mallove’s in Middletown when I was home at one point!” Even after living abroad for four decades, Mary has retained her American citizenship and has not become an Italian citizen. “Rome, Italy is my home, and as much as I love everything about Italy, I am always happy to be an American,” Mary concluded. “I feel lucky to be an American.”

I Remember… •Gym uniforms; “Chicken Fat”; switching around our entire class schedule on April Fool’s Day one year. •Sister Eleanor Farren—her bark was much worse than her bite! She was a lovely person.

Nicole Cizauskas ’18

How a Mercy Neuroscience Class Led to Research, Statistics, Data Analytics and Machine Learning—All to Better This World

After having earned an undergraduate degree in Neuroscience at University of St Andrews in Scotland, Nicole Cizauskas ’18 is now beginning work on a Masters in Health Data Analytics and Machine Learning at Imperial College in London. It is an intensive one-year full-time program that builds a solid background in analyzing health data, with extensive project-based learning using real data sets and addressing real scientific questions through module-specific projects and individual research. Upon graduation, students will have acquired the strong methodological background needed to perform in-depth analysis of medical and epidemiological high throughput datasets. For Nicole, the curriculum and structure is a natural progression, building on her St Andrews degree and research initiatives along the way. Her decision to attend St Andrews for her undergraduate degree had various roots. Her mother and that side of the family lives in Ireland, so she has long felt a connection to the British Isles. St Andrews stood out because of its “historic, yet quaint atmosphere—imagine going to class in castle-like lecture halls that predate your home country,” she enthusiastically recalled.

She applied to St Andrews—one of the top-ranked schools in the U.K.—without seeing the campus, but quickly fell in love with the town upon arrival. People there call it “the bubble,” for a lot of reasons— but mostly because “the student presence in the town can be felt everywhere you go.” She likewise fell in love with the traditions of the country, from Ceilidh dancing to protected forests to pride in products made in Scotland.

Academically, Nicole thrived. Her dissertation topic, which looked at serotonin neuron electrical sub-groups in certain brain regions, was a journey of ground-breaking discovery. As she explains it: “My project focused on grouping serotonin, a neurotransmitter found prominently in the central nervous system, by identifying synchrony sub-groups. My data was from the dorsal raphe nucleus, which is a brain region just above the spinal cord, since it has the highest concentration of serotonin neurons in the brain… I found evidence for two groups (synchronous and asynchronous) at a statistically significant level. … the visualizations showed precise negative correlation—leading to my conclusion that the data analysis toolkits I used were not flexible enough to properly analyze this type of data.” The findings led her to propose “future studies that use meta-analysis combinations of samples to gain a more robust sample size and automated programming tools with machine learning. …The main reason why serotonin synchrony groups are important is because learning more about how serotonin signaling works could help understand normal behavior as well as serotonin-related clinical disorders, like treatment-resistant depression.” In addition to her studies, Nicole worked with the University Enhancement Theme Team, first through an internship, and then as a team member. Their focus was “resilient learning environments,” and her role was to perform research on the student opinion and experience during online, hybrid, and transitional learning environments. Her responsibilities included 1) Designing the research, which included brainstorming, presenting ideas, receiving feedback, reviewing research literature, and generating data collection methods, 2) Conducting the research, which included distributing information about the research and managing feedback, 3) Data analysis, which included performing statistical tests on the collected data to determine results, and 4) Making use of the research, condensing the data into understandable and presentable material to share with various units within the University. Nicole enjoyed doing the research, knowing the results will have an impact on the community and improve student life. Among the findings: lecture recording is “massively beneficial” to students— especially students with disabilities—and will be retained for future semesters, post-pandemic. Her studies at St Andrews also permitted time for her to participate in frequent beach clean-ups in her town, alongside other St Andrews students. Nicole, whose brother attended Xavier, offers that “imposter syndrome is real, especially for women in STEM.” She says that women need to know that “you can learn anything—whether it’s programming, statistics, or research design. I was not good at any of these things when I first started learning, and it took me a long time of trial and error to get where I am now.” She says that the practical skills can be learned in a classroom, but the most important skill was one that she “had to gain by experience—compromise. Every step of the way, from designing the research, presenting ethics applications, analysis, presentation— I need to compromise on my initial perception of how the project would look. Finding the balance between standing my ground on what I want a project to be about and incorporating the criticism of my peers is absolutely necessary.” Looking back from the vantage point of today, she marvels at her progress. “If you told me in my first statistics class that I would eventually be doing research as a job and a data science degree for my Masters, I would have fainted. It’s normal to struggle with these things, but the important part is that you keep trying—ask silly questions, re-read things over and over again, keep learning even if it is a struggle.” Nicole points out that beyond the academic experience at Mercy, there were ancillary benefits that were just as meaningful, and continue to be. “I learned how to accept criticism without letting it dampen my confidence—I used this every day at my job when I needed to present research proposals and get feedback on them. I don’t let criticism of my work affect how I see myself or my colleagues. Instead, I try to appreciate it and use it as a chance to improve my work quality.” Not surprisingly, she is a passionate advocate for what Mercy offers. “Mercy creates a positive environment where girls can ask questions and learn without being afraid,” Nicole explains. “It’s a place where girls can feel empowered by their education and focus on self-improvement without distraction.” She adds that what she learned about life while at Mercy continues to resonate, a perspective she is happy to share with today’s students, particularly those approaching graduation. “Life is full of challenges, and the most important thing you can do is keep trying. You are going to get bad grades at some point, or mess up a job interview—these things happen to everyone. One bad grade won’t ruin your life, and one failed interview isn’t the end of the world. The best thing you can do is turn it into a learning experience and keep trying. It’s easier said than done, but it’s an important lesson to learn.” I Remember…

