Outstanding Graduates 2019
In their own words
An education at Mercer University prepared these outstanding Class of 2019 graduates for the next phase in their lives. Whether they are traveling, pursuing graduate degrees or jumping into a career, they are all deeply thankful for the time they had at Mercer. Hear them explain why.
“My main takeaway from college is that you don’t have to do it on your own. There are people around you, and I feel like I really found my family here at Mercer.”
Katie Atkinson, Journalism, ‘19
“Mercer is so important because it was such a big stepping stone in my life. I would not be where I am today without it.”
Marissa Beaton, Accounting, ‘19
“Mercer will always be the place that I spent the four possibly most formative years of my life, and I’ve found so much direction here at this school.”
Keoni Bolding, Viola Performance, ‘19
“Mercer taught me that I don’t have to do just one thing in one field, but I can do a lot of things in a lot of different areas even if they don’t relate to each other.”
Stephanie Daube, Art and Information Science & Technology, ‘19
“The thing I will miss most about Mercer is the people. You really can’t replicate this really unique community of people who are driven to not only love others here but also love others outside the community.”
Elliza Guta, Political Science and Psychology, ‘19
“What Mercer means to me is not the buildings. It’s not the beautiful towers. It’s not Macon. It’s the people. We are a diverse group of passionate students and faculty who not only care about our subjects and what we’re learning but also about the people too.”
Sarah Grace Hall, Holistic Child Program, ‘19
“At Mercer, you’re taught to be involved, to be a leader and to stay committed to what you’re involved in. So, I feel like I’m prepared to leave, and I will be a confident leader.”
Katie Head, Marketing, ‘19
“You can use the skills you’re learning in the classroom to better someone’s life.”
Perry Hicks, Chemistry, ‘19
“Mercer has given me a curriculum that has been both challenging but also very fun, and so I’ve been pushed to kind of explore things about myself and how I am as a student.”
Hannah Keller, History and French, ‘19
“Mercer has been a place that’s definitely helped me grow as a man and take a step forward in the right direction. I’m moving on to the future.”
Dorian Kithcart, Mechanical Engineering, ‘19
“Mercer to me means that I’m majoring in changing the world. To me it means that I can go out there, and I can move to another country by myself, and I’ll still have that spirit and that backbone and that desire to help other people.”
Summer Perritt, History, ‘19
“I was chosen to be on the first Academic All-America (basketball) Team. It kind of put me in the top category as far as academics and athletics in the country. … (It) was just a really, really exciting moment.”
Amanda Thompson, Electrical Engineering, ‘19
“What Mercer means to me is family. I’ve experienced success and failure, but I’ve done that alongside a bunch of incredible people who have taught me how to handle success and have taught me how to handle failure.”
Ally Welch, Education, ‘19
“To really see the entire process of doing research and really play a very large part in every step along the way has been an incredible opportunity that I’m not sure I could have had at a different institution.”
Zach Zeisler, Neuroscience and Latin, ‘19