Rachael Zhang ‘28 < Back Fashion ReJINeration Rachael Zhang ‘28 Nov 14, 2025 Last summer, Renee Jin ’26 devoted her time to work on two ambitious art projects that expanded her practice into new territory. Each project explored a distinct theme that unified Jin’s personal vision and creative voice with the contemporary world. Her first project, the culmination of a year-long dedication, is titled The Study of the Deterioration of the American Housewife. Inspired by post-World War II suburban life, Jin sought to capture what she described as the “monotonous, unseen suffering of women in the 1950s.” Through sharp silhouettes and bold red tones, she reveals the tension beneath the deliberately polished facade of domestic perfection. The concept emerged from her observations of current social trends. “I was seeing the rise of the ‘trad-wives’ and felt like our country was progressing toward a more conservative route. Instead of moving toward innovation, we were regressing instead,” Jin said. The overturning of Roe v. Wade particularly influenced her emotional outlook. “As a citizen and woman in America, I’ve been growing increasingly concerned with the lack of rights. That sort of emotion really pushed me forward.” Jin’s second project, Origins in Flame and Tide , shifts from the domestic sphere to the elemental. Featuring contrasting orange and blue tones, the collection revolves around the two forces shaping and sustaining life: water and fire. Jin described water as “the source from which we emerged and the sustainer of our existence,” while fire represents “the force we harnessed to cook, protect, and illuminate the world.” Her drafting process began with roughly one hundred sketches, which she narrowed down to twenty for development. She experimented with paper, fabrics, and draping techniques before finalizing her designs. Learning to drape fabric, select materials, and translate sketches into clothing presented challenges, especially as this was her first time in fashion design. “I had to figure out what to put underneath, how to attach certain parts, and how to make my drawings more realistic,” she said. Sydney Caretti, art teacher and Jin’s mentor through her high school studies and overall artistic journey, emphasized her growth: “Clearly she’s been informed through her life by the opportunities that her parents have made available in the arts… She takes her own unique approach.” Caretti described Jin as an artist with “a very unique perspective” and “very thorough, very hungry and very inquisitive; someone who seeks to do the best representation of her interpretation without being influenced by other artists that are already established.” She added that she sees “a bright future for Renee in the arts.” Jin describes her style as avant-garde and experimental, diverging from the commercial mainstream. “I definitely don’t want to go the commercial route,” she said. “I’m really interested in couture: viewing fashion as an art instead of just everyday wear.” She hopes to attend art school and eventually “start a brand or maybe go to a major fashion house.” Having completed these first projects, Jin is now exploring new concepts and directions at school. “I really want to create things that are lighthearted, nostalgic, and separate from those other themes,” she said. Her creative roots run deep. Her father, an artist and art professor, provided Jin with early exposure to the arts, helping her develop the confidence to think independently and experiment freely. Shaped by her upbringing, Jin’s artistic perspective continues to thrive and advance. Grounded in this strong foundation, Jin looks forward to exploring new ideas, materials, techniques, and styles. She is a young artist poised to make her mark on the world of fashion and art. Previous Next

Charli Mclntuff '23 < Back Racing into the recordbooks Charli Mclntuff '23 Feb 3, 2023 Music in the 1990s featured CDs and cassette tapes, double tape decks, the Sony walkman, MTV, and the notorious, illegal use of Napster. Personal playlisting consisted of making “mix tapes” by hitting the record and play buttons on your stereo simultaneously and a tedious amount of rewinding and fast-forwarding to get the song you want to play at an exact moment. But it was worth it. The result - something to bring to parties to take them over. A big part of the 1990s music scene was the intensive home-recording projects, all because the 90s was the last golden age of music. The 90s welcomed and fostered numerous creative genres, from contemporary R&B, pop, girl-power, technotronic, and hip-hop. The era nurtured those genres to mature forms still recognizable today. But