Giving

Scholarships & Endowment

Endowed Scholarship Funds

List of 7 items.

  • Pompelia Girardi Esposito Scholarship



    Born in Brooklyn, New York, Pompelia (Pam) was the youngest of seven children in the Girardi family. She credited her early years at St. Teresa of Avila School with providing her a quality, faith-based education and principles which set the foundation of her character. She touched many lives through her kind heart, words of wisdom and generosity.

    Pam continued to value learning throughout her lifetime and encouraged others to pursue their education to achieve their dreams. Within her own family, at a great personal sacrifice, she ensured that her two sons and grandson received a Catholic education.

    This endowment fund was established in Pam’s memory to recognize her significant generosity and to assist students in need at Mercy High School, Baltimore, who can benefit from the quality education that Pam regarded so highly.

    To make a gift to this fund indicate “The Pompelia Girardi Esposito Scholarship” in the designation box on our donate page.

  • Joanne Manzo and Bernard Kenyon Scholarship

    This fund for students in financial need honors Joanne Manzo and Bernard Kenyon for their lifetime commitment to the works of mercy, healing, and peace. They are stalwart supporters of Viva House, the Baltimore Catholic Worker, a vital force in Baltimore opposing the works of war and striving for social justice.

    Joanne worked as a pediatric nurse practitioner at Mercy Southern Health Center and Bernard as a chemistry teacher at Mount St. Joseph High School. They were both beloved by their respective communities for their professionalism and kindness.

    When Bernard retired, he continued reporting for work at Mount St. Joseph, keeping almost as busy as he had been as a faculty member and provided invaluable assistance to the Mount’s retreat program.

    For her part, Joanne continues her affiliation with Mercy Medical Center and develops mindfulness workshops and programs for children, particularly those who experience persistent poverty or the trauma of homelessness. She has piloted these programs at Marian House and Loyola Early Learning Center.

    The Thomas More Project established this fund in gratitude to Joanne and Bernard, two of its foundational donors, for their interest, encouragement, and support of its scholarship program.

    To make a gift to this fund indicate “The Joanne Manzo and Bernard Kenyon Scholarship” in the designation box on our donate page.

  • The Seraphia Scholars Fund

    This endowed fund for tuition assistance was established by Sister Carol Wheeler, RSM, Mercy High School’s former president, principal, and teacher. The fund is named for St. Seraphia, a courageous woman martyred in the reign of the Emperor Hadrian. Sister Carol Wheeler, RSM, Mercy’s former president, received the name Seraphia on entering the novitiate of the Sisters of Mercy.

    The income from this fund will be used to make a Mercy education accessible for families who would not otherwise be able to become a part of the Mercy High School community.

    To make a gift to this fund indicate “The Seraphia Fund” in the designation box on our donate page.

  • Sister Mary Anne Smith Endowed Scholarship

    We could think of no better way to honor Sister Mary Anne Smith’s 50 years of service to Mercy High School than to establish THE SISTER MARY ANNE SMITH ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP. Our goal is $100,000 to endow a fund that will help Mercy Girls into the future. Please consider joining us in this effort.

    Gifts of all sizes to the Sister Mary Anne Smith Endowed Scholarship are deeply appreciated. If you wish to make a gift larger than $5,000, a recurring gift, or a gift of a different amount, please contact Annual Fund & Events Manager Melissa Turning at 410-433-8880, ext. 260 or email her at mturning@mercyhighschool.com.

  • The Edward E. and Mary Pascullis Sommerfeldt Scholarship for Migrants and Refugees

    This scholarship fund for needy students was established in 2017 by Anita Healy O’Neill ’68 under the auspices of the Thomas More Project in honor of Ed and Mary “Nickie” Sommerfeldt for their devoted attention to the weakest among us through their practice of the works of mercy.

    Both Nickie and Ed were accomplished teachers. Beloved by faculty and students, Nickie taught French and worked in College and Career Planning, spending 25 years at Mercy. Ed taught at Coppin State University, where he became Chairperson of the Mathematics and Computer Science Department.

    Wherever Nickie and Ed lived or worked, they built the bonds of community with their personal strength and understanding, humor and love. This dedicated scholarship celebrates their steady commitment to education and their community service to Viva House, the Baltimore Catholic Worker; the St. Vincent de Paul Society; BUILD, Baltimoreans United in Leadership Development; as well as their volunteer careers, Ed in the Ignatian Volunteer Corps and at Cristo Rey and Nickie in St. Matthew’s Immigration Outreach Service. As “people for others,” Nickie and Ed’s lifetime efforts reflect Dorothy Day’s key principle, “The final word is love.”

    In “The Love of Christ Towards Migrants,” the Council for Pastoral Care of Migrants reminds us that welcoming the stranger was “a characteristic of the early Church” and still “remains a permanent feature of the Church of God.” This fund for need-based tuition assistance gives preference to migrants and refugees in difficulty.

    To make a gift to this fund indicate “The Edward E. and Mary Pascullis Sommerfeldt Scholarship for Migrants and Refugees” in the designation box on our donate page.

  • Thelma Jean Ullrich Scholarship

    This memorial scholarship for needy students was established in 2015 through the Thomas More Project by the family of Thelma Ullrich, a teacher and principal in the public schools of Mt. Clemens, Michigan. After graduating in 1945 from the University of Michigan, Thelma embarked on a life of fearless thirst for learning and adventure that took her to teaching positions in California, Kauai, Hawaii (before it became a state), and Venezuela and travels that included a boat trip to Japan and driving to Mexico City, all by 1955.

