The 2014 Mercy Honors Dinner will be held on Thursday, November 6, 2014 at 6:00pm in the Camelot Room at The Creekside Banquet Facility, Cheektowaga, NY. Each year we recognize deserving honorees with awards for Distinguished Alumna and the Spirit of Mercy Awards.

Alumnae, family and friends are invited to attend the Mercy Honors Dinner to learn more about, and honor our Alumnae and community members. All proceeds benefit the Alumnae Scholarship Fund at Mount Mercy Academy. A special thank you to our 2014 Mercy Honors Chairperson Mary Waters McDonald '81.

Description of Awards:
The Catherine McAuley Distinguished Alumna Award honors Alumnae of Mount Mercy Academy who have distinguished themselves as women of faith, knowledge, integrity and compassion.  A woman whose accomplishments in all areas of her life - family, community, career - reflect the legacy and mission of Catherine McAuley, the Foundress of the Sisters
of Mercy.

The Spirit of Mercy Award honors persons who exhibit the Spirit of Mercy in their professional and personal lives, most notably for their commitment and dedication to their community. They are truly ministers of Mercy who "live justly, act in tenderness and with humility journey with their God" (Micah 6).

Cheryl Meyers Buth '84
Distinguished Alumna Award
Cheryl is one of Western New York's most highly recognized defense attorneys and a partner in the law firm Murphy Meyers LLP which she co-founded. She has been honored for her outstanding work by numerous organizations including the New York State Women's Bar Association, Women Lawyers of Western New York and Business First. Cheryl was the recipient of the 2013 Woman Lawyer of the Year and the 2013 Criminal Justice Act Award for her distinguished criminal defense work representing impoverished and needy defendants.

Kathleen Pace Murphy, Ph.D. '77
Distinguished Alumna Award
Kathleen began her career as a staff nurse and is now an Assistant Professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center Medical School in the Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine. She holds numerous degrees, licenses and certifications as well as having served as a Captain in the United States Army Reserve Nursing Corps. Kathleen has been recognized for her professional, academic and volunteer efforts, including the 2010 Teacher of Year Award from the University of Texas Health Science Center.

The Honorable Mary F. Weir '79
Distinguished Alumna Award
Mary currently serves as Associate Circuit Judge for the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit, which covers Jackson County, Missouri. Mary was appointed to this position by Missouri Governor Jay Nixon.  She was honored by the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, earning the Tierra Farrow Award for her work on behalf of battered women and children. Mary, one of the founders of the Jackson County Safe Families Coalition is also a passionate member of many women's and law organizations.

Erik T. Bohen
Spirit of Mercy Award
Erik is a Special Education Teacher with the Buffalo Public Schools and a devoted mentor for youth in our area. He is extremely dedicated to the Buffalo Public Schools, Mount Mercy Academy, Bishop Timon-St. Jude and the entire Buffalo community. He serves on various committees for nonprofit organizations, focusing on charity races and helps in numerous other fundraising endeavors for individuals in need. Erik has been recognized by various groups including Goin' South and Business First.

Thomas Sellers
Spirit of Mercy Award
Tom is the Vice President and Treasurer of Charles J. Sellers & Co., Inc. He holds degrees in law and accounting as well as various licenses, designations and professional association memberships. He was a member of the Board of Directors of Mercy Hospital for six years. Tom is a dedicated supporter of Mount Mercy Academy and many community organizations, including his parish, Saints Peter & Paul in Hamburg, where he served two terms as Parish Council President. He served on the Mount Mercy Board of Trustees for six years and was the chair of the Board's Strategic Planning Committee. Tom and his wife Mary Jo sent all four of their daughters to Mount Mercy.    

Mary Hembrow Snyder, Ph.D.
Spirit of Mercy Award
Mary influenced many alumnae while teaching at Mount Mercy Academy in the 1970's and 1980's. She currently is a Professor of Religious Studies and the Director of the Center for Mercy and Catholic Studies at Mercyhurst University. Holding degrees in English Literature and Theology, she has authored four books, and been honored as an educator, earning Mercyhurst's Teaching Excellence Award. Mary has held various positions of leadership at the university and her life has been dedicated to being a teacher and scholar and living out the critical concerns of the Sisters of Mercy (the poor, especially women & children) and the mission of Mercyhurst University.