Celebrating the Next Generation of Leaders!

Celebrating the Next Generation of Leaders!

Mount Mercy proudly celebrated the graduation of our 8th Grade Leadership Academy—an inspiring program that brought together students from over ten different area middle schools, including Catholic, Christian, public, and charter schools. These remarkable young women gathered at Mercy five times throughout the school year under the passionate and expert guidance of Mrs. Suzanne Overdorf.

Throughout this rigorous and empowering program, students learned invaluable leadership skills that will stay with them for a lifetime. From building confidence in public speaking to learning about influential women leaders, every session was packed with purposeful lessons designed to help each girl discover the power of her voice and the importance of using it for change.

The girls explored powerful themes through reading leadership-focused books, watching films such as Hidden Figures, researching inspirational quotes, and creating vision boards that reflected their goals and dreams. Perhaps most impactful, however, was the requirement that each participant design and complete a service project. These incredible young leaders dreamed up, facilitated, and executed meaningful projects that made a real difference in our community, serving those in need & putting their leadership into action.

At graduation, the growth and transformation in each student was truly inspiring. The girls walked across the stage to receive their certificates, then bravely took the microphone to reflect on their experiences. One after another, they shared what they learned, what they loved most, and the impact of their service projects. The overwhelming theme was clear: every girl felt more confident, more self-aware, and more of a leader than when they started.

A HUGE thank you goes to Mrs. Suzanne Overdorf for her tireless dedication and heartfelt leadership. Her vision, care, and commitment to empowering young women shine through in every class, every activity, and every success story.

Congratulations to our 8th Grade Leadership Academy graduates—you are the leaders our world needs, and we can’t wait to see the incredible things you’ll do next!