•The science teachers I had at Mercy. They encouraged me to stick with science, even when I wasn’t always the best at it. •The sheep brain dissection we did in Ms. Iannuci’s

Neuroscience class. The brains smelled so bad, but I totally fell in love with neuroscience that day.

St. Thomas

Nicole Peoples Fagan ’92

Mercy Girls: Always There—Even from Afar

If you’re ever unsure about what it means to be part of the Mercy family, just ask Nicole Peoples Fagan ’92—a resident of the Virgin Islands since 2006—what happened when she turned to her Mercy sisters for help back in 2017. That year, the Caribbean had been badly battered by two hurricanes—Irma and Maria— that hit in quick succession in September. They devastated the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, destroying the power grid, leveling hospitals and other key municipal buildings, and leaving thousands homeless—including Nikki Fagan and her family, who live on the island of St. Thomas. Nikki and her two small children were able to evacuate to her mother’s house in Niantic, while her husband remained behind, ferrying relief supplies by boat to the islands. The destruction was mind-boggling—yet as life began to resume on the islands, Nikki knew she had to get back to her job as a first-grade teacher at the Antilles School, where she has worked since 2006. But she felt she could not return empty-handed, so she reached out to Mercy for help—and Mercy responded. Boy, did Mercy respond! In late September 2017, Laura Miller Cozean DDS ’81—who owns a dental practice with offices in Madison and Middletown— hosted a “Sip ’n Social” at Mercy to support Caribbean hurricane relief, and specifically, Nikki’s church community and neighbors. Nikki spoke at the event and was blown away by the supportive response from alumnae who attended as well as those who heard about it from Mercy’s Facebook page. She returned to St. Thomas with cash donations plus cases of toothbrushes and toothpaste, donated by Dr. Miller, and cartons of additional supplies contributed by other alumnae. “It was amazing,” Nikki said. “We filled the pews of our church with all the supplies we brought back!” And although she was humbled by the generosity, Nikki said she was not really all that surprised: “That’s Mercy! Everyone there is always willing to lend a hand.”