indisputably, the most influential moment of the 90s was the rise of alternative rock. The MTV ‘90s youth culture said f*** you to mainstream, ’80s rock n’ roll and welcomed the alternative. Previously, the term alternative rock was reserved for niche college radio channels that featured bands who were unfit for mainstream audiences and relied on independent record labels for representation. Thus the birth of a new genre: Alternative Rock - the voice of a generation. It was everything, a whole cacophony of preexisting genres. The music featured the ethos of punk rock, the apathy of new wave, and revolutionary lyrics reminiscent of 60s protest songs. The sound was eclectic, energetic, and expressive, representing a new, independent spirit, a teen spirit. Pawn shop guitar-driven music matched by lyrics about current social concerns, all led to a raw FINISH. Three-piece outfits that fans could see in a garage began playing on MTV. Alt-rock rejected the commercialization that past mainstream music had fallen into, and bands took pride in not selling out. Though its “underground” status was an attractive aspect of alt-rock, it quickly emerged from obscurity to become the most influential genre of the 90s. It’s a big task to rank the best 90s alternative albums of all time. These are my personal favorites, ordered by their uniqueness within the alt genre. I see these albums to be a full embodiment of the independent factor of alt-rock. Agree or disagree, it doesn't really matter. Just go listen to some new music. Previous Next

James Coors ‘27 < Back No Clue what this article is about… James Coors ‘27 Oct 20, 2023 On October 13 and 14, Mercersburg’s Stony Batter Players staged the theatrical version of the movie based on the popular board game Clue. The show is a murder mystery comedy featuring seven main characters, six of whom are guests at the party hosted by the rich Mr. Body. Particularly strong performances were given by veteran actors William Tutt ’25 as the butler Wadsworth and Janie Miller ’26 as the politico Mrs. Peacock, as well as newcomer Alle Garza ’27 as Yvette, the French maid. For those who missed the show, the plot takes off when Mr. Body reveals that the reason the six guests have been invited is because he has blackmailed them for an assortment of reasons relevant to their lives. Mr. Body then hands each guest a different murder weapon: a dagger, a revolver, a lead pipe, a candlestick, a rope, and a wrench. At this point, the light flicks off leaving the guests in complete darkness. A shot rings out and Mr. Body is found dead. As the six guests try to identify the murderer among them, more death ensues claiming the cook, the maid, and others. The main characters are forced to work together to try and uncover the murderer before the police arrive, in order to protect themselves and their secrets. In my opinion, the show went spectacularly on the 14th on the night I attended. All the actors beautifully played their parts, and I was truly immersed in the mystery of the grand mansion for much of the show. The actors delivered each line with such understanding of their character. It was evident that each member of this cast truly cared for the show and put their full effort into it. I also enjoyed the end of the play, how various different possibilities for the murders and their perpetrators were suggested one after another. Each became more elaborate and hilarious as they were revealed. One detail that I loved was that each time the police barged in they gave different hilarious puns as their names. The tech crew also executed its job well. The set included or suggested all ten rooms on the Clue board, which proved to be an amazing feat as the cast rushed from room to room (although the small size of the lounge and the study made for some awkward blocking when as many as ten cast members crammed in). Still, the time and effort put into the set was evident. The great production was clearly representative of the efforts of cast and crew alike, and I am very excited for their upcoming shows in the winter and spring. Previous Next

