It's OFFICIAL! Mercyhurst University!

So my original plan for my blog this week was to talk about my stressful quest to find, apply to, and wait to be accepted to graduate programs.  It is a feeling many seniors in college probably can empathize with...but on a bit of a different level since the grad school I ultimately attend will define a whole lot about my future!

Dr. Gamble annoucing
university status!

BUT, instead of boring you with my complaining about the application process, one of the most exciting and newsworthy events has occurred at this school today: Mercyhurst College has OFFICALLY become Mercyhurst University!!!!

This morning, the entire student body got in email that our president, Dr. Gamble, was going to make an announcement and the entire student body was encouraged to attend.  Naturally, there were people guessing about what on earth this might be; I heard one boy convinced that the school was shutting down because the world might end in December 2012...sorry bud, but you were WAY OFF!

Around 1:30, the Student Union began swelling with students, faculty, and news cameras in anticipation of the announcement. I luckily got there early and sat on the floor right in front, so I had a great view of the president as he made the exciting announcement that our school has now become Mercyhurst University!  Check this link out to read the official announcement on the Mercyhurst website!  Or click here to view the Merciad article!

Mercyhurst University logo!

As he told the huge crowd of proud Lakers the excited news, everyone erupted in applause.  This is something so exciting for Mercyhurst and likely one of the biggest events to occur in the history of the school, since it's founding by the Sisters of Mercy in 1926!  At the end of the short speech by the president and board of trustee chair, the new logo to represent this school was unveiled.  You can see it in the picture just to the right!

You may be wondering what this means for current and future students of the school.  For the most part, it means new signs, apparrel, and a different logo on top of your diploma.  But, it also means higher national and international recognition, greater opportunity for our grad programs to grow, and boasting rights to say you attended Mercyhurst University, of course. 

As I leave you to soak in this momentous news and gigantic step for this awesome institution, I want to give you a quote from Dr. Gamble himself as he announced our new status:

"While we’ve long known and celebrated who we are, Mercyhurst can now officially tell its students: You are getting the best of both worlds – a university-quality education with the personal attention and flavor of a liberal arts college."

Such an amazing moment to be a current or future Mercyhurst Laker!