On Wednesday, January 31, the class of 2024 attended the Senior Alumnae Brunch in Mercy’s lobby. This time-honored tradition is continued in hopes of setting up the senior class with useful information that they can benefit from in the future. For the seniors, the relatability of past Mercy students makes this event so powerful, as they head into adulthood and independence.

“Some of the most important things about this brunch are the alumni networking aspect and the chance for current students to learn more about the field they may be interested in,” Dean of Students Eleasha Tarplin said.

“I also think events like these help to further empower women, which is a reason why the tradition has been carrying on for so long,” Tarplin said. 

Alumni of many different colleges, ages and careers are welcomed by Mercy’s alumni office to come speak. The brunch included tables assigned with one alumni to a few students who are interested in a similar career field that they have pursued. Additionally, at the brunch, there was a panel where any Mercy student could ask questions to the alum.

”I liked the panel and being able to ask them questions about how to navigate life,” senior Carson Kecskes said.

The alumni shared their thoughts on how to succeed in a career with gender barriers and the lessons they have learned beyond their Mercy education.

”I learned a lot, mainly about self worth in the workforce, breaking the glass, ceiling, and learning that grades aren’t everything,” Kecskes said.

The alumni brunch, a tradition that is special to Mercy seniors and improves their vision for the future as well as giving them a preview of the extensive Mercy alumni network.