Devin Rotz '25 < Back Chillin' With Coco Zhai Devin Rotz '25 Oct 14, 2022 Recently, Coco Zhai ‘24 released an original song on Spotify titled “Chill.” Zhai has been a prominent member of various art programs at Mercersburg Academy including chorale and Magalia. She co-wrote “Chill” at home with a friend at the peak of the pandemic during her freshman year when both she and her friend were learning virtually. For international students attending boarding school abroad, learning online was especially difficult as they were often in different time zones. During the pandemic, Zhai and other Chinese students from Mercersburg and other boarding schools would gather together to study and talk about their struggles and the stress they felt. When Zhai and her co-writer, Jerry, met at these gatherings, they instantly connected through their love of writing music. The songs and lyrics in Coco and Jerry’s song intend to give people time to relax. “Everyone needs time to chill, and lean back to relax,” said Zhai. Zhai said, “We decided to name the song ‘Chill’ because the vibe of the song was really relaxed and everyone needs time to sit back and relax” during a time of stress about school, home, and the world. The lyrics in “Chill” are a mixture of Chinese and English, but Zhai translated some of Chinese lyrics into English for fans: “Enjoying the sunset, a cup of coffee or tea, next to the window with your pets, and appreciating the time that’s stopped and when you are just there.” Coco and Jerry's goal with the song is to get people to understand the idea of taking time to unwind. Zhai also worked with a producer, Ethan, to achieve the final iteration of her song. Ethan’s job as the producer was to create the melody and beat of the song. Coco and Jerry each wrote a verse of the song and each wrote the melody to their respective verse as it wasn’t possible for them to be together all of the time to write. “Track first, lyrics, melody, and then produce,” Zhai said when to describe the process and steps in writing a song. When an idea comes to mind, Zhai writes it down or tries to make the idea come to life before she forgets. Writing her verse took about two to three hours to complete in one sitting. It took hours on the phone before or after school and coming together in a studio with a music engineer to mix the song to produce it. After hours on the phone, in the studio, and producing the song, it took Zhai and the others around a month to finish and release the song. Listen to “Chill” for free on Spotify under the artist name Coco Zhai. Previous Next

Lisa Wei '26 < Back Written word about Spoken Word Lisa Wei '26 Nov 4, 2022 Friday, October 28, the Mercersburg Academy community gathered on the Irvine Hall patio for the first Spoken Word event of the year to listen to poems, stories, music, and more. Michele Poacelli, Writing Center Director and English Department Head, helps organize the event. “I thought that spoken word this year was terrific. I loved how much variety there was; how many people did poetry, told stories, played music and sang. I thought that it really showcased the talents and passions of Mercersburg students,” said Poacelli. She especially likes Spoken Word because of the ”unpolished and raw performances.” “There are many opportunities for students to showcase their talents in other performances, and those performances receive feedback and are polished. In Spoken Word, it’s more about having fun and having the courage to perform for the audience. We get to see less of the perfection and more of the genuine, authentic sharing,” Poacelli said. Performers on Friday ranged from musicians to poets. Ethan Stiffler ’25 said, “I enjoy performing because the learning and growth experience is always great.” Stiffler performed an original song on guitar as well as a guitar duet with Ian Kim ’23. Cocona Yamamoto ‘25, another Spoken Word performer, said, “I play the guitar and sing, so I thought it would be a great experience to perform at Spoken Word.” A tradition as old as anyone can remember - that of singing “Redbone” - was performed by Bob Hollis ‘24 this fall. “I’ve always loved Spoken Word and I haven’t consistently performed in them before, but there is a small tradition of Redbone being the closing act for Spoken Word. I asked Ms. Poacelli if she had anyone singing it yet. She didn’t and offered me the spot,” said Hollis. Audience members enjoyed the performances. “We loved Spoken Word this year, especially Ian Kim and Ethan Stiffler’s performance. We were not expecting the collaboration, and the combination between the acoustic and the electric was unreal,” said Isabel Su ’23, Plern Pibuldham ’23, and Jerry Wei ’25. “I loved Spoken Word this year, especially Bob’s performance. The whole event was very lively and fun,” said Jesse Loberg ’26. Mel Cort ‘23 and Kevin Hang ‘24 helped emcee the fall Spoken Word. As hosts, they kept the energy high and introduced the performers. Hang said, “I love the community gathering and having a good time during spoken word. I went up to Mel one day and asked, ‘Mel, can I cohost one day?’ They agreed and talked to me last weekend to ask if I’d host at Spoken word.” “I enjoyed Spoken Word. The cookies are great, the writings are great, the vibes are great, and I’m having a great time,” said Cort. Previous Next