Having grown up in East Hampton as the only child of parents she described as “fairly protective,” Nikki says she could not have predicted that she’d leave for Syracuse University and never live in Connecticut again. “When I went to college, it really opened my eyes to the world; I met all kinds of people from all different places,” she said. “Once I spread my wings, there was no looking back!” After earning her undergraduate degree in Child and Family Studies at Syracuse, she moved to California, where she earned a Master’s in Elementary Education from Pepperdine University and worked as an elementary school teacher. She and a friend then decided to move to Naples, FL, where she taught fifth grade for one year. During a vacation in the Virgin Islands to visit her friend’s new boyfriend, Nikki met Cobia Fagan, a buddy of that boyfriend. Her friend’s relationship didn’t work out—but Nikki’s did! She married Cobia, who owns a credit card processing company, and set-

tled on St. Thomas, one of three islands that make up the Virgin Islands. They have a son, Coby, who is 12, and a daughter, Paige, who is five. The children attend Antilles School where Nikki teaches. Nikki remains in touch with two of her closest friends from Mercy— Catherine Ewing Greaves ’92 and Marie Mayhew Belcourt ’91—and social media helps to keep her updated about others. (For instance, through Facebook she knows that Suzanne Darrow-Magras, PhD ’90 also lives on St. Thomas, but they have not yet connected in person.) Each Summer, Nikki returns to Connecticut to visit her parents and other family members. During one of those visits, she brought her kids to Middletown to see her high school. “At Mercy, I never pictured myself living on a tiny little island,” she concluded with a laugh. Yet as the Mercy family has shown her, the (paraphrased) words of the poet John Donne are certainly true: No man (or woman)—even one living on a tiny island 1,700 miles from her childhood home—is ever really alone. I Remember…

•Walk-A-Thon; Senior trip to Washington, D.C.; getting to drive our own cars to school Junior year. •Mrs. Montemerlo, who taught me geometry. This was the first math class I ever loved and excelled in. Mrs. Montemerlo was such a fun and positive teacher. I also loved my history teacher, Mrs. Wallack. She had such a larger-than-life personality and glasses to match every outfit. She was an amazing teacher and a wealth of knowledge.

Maura Fitzpatrick ’15

Fulfilling Her Dream in the World of Professional Basketball

Maura Fitzpatrick ’15“always knew” she would be a professional basketball player. With her sights set on achieving that goal, Mercy High School came through and earned an all-important assist. “I was a kid focused on basketball since the 8th grade,” Maura recalls. “Mercy certainly helped prepare me for college basketball.” She also had encouragement—in sports and academically—at home in Cheshire amidst a family of five siblings: her older brother Brian and twin brother Kevin both attended Xavier, graduating in 2008 and 2015 respectively. Brian played basketball in college and then went pro. Maura’s take-away: “If he can do it, I can!” Her college years were spent at Marist College, where she earned a degree in Psychology, graduating in 2019. She earned a place on the Marist Red Foxes basketball squad, playing mostly at forward although listed as a guard, and earning Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Defensive Player of the Year honors along the way. Her senior year of competition ended mid-season with a torn ACL. After rehab from the injury she came back strong, competing across the European map. Her first professional stop, after graduation, was for a team in Bamberg, Germany, followed by a team in Sweden, and then England, as a member of the Gloucester City Queens.

