News

Register for Open House!

Experience all that Mercy McAuley has to offer at our Open House on Sunday, October 29, from 1 - 3:30 p.m.! Take a tour, meet our students, leaders, teachers, coaches, parents, board members, and staff, and enjoy refreshments and giveaways! Registration is strongly encouraged so that we can personalize your tour as much as possible. Register HERE.

Congratulations, Harvest Home Fair Winners!

Congratulations to the following Mercy McAuley students and teachers who entered artwork and/or took home awards for their pieces in the Harvest Home Fair!

Youth Hobby - 3D

  • Mackenzie Arens - 1st Place
  • EJ Burke - Honorable Mention & 2nd Place
  • Gauri Thoduvayilnelliot - 3rd Place
  • Grace Koenig - 2nd Place

Photo

  • Bella Meyer - Honorable Mention (4)
  • Grace Koenig - 3rd Place
  • Elise Overstake - Honorable Mention (2), 2nd Place, 3rd Place
  • Jaylen Haas - Honorable Mention (2), 1st Place
  • Rachel Vineyard - 1st Place, Best in Show

Adult Photo

  • Debbie Brodbeck - Honorable Mention (2), 1st Place

Miscellaneous

  • Ayla Thompson - Honorable Mention
  • Alex Fischer - 3rd Place

2D Original Artwork

  • Hayley Cook
  • Alexandra Jovicic
  • Bennita Quaye - Best of Show
  • Rachel Vineyard - Honorable Mention
  • Maddie Burkhart - Honorable Mention
  • Elizabeth Ramirez
  • Grace Koenig - 1st Place
  • Ava Keller
  • Elise Overstake
  • Mackenzie Arens - Honorable Mention
  • Piper Frame
  • Emily Makumbi - Honorable Mention
  • Alayna Holley
  • Alex Fischer - Honorable Mention
  • Ayla Thompson - Honorable Mention
  • Emily Makumbi

Youth Needlework

  • Alex Fischer - 3rd Place
  • Emily Makumbi - 1st Place
  • Brynn Gardner - 3rd Place
  • Alexandra Jovicic - 3rd Place

Additional

  • Lauren Birkle - Honorable Mention (2), 2nd Place
  • Natalie Scheper - 1st Place

 

Welcome, New Athletic Director Sierra Millar!

Mercy McAuley is pleased to welcome its new Athletic Director, Sierra Millar! Sierra previously served as the Athletic Director at Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart, an all-girls Catholic school in Illinois. She has also coached softball, volleyball, and track and field in previous roles. She received her bachelor's degree in communications from the University of Cincinnati and her master's degree in sports management from West Virginia University.

 “As the 2023-2024 school year and fall sports start to take shape, we start to see the beginning of what is going to be an amazing year for Mercy McAuley athletics," said Sierra. "I am very excited, and honored, to have the opportunity to lead, guide, and support our athletic programs, as well as continue the growth and development of women and girls in sports for the Cincinnati area. I cannot wait to celebrate all the successes of our teams, coaches, and student-athletes in this coming year! GO WOLVES!”

Cast and Crew of "Seussical" Win Two Cappie Awards!

Congratulations to the cast and crew of our spring musical, "Seussical" on winning two Cappie Awards for Best Costumes and Best Lead Actor in a Female Role in a Musical (Ali Lewis).

The Cappies Program strives to recognize Greater Cincinnati’s talented community of young writers, performers, and technical crews. High school theatre and journalism students who participate in the Cappies program are trained as critics, attend shows at other schools, and write and publish reviews. 

At the end of the school year, the student critics vote to give awards to their fellow students for outstanding productions, group and individual performances, and achievements in technical categories. Awards are presented at the annual Cappies Gala at the Aronoff Center.

Student Athletes Sign National Letters of Intent!

Congratulations to the following student athletes, who signed National Letters of Intent to continue their athletic careers at the collegiate level!

  • Jordan Birdsong - Volleyball - Mount St. Joseph University
  • Hannah Campbell - Bowling - Thomas More University
  • Keelin Elmer - Cross Country and Track & Field - Western Kentucky University
  • Josie Feldman - Cross Country and Track & Field - Marian University
  • Cheyanne Haake - Dance - Thomas More University
  • Izzy Rotert - Basketball - Thomas More University
  • Megan Sunderman - Diving - University of Indianapolis
  • Julia Verhoff - Cross Country and Track & Field - Northern Kentucky University
Nour Shalash named Youth of the Year by Exchange Club of Northwest Cincinnati!

