Mount Mercy Academy awarded $10,000 grant from M&T Bank to fuel innovative Leadership Academy for young women

Press Release 

Mount Mercy Academy has been awarded a $10,000 grant from M&T Bank for the school’s Leadership Academy to be used as scholarship funding. As part of Mount Mercy’s six Academies Within the Academy, the school’s Leadership Academy is a unique five-year program that empowers students to uncover their talents and pursue purpose-driven careers through project-based learning. Funds from the grant will support the continued growth and impact of the program.

“It's important for Mount Mercy Academy to have community partners like M&T Bank as this grant money provides scholarships that make this Leadership Academy more accessible to more students across Western New York,” said Mount Mercy Academy Head of School Michele Melligan. “By combining our project-based learning models with service-based modalities, this program provides opportunities for young women to develop their leadership and professional development skills within their communities – now and after graduation.”

The curriculum integrates service-based work with vital professional development – such as public speaking, networking, project management and community service – to provide students with essential tools for future success. The competitive, five-year program encourages 8th graders from across Western New York, requiring principal nomination, to apply. Accepted students are awarded an annual $2,000 scholarship applied toward tuition at Mount Mercy Academy.

"At M&T Bank, we make it our mission to support and provide meaningful opportunities for our community, especially for Western New York's next generation of changemakers," said Don Elick, regional program officer for the M&T Bank Charitable Foundation. "Through Mount Mercy's Leadership Academy, students can embark on an education that is rooted in career development, community service, and building skills that fuel success over a lifetime. It helps students gain the confidence to lead and the purpose to make a difference. We are honored to help make this program more accessible to ensure our local youth’s talents are nurtured and recognized."

“By combining our Critical Concerns of Mercy with our non-traditional, project-based curriculum, Mount Mercy provides students the opportunity to actively engage in real-world skills and develop a strong sense of purpose,” Melligan said. “As a result, our students learn to think critically, prepare for the professional world, and lead with empathy. These are all essential qualities we strive to instill in our future female leaders of tomorrow.”

Since its inaugural class of 21 students in 2020, the Leadership Academy has grown exponentially, with 96 students enrolled this year. The program welcomes 8th-grade students from various schools across Western New York, including Catholic, Buffalo public, charter, and other private institutions. Through its service-based projects, Leadership Academy students have partnered with several local organizations, including Catholic Health, Nickel City Canine Rescue, Roses for Roswell, and the South Buffalo Community Table.

Along with the other Academies Within the Academy, the Leadership Academy is an intentional departure from standardized testing and high school curricula to better prepare students for their chosen career paths earlier and in ways that traditional models have fallen short. This hands-on learning model has earned Mount Mercy’s students 5.5% higher total SAT scores than the district average. 

To support the Leadership Academy with a donation, visit www.MountMercy.wufoo.com/forms/leadership-academy-gifts.

Founded in 1904, Mount Mercy Academy is a South Buffalo-based Catholic high school for young women dedicated to cultivating the core values of Catherine McAuley and the Sisters of Mercy. As a prestigious private high school, its curriculum blends traditional learning with innovative, project-based modalities through six Academies Within the Academy. Inspired by faith and principled in leadership, a Mercy education equips young women with the life skills needed to impact the world positively. To learn more or schedule a tour, visit www.mtmercy.org.