England Germany

Maura was playing professionally in England this past season when she had an opportunity to play with the Irish National Team in November at the 2023 Eurobasket Qualifiers, which she described as a “huge honor” made possible by her dual citizenship (her grandparents are from Ireland). It is an international competition that includes 38 nations vying for 14 places in the next edition of Europe's flagship rivalry. In the midst of the competition, she tore the ACL on her other knee, which abruptly ended her season. Of her play at Gloucester, the team’s head coach said “It was clear to see just how important Maura has been for us, our star player, our leader and talisman. It's my belief by season’s end that she would have been in the running for MVP of the league.” Mercy was a key step in her journey downcourt to pro ball. As a member of the basketball team and the track team at Mercy, Maura got a taste of success—and a first-hand understanding of what it takes to compete at a high level and win. While a student at Mercy, she was a member of a State Champion basketball team (2013) and a State Champion track team (2015)—Mercy’s first-ever, as she set a school record, tied another, and anchored the relay; her team’s achievements in both sports are vividly recalled even now. Her advice to students has its roots in those years. She urges, succinctly, “work hard—do it.” Not a student who would be likely to ask for help—even when it was needed—Maura appreciated that Coach Kohs and Mrs. Sullivan would provide aid, nonetheless. Their support and guidance were quietly appreciated, then and now. Maura’s warm recollections of Mercy are plentiful, especially when asked why a girl should consider attending Mercy today. “It is a very good school academically, people are nice and welcoming, small so that you feel a sense of community and family. There’s no drama, small class size, and everyone gets along. It’s very easy to hang out and become friends with students of different interests.” Beyond fulfilling her enduring dream to play professional basketball, Maura shares a multitude of benefits of this first phase of her post-college career. They include being away from home and able to travel, meeting people from other countries, living in team-provided housing with teammates, and being paid for “what you love to do!” At one juncture, she lived in a house with four teammates— natives of England, Spain, and Canada—and enjoyed every minute. Much of her time is devoted to basketball practice, conditioning, traveling to and from games, viewing film of upcoming opponents and an array of related activities. The practice regimen at Mercy, it turns out, was excellent preparation not only for her college basketball years, but the years since. In her free time while playing pro ball in Europe, she has enjoyed time at local cafés, area restaurants and hanging out with teammates, winding down briefly before revving up again. As for what’s next, Maura says there’s “plenty of time” to think about her “adult” job, but it may be in the corporate world. Pursuing an advanced degree in education, nursing or coaching are also possibilities. That chapter is still to be written, with abundant choices available to her, drawing on the dedication and determination that she has demonstrated at every juncture—evident at Mercy and ever since. I Remember… •Our State Basketball championship! My focus was on basketball and those are the best memories—morning practice, conditioning in the Fall—we had to run for 1 hour straight! •I was on the Track Team and loved winning the State

Championship in that sport, too.

Margaret Way Forde ’80

Mercy Through the Eyes of an Exchange Student

More than 40 years before it was common for international students to enroll at U.S. schools, Mercy High School was welcoming students from other countries—students like Margaret Way Forde ’80 from New Zealand. Marg Forde (known at the time as Maggy Way) attended Mercy from January 1979 to January 1980 through the Rotary Youth Exchange program. “I was told I was the first full-year international exchange student ever to attend Mercy,” she recalled. “There were other international students before me, but they stayed for shorter periods.” The idea of traveling nearly 10,000 miles across the world as a high school junior was not only not scary for Marg—she explains that it was almost expected. “Kiwis have a culture which, probably because we are a small country at the bottom of the world, is inherently outward-looking and world aware,” she said. “Bravery didn’t come into it,” she added. “I was just given an opportunity and I took it. It’s just what you do.” During her year at Mercy, Marg lived with three different Middletown families: The Cabelus family from January–June 1979; Theron and Marcel Malcher from June–September 1979; and Bob and Elaine Bishel from September 1979–January 1980. She loved and benefited greatly from each of those experiences, but she was particularly attached to the Cabeluses—a busy household with seven children. The father was a State Trooper and the mom worked at Lyman Orchards, Marg recalled, and they were a proud Mercy-Xavier family.