Avery Liu '25 < Back Addie's album: finding her fire Avery Liu '25 Oct 4, 2024 Addie Heldman ‘25 recently dropped her long-anticipated EP (extended play). The drop included 4 original songs with full lyrics. Heldman’s style of music blends pop and folk to create a unique sound. She counts among her influences Lorde and Billie Eilish as well as music from her childhood. She said, “I draw a lot of inspiration from the music I listened to growing up, like Fleetwood Mac, The Grateful Dead, Rolling Stones. A lot of Bluegrass, because my dad is super into that. So that sort of Bluegrass feel with my teenage girl pop self.” Heldman described her creative process. “Sometimes I write songs about a feeling. Sometimes I write songs about an experience. Other times it's more like a vision I have, like an image that I can see in my head,” she said, “or it’s dreams, like I’ll wake up in the middle of the night all the time with a song lyric in my head.” Only recently has she moved to make her music public. “I decided I wanted to take it to the next level because my songs were getting more serious.” Heldman’s musical family members helped her take her compositions to a more professional place. “I’m really lucky to have such great support, like my sisters,” she said. “So luckily, I have a pretty creative family so my sister, who’s a director, helped me figure out how to find a producer, and we went from there.” She also described how they assisted her during her endeavor. “Both my sisters are really talented musicians, my sister Lillith really helped me with the harmonies. She didn’t sing in any of the songs with me but she would stand in the booth pointing up or down for how high or low I should go which was super helpful.” The grueling process of recording the songs involved dedication and hard work. “It was tough,” Heldman said, “It was a four-day recording process, at least 10 hours a day in the studio, singing, and singing, and singing, and playing guitar until my fingers were almost bleeding.” The physical process wasn’t the only hurdle Heldman encountered. “I mean being vulnerable with people is tough.” She said, “I don’t want people to be, you know, worried about me if they perceive a song in a way that makes me seem a certain way. But I think being vulnerable is good and bad for me.” To those listening to her songs, Heldman has a message. “I want my listeners to know that it's for them,” Heldman said. “It’s for people to feel seen because we're living in sort of a tough time right now where the world is feeling pretty complicated. I want to express my unique experiences and then have people feel seen and validated and that's my goal for my songs.” Emphasizing the support system around her, Heldman said, “My parents have always been big inspirations for me, and given me such good [a] good taste in music, and my friends for streaming the songs over and over again. So that’s great and I’m lucky to have them all.” Heldman’s full songs are currently released on Bandcamp and she plans to release the songs in the near future once a week on other streaming platforms including Spotify. Previous Next

Fran Garcia '26 < Back Blue Review review Fran Garcia '26 Oct 13, 2023 This year marks the 50th anniversary of Blue Review, Mercersburg’s student-run publication featuring arts and literary works by students. The Blue Review staff works to take a year’s worth of student submissions and combine them into a booklet of around one hundred pages. Originally published weekly and titled “The Sunday Evening Review,” It even featured recipes in some of its earliest publications. “ The Blue Review team works in two groups: arts and literature. Both of these collaborate in developing a theme, finding pieces, critiquing pieces, and designing/developing the book,” said Andrew Leibowitz ‘24, a member of the Blue Review team. Throughout its 50 years, Blue Review has won multiple awards with its most distinguished coming from the Columbia National Press Association. “For the past two years, and hopefully three with our newest book, we have won their highest award, the gold crown,” says Leibowitz. “ [Blue Review is] the only publication of its kind on campus,” says Bob Hollis ‘24, another Blue Review staff member. Blue Review showcases a year's worth of work, acknowledging outstanding pieces created by students. Submitting to Blue Review and seeing their work published is something that many students look forward to every year. Blue Review embraces the spirit of teamwork and community at Mercersburg, as it is a student-led organization in charge of featuring those students who go above and beyond in their creative work. For the 2023-24 school year publication, the Blue Review team is in the process of designing a theme and outlining the book’s design. Because submissions will continue to come in throughout the year, it’s hard to predict exactly how the book will look. Previous Next