Congratulations to Mercy McAuley junior Nour Shalash, who was named the Youth of the Year by the Exchange Club of Northwest Cincinnati!

The Northwest Exchange Club's Youth of the Month program recognizes the area's most outstanding youth who are high school juniors. Mercy McAuley is one of seven area high schools that participate in the program. Monthly winners are selected throughout the school year by an interview team from the Northwest Exchange Club. The selection is based on academics, leadership, school activities and community service.

At the conclusion of the school year, all the monthly winners return for the Youth of the Year Banquet.  At the banquet, each student presents an essay on a topic furnished by the National Exchange Club. Additional criteria include school activities, grades and community involvement.  At the conclusion of the banquet, a Youth of the Year is selected - and this year, the award went to Nour Shalash!

As the 2023 Youth of the Year winner, Nour was presented  with a personalized plaque and a $500 cash prize.  She will also have an opportunity to compete as a senior for additional scholarship awards at the district, state and national levels.

We are so proud of Nour! Congratulations!

Register for May 12 Golf Outing!

Join us for our annual Wolves Classic Golf Outing on May 12 at Pebble Creek Golf Course! The event includes lunch, golf, dinner and awards, and all proceeds benefit Mercy McAuley Athletics. Sponsorship opportunities are also available! For more information and to register, click HERE.

Congratulations Grace Schreyer, Winner of Congressional Art Competition!
Congratulations to senior Grace Schreyer, whose painting titled “Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder" was the overall winner of the 2023 Congressional Art Competition! An awards ceremony was recently held with Congressman Greg Landsman in attendance. Grace's winning piece will hang in the tunnels of the Capitol building in Washington, D.C.! Grace and a guest will also receive full accommodations for a 2-night stay in D.C. and will attend the winners’ luncheon!
 
Congratulations also to Adelaide Lindner, whose piece “Conspiracy of Silence” was a semifinalist in the Mixed Media Category!
Three Students Earn Perfect Score on National Latin Exam!

Congratulations to Latin students Emma Chapman, Catherine Foster, and Sydney Neyer, who earned a Perfect Score on the National Latin Exam! Less than 1% of the 100,000 students who took the National Latin Exam in all 50 states and 13 countries earned a perfect score.

As a school, Mercy McAuley had 9 Gold Medalists, 4 Silver Medalists, 12 Bronze Certificate Winners and 4 Cum Laude Award Winners. Lucy Baier and Maggie Kiefer each earned their third consecutive Gold Medal on the exam, which puts them in the running for a $10,000 scholarship next year and the Oxford Classical Dictionary Book Award!

See images below for the full list of honors. We are so proud of all our Latin students and our Latin teacher, Mrs. Rachel Kless!

"Seussical" Receives 21 Cappies Nominations!

Congratulations to the cast and crew of our spring musical, "Seussical," on 21 Cappies nominations! 

  • Up and Coming Critic (Catherine Foster) 
  • Returning Critic (Helena Hennessy) 
  • Graduating Critic (Jessica Roell) 
  • Critic Team: Mercy McAuley High School Critic Team 
  • Marketing and Publicity (Emma Chapman, Catherine Foster, Katie Frazee, Ali Lewis) 
  • Hair & Makeup (Abby Campbell, Rachel Heinz, Elaina Ward, Crew) 
  • Props (Claire Erion, Kallie Toon) 
  • Costumes (Isabella Cassaro, Adelaide Lindner, Sabrina Warren, Crew) 
  • Sets (EJ Burke, Niki Essen, Grace Schreyer, Crew) 
  • Stage Management & Stage Crew (Jessica Berwanger, Sydney Neyer, Ava Sand, Crew) 
  • Ensemble in a Musical (Bird Girls) 
  • Featured Actor in a Female Role in a Musical (Grace Koenig) 
  • Dancer in a Male Role (Elaina Ward) 
  • Comic Actor in a Female Role in a Musical (Abby Sewell) 
  • Comic Actor in a Male Role in a Musical (Olivia Duker) 
  • Supporting Actor in a Female Role in a Musical (Lydia Wright) 
  • Supporting Actor in a Male Role in a Musical (Madalyn Emery) 
  • Lead Actor in a Female Role in a Musical (Ali Lewis) 
  • Lead Actor in a Male Role in a Musical (Dora Gehrum) 
  • Song (Finale Act 2: Oh The Thinks You Can Think!) 
  • Musical
Congratulations NHS Inductees!

