Emily Beggs ’26

GPA: 4.2

I would like to personally thank you and express my gratitude and appreciation for being named a Howley Scholar of Distinction. So far, my time at Merion Mercy Academy has been better than I ever could have imagined. I have met people and formed relationships that I know will last a lifetime. I will be forever grateful to the Howley Foundation.

Currently, I am involved in several clubs and activities. Those of which I am most proud include participating in Stage Crew for Merion’s Theater Department and joining the Gay Straight Alliance (GSA). Equal rights for all genders and sexualities is something I am passionate about. Being in a community where I feel comfortable talking about those issues is important to me. When looking at Merion, I was drawn to the level of diversity and inclusivity. Ultimately, that is why I wanted to come here.

In the short time I have been here, I have learned a lot about myself and what I value in life. I have a lot to be proud of. I have achieved honors in biology, geometry, and literature. These classes have been tough, but I like being challenged to do my best work on every assignment, no matter how small. Some of my favorite classes in the first semester were Robotics and French. In Robotics I realized engineering is not my strong suit, but I enjoyed the class very much. I thank my teacher, Mr. York, for that. He always supported me, even when my projects failed. I learned more than just Robotics from him. He taught me to keep trying, and when I did not succeed, I learned that sometimes failure can be a person’s greatest motivation. We discovered our “whys,” and knowing why I do some of the things I do has helped me to discover more about myself and my passions.

Community service is a very big part of being a student at Merion Mercy. I have participated in multiple service projects. I am part of The Mercy Mission Corps (MMC), which is a service-based club that offers hands-on opportunities. I helped serve food to economically disadvantaged people in Kensington last fall, and this experience was a real eye-opener. It was very impactful for me to see just how much a simple meal can mean to an individual. I reflected on this when I wrote an essay about service as part of religious experience.

I struggle with anxiety, particularly new experiences, and that made starting high school pretty challenging. Before beginning in September, Merion’s admission team provided opportunities for me to meet other students who would be in my class, and that made all the difference. Since then, I have made strong and meaningful friendships with several girls in my class. Forming these great relationships is a big reason why I love Merion. I owe immense gratitude to the Howley Foundation, because without you I would never get to have this outstanding opportunity to attend Merion Mercy. I am honored to call myself a Howley Scholar of Distinction, and I look forward to every opportunity open to me here at Merion Mercy.

My first semester at Merion Mercy Academy was nothing short of amazing, and I owe all my gratitude to the Howley Foundation. Since the fourth grade, I wanted to attend Merion Mercy, but my parents said that would only be possible with the help of scholarships. I was blessed to receive a Howley Scholarship of Distinction, and this made all the difference—I would go to MMA!

I became very involved in the Merion community. In the fall, I was the goalie for the JV field hockey team. I also participate in a before-school workout program called Swole Sister Society, and this spring, I plan to do shot put on the track and field team. I am a member of five student-run clubs—Mercy Mission Corps, our school service club, History Club, French Club, National Art Honor Society, and Comedy Club. I am also running for freshman representative on student council this year. As a member of the National Art Honor Society (NAHS), I worked on a Memory Project, through which MMA student artists created portraits of impoverished children in different parts of the world. I am currently on track to fulfill the 15 hours of art service that is required to be officially inducted into NAHA in the spring. I am delighted with the many opportunities that Merion has opened to me, and I am so grateful for the friends I have made here.

Before coming to Merion Mercy, I found academics to be very easy, which resulted in poor study habits and not fully paying attention in class. Despite these habits, I graduated from grade school with high honors, and I won seven different academic and extracurricular awards at graduation. Merion Mercy has provided me with an academic challenge, forcing me to develop good study habits and good note-taking during class. My hardest class so far is Honors Biology. Early in the year, I came to class unprepared, and I failed my first quiz. On my most recent quiz, I got a 97%, up 36 points from my first quiz. These challenges provide me with the motivation to study and do well, which no doubt will lead me to further success in life. I am now doing well in all my classes; I have straight As. Merion has also provided great opportunities to be noticed by colleges, even now in my freshman year. My field hockey coach played for LaSalle and offered us tips for recruitment. After taking the PSAT, I was contacted by certain colleges informing me of scholarship opportunities and ways to make my applications stand out. Even though it’s only the beginning of my second semester, I can see that Merion Mercy is the perfect fit for me. I look forward to my future accomplishments, and I cannot wait to see where this amazing journey will take me. I will forever be grateful to The Howley Foundation for providing me with such a great opportunity.