Valedictorian and Salutatorian Announced

Michaela Miano and Sarah McNickle are both from Portland, Conn., but that is not all they  have in common-they both are exceptional students who pursued the most rigorous classes at Mercy High School, earning multiple awards for their achievements as scholars while also holding student leadership positions.

From the very start of her Mercy career, Valedictorian Michaela Miano showed great academic promise, earning an entrance exam scholarship in 2019. Over the course of her four years, she earned academic achievement awards in Honors English, Honors Algebra, Honors Physics, and AP English Language and Composition, as well as an AP Scholar Award and the Harvard Book Prize. Michaela is a member of the National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, Tri-M Music Honor Society, and Math National Honor Society, for which she served as vice president of tutoring.

Outside of the classroom, Michaela served as a tour guide for the Admission Office as a Mercy Ambassador for four years and has been a member of the Mercy Chamber Choir for three years. She is active in many clubs, including the ecology club, Medical Minds club, Fight Against Cancer club, and show choir; she also served as manager and editor of the Abyss literary magazine in her junior year. She has volunteered and completed service projects for the Portland Library, Apple Rehab, Middletown Nursing Home, and St. Mary’s Church. Michaela is the daughter of Karen and Michael Miano. She will attend Syracuse University.

Salutatorian Sarah McNickle was recognized as an AP Scholar with Honor and with the Wesleyan Book Award, and she earned academic achievement awards in Spanish 4, AP Physics, and AP Modern World History. She is an executive board member of the National Honor Society and co-president of the Justice and Peace club; a member of the Math National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, and Tri-M Music Honor Society, as well as captain of Mock Trial.

From ninth through twelfth grades, Sarah was a hurdler for the track and field team, a bass clarinetist in the school’s orchestra, and a tour guide for the Admission Office as a Mercy Ambassador. She volunteers as a virtual tutor for low-income students and works for Covenant Living of Cromwell supporting patients living with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Sarah is the daughter of Michelle and Sean McNickle. She will attend Boston College.

President Alissa K. DeJonge noted, “Michaela and Sarah should be commended for their commitment and character. Their achievements are the result of their willingness to put in the effort and to persevere, traits that will serve them well in college. I am so proud of their accomplishments, and I am certain they will continue to lead with honor and respect in their college communities.”