Congratulations to the following students, who were inducted into the National Honor Society on April 4:

Class of 2024

  • Lucille Baier
  • Jaydyn Carle
  • Claire Erion
  • Helena Hennessy
  • Emily Makumbi
  • Allison Newcomb
  • Kathleen Ringel
  • Jocelyn Smith

Class of 2025

  • Kristen Berwanger
  • Katherine Bowman
  • Payton Coop
  • Ava Engelbrink
  • Catherine Foster
  • Bianca Gonzalez
  • Isabel Hess
  • Kenya Howard
  • Annabelle Keith
  • Alexandra Landin
  • Kaitlyn Leon
  • Shaylin Lester
  • Ali Lewis
  • Abby Montgomery
  • Caroline Moore
  • Halee Novak
  • Ruby Ortman
  • Lydia Sanders
  • Sofia Schaffer
  • Kaitlyn Senger
  • Ashley Sess
  • Abigail Sewell
  • Kallie Toon
  • Carly West

National Honor Society (NHS) membership has been the true mark of student achievement for over 100 years, but it goes far beyond a report card. By empowering, championing, and recognizing well-rounded students, NHS provides schools with a values-based framework to elevate a culture of scholarship, service, leadership, and character.

NHS chapters operate in all 50 states and many schools around the world, engaging and serving more than one million students.

Mercy McAuley Ranked Top All-Girls School at State Latin Convention!

Mercy McAuley was once again named the Top All-Girls School at the 2023 State Latin Convention - an honor the school has held every year since it opened in 2018! Mercy McAuley's Latin students ranked 2nd in Ohio overall, a tie for their best finish in school history. Four Mercy McAuley students finished in the Top 10 Latin students at the Convention: Catherine Foster (4th), Maggie Kiefer (7th), Grace Koenig (tie for 8th), and Adelaide Lindner (tie for 8th).  All of the Mercy McAuley Certamen Teams advanced to the State Semi-Finals, with the Latin II Team making it all the way to the State Finals. Twenty-three Mercy McAuley Latin students brought home 197 different academic and artistic awards in total. Congratulations to all of our Latin students and to our Latin teacher, Mrs. Rachel Kless!

Katie Geckle Named Assistant Principal

Please join us in congratulating Katie Geckle, who has been named Assistant Principal beginning with the 2023-24 school year! Katie has served in a number of roles at Mercy McAuley since 2018, including campus minister, theology teacher, drama teacher, theatre director, and program director of innovation and engagement. Katie brings a tremendous amount of experience, skills and talents to this role, and we thank her for her continued leadership and dedication to Mercy McAuley. Congratulations, Katie!

Congratulations, Language Honor Society Inductees!

Congratulations to the following students, who were inducted into the Language Honor Societies!

Spanish Honor Society

  • Kristen Berwanger 
  • Katherine Bowman 
  • Molly Brunner 
  • Mary Burwinkel
  • Ava Engelbrink 
  • Isabel Hess 
  • Marie Hoelzle  
  • Kenya Howard 
  • Shaylin Lester 
  • Sofia Schaffer 
  • Kaitlyn Senger 
  • Abigail Sherer 
  • Ka’Lijah Taylor 
  • Carly West 

French Honor Society

  • Latisha Bloe 
  • Ingrid Morales Nolasco

Latin Honor Society

  • Emma Chapman 
  • Claire Childers 
  • Claire Erion 
  • Catherine Foster 
  • Annabelle Keith  
  • Sydney Neyer  
  • Halee Novak  
  • Kate Petry 
  • Mackenzie Ranz 
  • Abigail Sewell 
  • Michelle Townsend 
  • Isabella Ventre  
Summer Camp Registration Now Open!

Registration for our summer sports and enrichment camps is now open! Click HERE for more details and to register.

Mercy McAuley Welcomes New Softball Coaches

With the spring sports season beginning soon, Mercy McAuley is pleased to welcome its new varsity softball coaches. Donald “Donny” Amrein will serve as the head varsity softball coach, and Josie Ogilbee will serve as assistant varsity coach. Joining them on the coaching staff will be returning coach Amy Feie.