“I was unequivocally part of their family; they were amazing to me,” she said tearfully, adding that her bond with Laura Cabelus Valeriano ’80 was strengthened by the fact that Laura had herself just returned from a year abroad in Auckland, New Zealand. (Other “Mercy girls” in the Cabelus family were Barbara Cabelus ’73 and Susan Cabelus Strickland ’78; two younger sisters attended other schools.) Marg became a “Mercy girl” through and through during her year here, embracing both the academic and extracurricular sides of school life. “The choice of subjects available at Mercy was something I relished and was quite a contrast to my experience in New Zealand (lots more subject choice in NZ now),” she said. “I enjoyed U.S. History; I chose an arts class that was conducted in a very well-resourced art room.”

“But the cherry on the top was Mr. Ferrigno’s Creative Writing class,” she continued. “It was a dream come true (that I didn’t know until then that I’d had!) to be able to just write and write. I had always enjoyed writing, but he gave me confidence in myself to do so—and this changed the course of my life. Thank you, Mercy, for providing such a high standard of education.” She also played Field Hockey for Mercy. “In NZ literally everyone plays sport regularly all through their school years,” she said. “So I was pretty relieved to make the field hockey squad and to be able to play regularly and competitively. Great bunch of girls!” Because of the difference in school years between New Zealand and the United States. Marg had to return home in January of senior year. “I was sad to leave without graduating,” she said, “but the girls all signed a yearbook and sent it to me.” Inspired by Mr. Ferrigno’s belief in her abilities, Marg earned a journalism degree from the Auckland Technical Institute and worked in newspapers for five years. Since then, she has been a freelancer, mostly on agricultural topics.

She and her husband, Edsel Forde, work in the sheep and wool industry—he is a champion sheep shearer and she is a “wool classer,” which means she assesses and classifies fleece according to various criteria before it is sold.

They live on a small farm on the North Island of New Zealand with their two sons, Rory (27) and Paddy (25), and two dogs. They are also very active in their church. In 1987, Marg came back to Connecticut for a visit—and to introduce her then-fiancee to her second family, the Cabeluses. Marg recalls that when she applied to the Rotary, she asked to be sent to a co-ed, non-English-speaking school in a rural setting. Instead, she was placed at Mercy. “In hindsight, God put me there for a reason,” she said, “and it shaped who I am now. Shout out to the young women of Mercy who stepped outside their norm and went beyond being welcoming to a visitor and actually took the time to know me and include me in their lives, as a friend. Their humanity still shines in my memory.” I Remember … •New friends. Though I will invariably miss some (apologies in advance), I’m going to mention a few Class of ’80 friends—

Deb Schilke, Katie Butler, Rhoda Cerritelli, Laura Cabelus,

Robin Webster, Lori Ann DeMelis, Suzanne Doolittle, and

Aurora Wrang (RIP). I am in touch with many Mercy friends, but there are others with whom I’d love to reconnect— especially Katie Butler. Feel free to contact me at e.m.forde@xtra.co.nz. •Washington, D.C. trip. The places we visited (LOVED the

Smithsonian), the history, the bus trip, the meals—but most of all, the time with friends.

New Zealand

Susan M. Kumnick ’71

Inspired by Mercy to Transform the World Through Education

Susan Kumnick ’71 can trace the beginning of her 45-year career as an educator in Colombia, South America, to a Christmas lunch in Westchester, NY in 1974—and to the fact that she really hates cold weather!

“It was a ‘God wink’ moment,” said Susan. “I was having lunch with two girls who’d graduated a year before me (from Marymount College in Tarrytown) and had come back for a visit. They were asking who might be interested in a job in their school—they were working at Colegio Marymount in Barranquilla, Colombia. “They told me about the wonderful people, the joy of working in an all-girls’ school, and the amazing weather in Barranquilla, where the temperature is about 80-90 degrees all year,” she continued. “At that point I was student teaching in Larchmont and Mamaroneck and I was freezing and miserable—so I decided to apply there for a job after graduation!”