Karin Sugiyama ‘27 < Back Celebrating creativity in clubs Karin Sugiyama ‘27 Sep 20, 2024 At Mercersburg Academy, arts clubs are integral to student life, offering creative outlets for students and a sense of community. Fiber Arts Club and Stony Batter Club are perfect examples of two groups that enrich individual experience while making a meaningful impact on the wider campus community. The Fiber Arts Club, led by Amanda Xi ‘25 and Sierra Guo ‘25, provides opportunities for students to express their passion for fiber arts and provide a relaxing escape from students’ demanding schedules. Guo finds joy in leading the club: “It feels almost rewarding to see people knitting and crocheting in their own time and I think it is really a great way to introduce fiber arts to the community.” Xi added, “Starting this club with Sisi has given me an opportunity to make art and to share that with others who have the same interest.” The Fiber Arts Club welcomes students of all ages and from all dorms. As Guo explained, “Just from the club fair sign-ups, I got to meet a lot of people I had never met before and it just gives us a chance to bond with other people in the community over a shared interest—people that I probably wouldn’t have met otherwise.” The club also works with communities beyond Mercersburg Academy, through projects such as knitting washcloths for a local hospital and creating hats and scarves for women experiencing miscarriage. Guo said, “We introduce fiber arts to humanitarian projects, which is kind of an unconventional way to apply this art, but it is really rewarding.” In contrast, Stony Batter Club is dedicated to the theater, offering a different but equally valuable opportunity for student life led by Sarah Ali ‘25 and Crystal Chiu ‘25, both long-term Stony Batter members. Chiu elaborated, “Theater has always been a passion of mine. I wish everyone could enjoy the happiness I get by experiencing this art form.” She sees her role as crucial in sharing her joy, adding, “It is important that arts are spread across campus, especially because we are in a school system where it places heavy emphasis on sports.” Ali focused on another contribution of Stony Batter Club. “We are a group full of awesome people and everyone is so supportive. I just really love the community of Stony—that is probably my favorite part of it and that is why I like leading the club.” She reflected on how Stony Batter has shaped her time at Mercersburg: “Through the club, you get to meet a lot of people and build bonds. In fact, I met Crystal through Stony and we have really been inseparable, 4 years later.” William Tutt ‘25, a key member of the club, echoed, “I love doing theater and seeing other passionate folk really invigorates myself to continue doing what I love.” Both clubs share the goal of introducing Mercersburg students to the world of arts while uniquely contributing to the school’s community. Whether through knitting projects or theater performances, the impact of these clubs is a reflection of the vibrant and supportive environment at Mercersburg Academy. Previous Next

< Back Swoon for Ju Yun Alyssa Lee '25 Sep 22, 2023 Ju Yun, a Korean-American artist based in Virginia, is opening her show in Mercersburg’s Coffrin Gallery. She has held exhibitions at the Susquehanna Art Museum as well as at multiple colleges. As an Asian American artist, Ju Yun’s journey with her personal identity is expressed through her art, a creative mix of Korean and American culture. Since the Mercersburg show is Ju Yun’s first time displaying her work at a high school, she says, “I am excited to show my work to young students.” “Moving to another country and having to take on and adapt to a different culture and lifestyle can also impact someone’s personal identity,” says Ju Yun, referencing her migration to America. Moving to the other side of the world creates confusion about a person’s identity and cultural differences. However, Ju Yun’s approach is to unite the two different worlds using art. Her inspiration comes from “traditional Korean culture with a sense of humor and combining it with current American pop culture.” Transforming Korean art and mixing it with vibrant colors and shapes, Ju Yun offers a personal version of a hybrid culture. Sydney Caretti, member of the arts