Donny Amrein has spent the past 12 years teaching at the Red’s Youth Academy. He also spent four years as head softball coach at St. Ursula Academy, five years as assistant softball coach at Western Hills High School, and several years as a high level travel softball coach. He has also served as a clinician at numerous national softball camps in Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida. In addition, Amrein has been a pitching instructor for many years; two of his pitching students have won national championships. He had a career as a supervisor at the Hamilton County Juvenile Court as well as a career in drug testing for the NFL and NCAA. Amrein earned a bachelor of arts degree in economics from the University of Cincinnati, is an Army veteran, and has two adult children, both of whom played Division II softball.

Josie Ogilbee has been coaching softball at the high school level for the past five years. She previously served as head JV/assistant varsity softball coach at Williamsburg High School and assistant varsity softball coach at Clinton Massie High School. She has also served as a hitting coach for young softball athletes since 2016. Ogilbee played softball at the college level at Bluffton University, where she received the honor of All-Conference player all four years, was selected to the NFCA All-Region team for three seasons and broke nine hitting records. She earned a bachelor's degree in sport management with a minor in coaching from Bluffton.

“Coach Amrein and Coach Ogilbee bring a wealth of softball knowledge and passion to Mercy McAuley,” said Kate Hoelmer, Athletic Director, Mercy McAuley. “I am excited to see how Donny, Josie, and returning coach Amy will take our softball program to even greater heights through their leadership, expertise and passion for the sport.”

Congratulations, Scholastic Art & Writing Award Winners!

Congratulations to the following Mercy McAuley students, who won Scholastic Art & Writing Awards! The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards is the nation's longest-running, most prestigious recognition initiative for creative students (grades 7-12) and the largest source of scholarships for young artists and writers.

Poetry Category

  • Maggie Kiefer '24, Silver Key
  • Ali Lewis '25, Silver Key

Personal Essay and Memoir Category

  • Helena Hennessy '24, Silver Key
  • Ella Davis '23, Honorable Mention

Art Category

  • Ryleigh Fearn '23, Silver Key
  • Katie Frazee '23, Honorable Mention and Silver Key
  • Hannah Harp '23, 2 Honorable Mentions
  • Maddie Hautman  '23, Honorable Mention
  • Avery LaGory '23, Silver Key
  • Adalaide Lindner '23, Honorable Mention
  • Grace Schreyer ' 23, Honorable Mention & Silver Key 

The Scholastic Art Exhibition will be on display February 6 - 17 at  the Art Academy of Cincinnati. Gallery Hours are from 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. Monday - Sunday. All award winners will be honored at a celebration on Friday, February 17 at the Art Academy of Cincinnati.

 

Adelaide Lindner Earns Prestigious Eagle Scout Award!

Congratulations to senior Adelaide Lindner, who has earned the prestigious Eagle Scout Award! As part of the process to earning this award, young people must complete a large community service project. For her project, Adelaide and her friends and fellow scouts refurbished the area on our school campus known as the "Land Lab" by cleaning, updating and repairing the wooden structures. Several of Adelaide's friends and teachers from Mercy McAuley were on hand to celebrate with her at the awards ceremony, and Adelaide honored our Social Studies teacher, Mrs. Jennie Olinger, with a mentor pin! We are so proud of Adelaide for earning this tremendous award, and we thank her for her service to Mercy McAuley!

Mrs. Jennie Olinger Named Warm98 Teacher of the Week!

Congratulations to Social Studies teacher, Mrs. Jennie Olinger, who was named Warm 98's Teacher of the Week! Warm 98 morning show host Amanda Orlando surprised Mrs. Olinger at school with the big news, and she also brought coupons for free Dewey’s Pizza for her and her Den students! Mrs. Olinger was nominated by junior Natalie Scheper, and her mom, Holly. 

Four Senior Athletes Sign National Letters of Intent!

Congratulations to the following student athletes who on November 9 signed National Letters of Intent to continue their athletic careers at the collegiate level:

  • Alexis Denman - Thomas More University - Lacrosse
  • Jessica Drapp - University of Louisville - Volleyball
  • Jocelyn Obszarski - Ohio Northern University - Volleyball
  • Kylee Heidemann - University of Dayton - Golf

We are so proud of these Wolves!