Susan signed a one-year contract to teach at Marymount Barranquilla, beginning in September 1975; little did she know that her career there would span more than four decades and culminate with her serving as “School Director,” which is equivalent to the role of President here at Mercy High School. Marymount Barranquilla is a private, Catholic, trilingual (Spanish, English, French), co-ed school with about 1,000 students age 3–18. With a population of about 2 million, Barranquilla is Colombia’s fourth-largest city, and it is located in the northern part of the country near the Caribbean Sea. All of Marymount’s graduates attend universities in Colombia, the USA, and Europe. As a first-year teacher who spoke no Spanish, Susan embraced the “sink or swim” philosophy, immersing herself in the South American school’s community and tutoring students who spoke no English. “Actually, we tutored each other,” she said with a laugh. “It took me two years to become fluent. Now I can also read French (from my years at Mercy), and I’m starting to learn Portuguese.”

Susan fell in love with everything about the school, the Colombian people, and her life in Barranquilla. Although she missed her family back in the States, her parents would visit her in Colombia every February, and she in turn would visit them in Fort Pierce, FL, where they had retired and where she had purchased an apartment of her own.

She taught English, math, and religion, but she was also heavily engaged in the school’s music programs—appropriately so, since her undergraduate degree was in Music Education (she later earned a Master’s in education from the University of Alabama in 1981).

“During my first 20 years, I was responsible for the choir, the Christmas show … music in every form,” she said. “My guitar was my constant companion.” In the mid-1980s, Susan was promoted to Assistant Director of the school, and then School Director in 2009, a position she held until her retirement in 2018. As the de facto Head of School, she led Marymount Barranquilla through significant growth and transition, including a major expansion from the original city campus to a sprawling new location near the water, as well as its evolution from a girls’ school to a co-ed institution. After retiring as School Director, Susan remained in Colombia as a volunteer in Marymount Barranquilla’s “free school,” which enables several hundred economically disadvantaged girls and young women to attend a tuition-free school linked to the original Colegio. In April 2022, with a heart that was both heavy and also bursting with joyful memories, Susan moved back to FL for good—to begin the next chapter of her career and her life. “I am so grateful for the life I had in Colombia,” she said. But she is also very excited about her new role as Coordinator of the Global Network of the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary (RSHM) Schools —the first layperson to hold this position. The Order runs 20 schools around the world, including Marymount Barranquilla and three in the United States. She will travel abroad often, but Florida will be her home base. “I believe in the education of women,” she said. “All-girls’ high schools and colleges help to develop perseverance, self-esteem, and confidence; they give girls the opportunity to pursue things that they would not have done otherwise. “For sure, the personal, academic, and spiritual formation received during my years at Mercy High School greatly contributed to this happy moment in my life and inspire me to continue to strive for the transformation of our world through education,” she concluded.

I Remember…

•Participating in annual Mercy-Xavier musicals and leading the singing for Masses in the auditorium. •Sister Roberta's love of music and her ability to bring students from different classes together in joyful harmony was an inspiration to me. Sister Patricia Cook's religion classes and after-school campus ministry sessions were formative experiences that helped me grow in leadership, faith, and service to others.

Kendra Landy ’15

Mercy Inspired a Leader, On Court and Off the Court

It may be a dream job, but that doesn’t diminish the amount of hard work, day in and day out, that is required to succeed. “My job is purely basketball—I get paid to play. So, the responsibilities I have are truly to the basketball club to be the best player I can be mentally and physically,”Kendra Landy ’15 explains. “The majority of my time is spent at workouts and traveling to games.” Kendra plays with a pro team in Germany, ASC Mainz Basketball Club. Her initial plan to arrive in Germany was delayed a year due to COVID which led to canceled games across the league. Thankfully, games returned a year later, and she was on the court at point guard in the popular professional league. Her team is in a German league with 13 teams, in the South Division. There are some key differences between the U.S. and European rules, such as a 24-second shot clock vs. a 30-second clock, and how offense and defense are played. German teams are permitted a maximum of two non-Europeans (usually Americans or Canadians), thus most of her teammates are from Germany or Bulgaria.