department and director of galleries at Mercersburg says, “[Ju Yun] is talking about her identity and figuring out who she is, which is so important for our students.” Despite her busy schedule and an exhibition at George Mason University on November 7, Ju Yun agreed to hold this exhibition at Mercersburg. Ju Yun is going to “bring a whole new perspective that we haven’t had” says Caretti. “[Ju Yun’s] art isn’t standard, it isn’t in a frame, it’s more tactile and part of our world. I just can’t wait for her to connect with our students. We are really lucky she is making time for us.” “Since most of my audience is students, I am looking forward to watching the reactions of Mercersburg students to my work? I hope they find some humor in them. It's nothing too serious,” says Ju Yun. As an art teacher herself, Ju Yun says, “Believe in yourself. Trust your instincts and don’t feel the need to rush your development as an artist. Enjoy every part of this process.” Ju Yun’s show opens on September 27, and sips and nibbles will be held on September 30 during Family and Alumni Weekend. Previous Next

Claire Chow ‘26 < Back Recruiting male choristers! Claire Chow ‘26 Sep 12, 2025 As people sat in the pews of the chapel and listened to the Chorale perform during Convocation, many in the audience couldn’t help but notice that the choristers consisted mostly of female students, and only four males, including Director of Bands Shami Beni. However, if you peek into the Chorale room in the Burgin Center for the Arts during Rotation E, you will be met with an even bigger surprise: the Chorale has one male participant—Miles New ’27. Jim Brinson, Chorale Director, said simply, “We need more tenors and basses to balance the soprano and alto parts.” With 14 girls in the Chorale currently, New’s voice is swallowed by the sopranos and altos around him. This brings up the underlying question: Are fewer boys participating in the arts? In recent years, the number of male choristers has gradually decreased. However, New noted that in all the years he has participated, there has always been at least one other boy, making this year especially noteworthy. New feels as though his responsibility and role in the Chorale have become more important. “With fewer people supporting the major tenor parts,” he said. “Any mistake stands out more.” Brinson also pointed out the problem of New having no one to lean on and that “it's difficult to make sure a single tenor is confident when he is the only voice.” Even with this imbalance, New’s mood, dedication, and interest remain the same. He chooses to stay in Chorale because he enjoys the class and the group. “I love performing in concerts, and I really appreciate Brinson’s energy and support, as well as [Shami] Beni’s amazing attitude.” Beyond the technical skills, one of the most valuable aspects of what Mercersburg’s arts program offers is the collaborations and friendships that come from working with classmates towards a shared goal. Whether you love the arts or you’re just trying to fulfil your credit requirement, the bonds formed in the studios, on stage, or in the gallery carry over into other areas of school life and beyond. With the spotlight all on him, which New calls “a bit too much at times,” he hopes more boys will join Chorale. Brinson is hopeful we can make that turnaround in the near future. Previous Next

Sophia Mielke ‘25 < Back Celia Kerf: thinking two step ahead Sophia Mielke ‘25 Nov 1, 2024 Celia Kerf ‘25 is a year-round participant in Mercersburg’s dance program as well as a Dance Captain and National Honors Society for Dance Arts member. Kerf enjoys Mercersburg’s dance program because of the wide array of opportunities it provides her, offering students a variety of styles to learn and perform, such as ballet, modern, and jazz, to name but a few. “I really like how many performances we do each year,” said Kerf. “The program is really versatile and I feel like I've gotten a lot better at hip-hop especially because I didn't used to do that style.” However, hip-hop is not the only area that Kerf has improved upon. “Her ballet technique has grown so much in the past year and a half,” said the director of dance, Kelsy Rupp. While Rupp can only comment on Kerf’s performance and growth over the past three years, her words speak volumes. “Celia demonstrates exemplary flexibility between all of these styles of dance. Artistry-wise, she is leaps and bounds from where she was three years ago,” said Rupp. In terms of her growth, Kerf said, “One of my accomplishments is being able to attend summer programs and performing there as well.” Celia is also very proud of her induction as