Commemorating the Leadership and Humanitarianism of Inspiring Women
Photography by Lori Sparkman Photography
Mercy & Me Luncheon Presenting Sponsor – CHI St. Vincent & Silver Sponsor – Entergy Arkansas
Leadership has always been exemplified by Mount St. Mary Academy, and its highly regarded Mercy & Me Luncheon celebrates this heritage. A new addition to this year’s Mercy & Me event is the Women’s Leadership Award, recognizes exceptional women who have demonstrated impressive leadership within their community. Laura Landreaux, president and CEO of Entergy Arkansas, will be recognized as the first recipient of the award during the celebratory luncheon next month. Though not a requirement, it’s no surprise that Laura graduated from Mount St. Mary.
Shining a spotlight on confident women who are unwavering in their efforts to create a better community is a paramount task. The director of donor giving at Mount St. Mary Foundation, Melissa Stiles, says she believes they chose the perfect person to receive this inaugural award. “When thinking through the possible recipients of the first-ever Women’s Leadership Award, Laura was our first choice,” Melissa explains. “She is a great example of a strong, confident woman who gives of herself to her profession and to her community. An extra special perk is that Laura is a Mount graduate.”
As the first woman to ever lead the state’s largest energy company, Laura says her parents taught her at a young age that she could achieve anything she put her mind to. She credits Mount St. Mary for giving her the confidence and ability to do just that. “Mercy values include things like dignity, excellence, courage, compassion, and service, and those values have helped guide both my professional and personal life,” Laura explains. “The Mercy & Me event highlights and celebrates these values and provides the opportunity for others to experience all that the school offers.”
Mount St. Mary Academy’s director of communications and marketing, Jamie Groat, says Mercy & Me recognizes those who sustain the values on which the school was founded. “Mercy leaders are all around us – from the proud mother to the business professional to the community leader,” Jamie says. “The Mercy & Me luncheon was organized to celebrate the spirit and determination of women of all ages and walks of life who exemplify the nine Mercy values that have inspired leadership among women at Mount St. Mary for 168 years.”
In its fifth year, the Mercy & Me luncheon will honor the past, present and future of Mercy leadership and its impact throughout our community. All proceeds from the Mercy & Me luncheon benefit Mount St. Mary Academy and ensure the Mercy tradition of educational excellence and leadership continues for many years to come. The event will be held Tuesday, April 16, at the Statehouse Convention Center.
This year’s co-chair of the event, Donna Bressinck, explains the importance of Mercy & Me. “Mercy & Me is one of the few events in Central Arkansas that recognizes and celebrates women leaders,” Donna says. “What a wonderful opportunity to gather more than 700 women in one room to recognize their contributions to our school, their professions and the communities in which they live.”