    Thelma eventually settled in her hometown, becoming principal of the elementary school she and her siblings had attended and then several other schools, retiring after 43 years in education. She became an active and cheerful volunteer at the Mt. Clemens First Presbyterian Church, the local historical museum, and the town art center.

    Like Thelma, her brother Jim also settled in their hometown, but her sister Ginny came to Baltimore and established the Tomlinson Craft Collection, renowned for its offerings of fine American handmade crafts for over 30 years.

    Thelma Ullrich poured her fondness and compassion for children into her work as teacher and principal, into her own family, and into her church youth groups. She gave generously to assist Catholic schools in educating the poor.

    To make a gift to this fund indicate “Thelma Jean Ullrich Scholarship” in the designation box on our donate page.

  • Roland X. Wallace Scholarship Fund

    A Mercy staff member for more than 20 years, Roland served as our campus security officer. Known for his warm smile, gentle presence, and great kindness, the sudden loss of Roland continues to have a profound impact on the Mercy community.

    Roland lived the spirit of Mercy hospitality. He was always quick to lend a hand, and was well known for saying, “Stay safe!”, his signature send off to our Mercy Girls and faculty and staff.

    When Roland joined Mercy in 2002, he said his job would allow him to protect and serve the Mercy community and to make sure that all students get a quality education. He knew his mission and he carried it out to the fullest.

    In his memory, the Roland X. Wallace Scholarship Fund was established by his family. We are grateful for gifts received in Roland’s honor, ensuring Mercy Girls can continue to receive a world class education.

Other Special Endowed Funds

List of 4 items.

  • The Bishop P. Francis Murphy and LeRoy E. Hoffberger Fund for Teaching the Hebrew Scriptures

  • The Robin Norton Fund

    This endowment provides discretionary funds for any scholarly purpose at Mercy High School. In establishing this fund, Robin Norton’s friends hope to continue in some small way the tasks she undertook so enthusiastically—the Spirit’s own work of renewing the face of the earth.

    Robin was born in Pensacola, Florida, and grew up in Baltimore, Maryland. With her husband, Ed, she raised three children—Edward, James and Molly. Their home was in Columbia, the Maryland city planned and developed by her father, James Rouse.

    For twelve years Robin taught English at Mount Hebron and Centennial high schools in Howard County and later held an executive position with the Abell Foundation as an education program officer.      
    A woman of great confidence, Robin was never afraid to tell the truth. That was one of her strengths as an outstanding teacher. She sometimes entertained her colleagues with comical stories about herself, such as the account of the embarrassing moment in her classroom when she tried, while her students were taking a test, to sneak open the crinkly wrapper of a Snickers bar.

    At staff meetings, Robin’s colleagues seldom had to guess whether Robin liked a proposal. To some, such candor could be disconcerting, but most valued this strength because it focused everyone on the truth of the matter at hand. She had faith that the truth would prevail.

    Faith is sometimes described as the eye of love. In this light it is easy to understand Robin’s faith not only as conviction but as commitment. Her commitment to her family was mirrored in her commitment to those lacked the comfort of a family, her commitment to the poor, or to children in trouble. It was a commitment that never involved simple wishing or ineffective words, like “wouldn’t it be nice.” No passive waiting for her. Robin always seized the initiative.

  • The Sister Mary Michael Grant, OSP Endowed Fund for Music

  • Virginia Mae McKechnie Fund for the Arts

Endowment

Endowments are comprised of invested funds that generate interest or dividends that can be used for a special purpose or for the general needs of the school. Only the interest is spent while the principal remains intact. Thus, the funds are considered “perpetual.” 

Mercy is most grateful for gifts of any size to our general endowment or to any of our named honorary or memorial funds. Below are various types of endowment funds:
  • Unrestricted donations to Mercy High School's endowment fund allow Mercy to apply your gift to the areas of greatest need.
  • Dedicated scholarship funds help keep a Mercy education accessible to working families. Faithful to the vision of Catherine McAuley, this enables Mercy to bring girls of all backgrounds together to study, learn, and pray. A minimum gift or pledge of $25,000 establishes a scholarship fund.
  • Special purpose funds enhance programs and activities in both curricular and extra-curricular areas and enrich the life of the school.
  • Endowed lectureships, faculty positions, and chairs, also strengthen Mercy.

While our Annual Fund is our most important fundraiser, providing a significant portion of our operating budget each year, our endowment funds supply a steady income regardless of annual variances in fundraising, enrollment, and expenses that are natural for a school.

The Mercy endowment is being built gradually with donations from alumnae, faculty, family and friends. In addition to helping secure Mercy’s future, many of these gifts honor or commemorate loved ones. Some are designated for a particular purpose, such as student scholarship aid, support for key programs within the school, or faculty positions that attract and reward excellent teaching. All endowment funds foster and extend the mission of Mercy.

Mercy High School

1300 East Northern Parkway
Baltimore, Maryland 21239

Phone: (410) 433-8880
Fax: (410) 323-8816
Mercy High School Baltimore is a sponsored ministry of the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas and is a member of Mercy Education.

Mercy High School proudly partners with eCampus for textbooks and other materials for our Mercy Girls.

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