an upper-middler into the National Honors Society for Dance Arts chapter at Mercersburg Academy. In order to gain this distinction, a dancer must list all of her accomplishments in and for the art of dance. Each contribution to the art is worth a specified number of points, and a dancer must reach 30 points to be inducted. “It’s been really cool to track and see everything I’ve done and continue to do for dance,” said Kerf. In addition to her performances at Mercersburg, Kerf states, “I really liked competing at Grier and the Regional High School Dance Festival in Norfolk, VA.” These opportunities were offered to the pre-professional group of dancers in the program, of which Celia is a long-standing member. “Celia is a very committed and disciplined dancer and she is always ready to work,” said Rupp. Rupp also noted the initiative that Kerf shows in choreography, commenting that she is always thinking two steps ahead. “Her ability to ask questions is her biggest strength. She is very detail-oriented; she wants to do things right, and her ability to break things down and ask questions is like her little superpower,” said Rupp. Kerf also feels that the Mercersburg dance program has prepared her well for dance opportunities outside of the school and she will continue to share her talents wherever she ends up next. “I’m applying to a lot of colleges to double major in dance, but otherwise I would minor and do a dance team,” said Kerf. “I’m working with her now on her senior portfolio, and her senior solo. I’m so proud of how much of a go-getter she has really turned out to be. She’s ready to go,” said Rupp. The Fall Dance Concert Is coming up on November 9. “I’m hoping to do a solo in the fall [dance concert] and be a part of guest artist pieces to make the most of my time here,” said Kerf. Previous Next

This year, Sarah O’Leary ’16 returns to Mercersburg Academy as a member of the arts department, teaching ceramics, drawing, and digital photography... < Back Sarah O' Leary Sep 9, 2022 This year, Sarah O’Leary ’16 returns to Mercersburg Academy as a member of the arts department, teaching ceramics, drawing, and digital photography. O’Leary, originally from California, completed her post-graduate year at Mercersburg and was not only involved in the arts but swam for the Blue Storm. One of her favorite memories from her time at Mercersburg was swimming in a record-setting relay at the 2016 Eastern Swimming and Diving Championships, when the girls won the team championship. “ I was leading off, so I was standing by the block and I looked to the side, and the whole team was lined up, all chanting the same thing together and cheering for us,” said O’Leary. After graduating, O’Leary earned a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from the University of Pennsylvania. “I was able to pick and choose whatever drawing, painting, sculpture, or ceramics class I wanted. I sort of jumped around and took a lot of different classes in all subjects,” she said. After college, O’Leary briefly taught art in Houston. O’Leary has spent her life creating works of art. She shared, “I really have a passion for making things. The act of creating a drawing, creating a sculpture, or something on the wheel, it just fills me with joy.” She doesn’t quite have a favorite between ceramics and drawing; she finds something special in both medias. “I really love lines and holding a pencil. I love the way graphite looks on paper. But, at the same time, there's something really centering, calming, and beautiful about ceramics.” O'Leary cited Mercersburg’s welcoming, supportive, and overall positive environment as a significant reason in her decision to return. “Mercersburg was kind of my first educational experience where I felt like it wasn't about just getting a good grade and jumping through hoops. I felt like it was really about exploring who I was and forming relationships with faculty. I felt like I was really allowed to be me here, and that's not something I saw in many educational spaces,” she said. Returning to Mercersburg offers O’Leary a space to explore herself and her teaching style while connecting with her students in a way that is unique to the space. She said, “When I had the opportunity to come back and participate in something that I really believe education should be like, it seemed like a good opportunity.” O’Leary is most looking forward to the student art shows, but aspires to do an exclusive ceramics or digital photography exhibit. “I would really just like an opportunity to showcase the specific mediums in the Burgin [Center] because [it] is amazing. It's my favorite building on campus.” Previous Next