Arts Festival Honors Alumna and Celebrates Students’ Talent and Creativity

The Annual Showcase of the Fine Arts and Performing Arts honors and appreciates the extraordinary talent and creativity that exists within the Merion Mercy community. It recognizes not only the individual achievements of MMA’s talented students, but also the collective spirit that binds us together. As Head of School Marianne Grace stated during her welcome remarks, “We acknowledge and appreciate the unwavering support of our parents, the guidance and mentorship provided by our dedicated faculty, and the legacy left by our esteemed alumnae.” 

This year, on what would have marked her 70th reunion, Merion Mercy honored one esteemed alumna in particular: the late Mrs. Frances M. Maguire ‘53. A generous donation from Mrs. Maguire and her husband Jim was instrumental in establishing MMA’s Art & Design Center, which bears her name. They also fund the Maguire Scholars program, which has made a Merion education possible for many students through the years. 

art festival participants

With Mrs. Maguire’s daughter Megan Maguire in attendance, Betsy Joyce Bracken ‘53, a loyal alumna and classmate of Mrs. Maguire, made remarks in recognition of her friend “Frannie.” She shared how interest in Mrs. Maguire’s art flourished after high school and she became renowned, exhibiting her work and becoming an emblem of the arts for the Philadelphia region and beyond. Mrs. Bracken added, “Through her unwavering dedication to the arts and her commitment to empowering students, she has created a lasting legacy, and we are fortunate to count her as ‘one of ours.’” 

In addition to recognizing Mrs. Maguire, the Arts Festival provided an opportunity to view MMA students’ fine arts work throughout the building. According to Art Department Chair Maria Boyd, “The Gallery Walk kicked off our Art Festival with packed hallways of families, friends and invited guests appreciating all of the art students' work.”

The annual event also featured the official induction of 56 girls into the National Art and/or Tri-M Music Honor Societies. The evening concluded with a showcase featuring 12 students who performed to a packed house, according to Performing Arts Chair Cara Latham. 


 

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