As Seen In: de Sales Sheet Magazine, Fall 2020 Edition
The graduating class of 2020 included 94 young men and women who now attend a variety of colleges and universities across the United States. In our annual Five Faces feature, de Sales Sheet readers get to know several of our youngest alumni who were nominated by faculty and staff as outstanding representatives of Mount de Sales Academy.
The Sisters of Mercy Award is given to the senior who most demonstrates the values of the Sisters of Mercy by reverencing the dignity of each person, creating a spirit of hospitality, and pursuing the integrity of word and deed in his or her daily life.
As an 18-year-old, Stephanie Pierson describes herself as a “really curious” person, which has prompted many of her MDS and life experiences. Stephanie ran cross-country for five years, participated in Model UN, Mock Trial, and the Environmental Club. She graduated with highest honors and as valedictorian.
As the child of an educator and a pastor, Stephanie’s love for learning led her to take twelve AP classes and several independent studies including African American Studies, Eco-Theology, and AP European History. These three classes helped develop Stephanie’s passion for defending vulnerable populations. Coach Duane Hunter, who taught Stephanie in three AP classes, noted that Stephanie’s questions and insights in class were stimulating and perceptive. “She kept teachers on their toes because she so enjoyed social studies and was always reading. Stephanie sees things that she believes need change and works to bring about that change. She is not going to sit by idly waiting for other people to act.”
One of Stephanie’s most well-known accomplishments came outside the classroom when she was chosen to participate in Teen Jeopardy in the summer of 2019. According to Stephanie, she tested for the show three times before she was chosen for an interview which led to her ultimate selection as a contestant.
Stephanie spent significant time this summer attending Black Lives Matter protests in Macon and Atlanta as well as time in nature, hiking at places such as Amicolola Falls and Providence Canyon. Stephanie attends the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is a member of the Honors Program. She plans to major in history, minor in Spanish and philosophy, and eventually attend law school and work in public service.
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Mount de Sales Academy is a private Catholic school located in Macon, GA, and serves students in Bibb, Houston, Jones, Monroe, Peach and other surrounding counties. MDS is sponsored and inspired by the Sisters of Mercy. Since 1876, MDS has served a diverse college-preparatory community of learners—students and teachers alike—who are poised to discover, challenged to innovate, and motivated to serve.