Colombia

A typical day includes going to the gym in the morning to lift weights, coaching a youth team most days, and then practice and reviewing game film at night. Weekends are all about games and traveling to games, played every Saturday during the season. Her team finished in the middle of the pack last year, and she’s confident their best days are ahead.

Kendra chose to play in Germany for a number of reasons—among them the experience of extending her basketball career, and English language is quite prevalent in Germany. She particularly enjoys the German culture, and the life experience of living and working in another nation. “It is a beautiful country, with cool little villages throughout,” she observes. She chose to go back to Mainz for a second season because of excellent club management and “I love the girls on the team. I made such great friends last year and I was so lucky for that.” While in Germany, she has skillfully coached an all-girls youth under-18 team. She’s loved it—as have members of the team. Along the way, Kendra has helped them with English, as many of the youth hope to attend college in the USA and play basketball. Her under-18 team, it must be noted, ended this past season undefeated. The fourth in her family to attend Mercy or Xavier, she followed her sister Sheena Landy ’13, brother Tucker Landy ’10 and her mom, Teresa Opalacz. Kendra knew Mercy was the right place for her right away, and it was at Mercy that the foundation for her future was built.

“I owe a ton to the Mercy community for preparing me for college and beyond—and not only in athletics,” Kendra says without hesitation. “Mercy shaped me both academically and also as a leader. With the help of so many faculty members and friends, I was able to figure out not only what I was good at but what I enjoyed. I was taught I had the capacity to strive for what I want in life. I didn't encounter cliques—there was no judging anyone—and that has carried over in my life.” “Mercy is about more than a textbook education,” Kendra points out. “Mercy brought me out of my shell and gave me an environment where I could truly be myself without judgment. I left high school being much more educated, confident, and mature.” Kendra is no stranger to hard work. A student council leader at Mercy, she was involved in multiple clubs and activities, beyond her commitment to sports. Upon graduating from Mercy, she attended Fairfield University, graduating in 2019 with a Bachelor of Science, majoring in finance and taking all the additional pre-med coursework. Next, she earned a Master of Science in Finance at Fairfield. She had a fifth year of college basketball eligibility because of a torn ACL injury. She worked her way back from that injury, and upon finishing her fifth year, felt she was not yet done with basketball after a stand-out career for the Fairfield Stags. Cited for her “great vision” and being an “excellent on the ball defender,” she earned numerous awards, recognition as a tri-captain, and outstanding career numbers in multiple categories. “So happy Kendra decided to extend her sports career by playing in Germany,” commented her mom, Teresa. “Her final season ended with the start of the pandemic, so she felt like she had ‘unfinished business.’”

“Having picked Mainz, a beautiful little town, made us feel more comfortable with her safety and our first visit confirmed our inclinations. Her coaches truly treat her like their daughter, and we went out with her teammates which helped us appreciate the culture and gave us an added sense of security that she had met some ‘lifelong friends.’ We couldn’t have asked for a better life experience for Kendra.” There may be additional graduate school ahead, possibly in the medical field, when her playing days are done—although not quite yet. Whatever future decisions are made, they will likely be made in consultation with family and an array of Mercy connections. An enduring by-product of her Mercy years is a “friend group for life,” Kendra explains. “I am still in constant communication with them and despite all living in different cities and parts of the world, we manage to get together almost every single time we are home.”

I Remember… •Mercy had so many faculty members that went above and beyond to teach me in the classroom and outside.

Coach Kohs and Coach Harley really brought out the best in me athletically, and helped me be the best player and person

I could be.

•The basketball State Championship won by Mercy in 2013.

Coach Kohs is still is a go-to person for me to this day. •Outside of athletics, Mrs. Sullivan helped me the most to become the leader that I was in high school and beyond.

She had confidence in us and was so supportive of us doing what we were passionate about.