Mercy Alumni Association, more than 1,000 graduates strong, has a long and illustrious history. Founded as a way to keep the relationships and traditions built at Mercy throughout the years, the Alumni Association is the vehicle for past graduates to stay in touch with each other, take part in continuing education, and support the college and its programs.
In late December 1923, the graduates of Mercy Hospital Training School had grown to a representative body and were determined to form a permanent organization. Thus, the Mercy School of Nursing Alumnae Association was formed. In 1994 the name was changed to the Mercy Alumni Association in recognition of the addition of Mercy College of Northwest Ohio graduates to the Association. Currently there are more than 1,000 graduates who are active dues-paying members of the Mercy Alumni Association and the number is continually increasing.
The Mercy Alumni Association is the mechanism through which Mercy College of Northwest Ohio can communicate with and serve alumni. Alumni can stay in touch with each other, take part in continuing education, and communicate with and serve the college.
The Mercy Alumni Association promotes mutual help and improvement in professional and spiritual work, and encourages fellowship among the graduates of Mercy School of Nursing and Mercy College of Northwest Ohio. The organization exists to advance the interests of Mercy College of Northwest Ohio, to whom the Alumni Association exclusively donates their funds.
All graduates of Mercy School of Nursing and Mercy College of Northwest Ohio are eligible for membership. Membership is obtained by payment of yearly or lifetime membership dues. Honorary memberships are given to persons who have rendered services to the Association or to individuals whom the Association wishes to honor. Honorary membership may be conferred upon recommendation of the Board of Trustees by majority vote at any annual meeting. Upon graduation, new alumni are considered associate members until the next fiscal year when they pay their dues to the treasurer to be full members of the Association.
The Board of Trustees consists of fourteen (14) elected members as provided in the Bylaws. All officers will be elected at the annual meeting and continue in office for one year. Each year, four (4) Board members will be elected to serve two-year terms. No member will be elected to hold the same office for more than one year without standing for reelection. Vacancies in office will be filled by the remaining members of the Board of Trustees voting thereon by ballot.
In the fall, an annual Mass is held in the Mercy Healthcare Center Chapel with breakfast following for all alumni. In the spring an annual meeting/banquet is held. The gold and silver anniversary classes are honored at the annual banquet, and for many other classes the banquet serves as a reunion. The Association also offers two scholarships each year; one to a current student at Mercy College of Northwest Ohio and one to a member of the Alumni Association to continue his or her education. The Mercy Alumni Newsletter is distributed three times annually and updates members on the latest news of the Association, the college, and classmates.
