Mercy Girls Will Graduate This Evening: Class of 2013 Top Two Named

One hundred and fifty-seven Mercy girls will graduate Thursday evening from Middletown's Catholic high school — beginning their adulthood and college careers.

Two students earned the highest grade point averages over their four years at Mercy: Alexandra Femc is the valedictorian and Catherine Kannam is the salutatorian of the Mercy High School Class of 2013. 

Alexandra is the daughter of Joan and Anthony Femc of Middletown.  Alexandra has been an outstanding scholar and athlete, leader and contributor throughout her four years at Mercy High School.  

Her class standing is evidence of her superior academic achievement; she accepts academic challenges as evidenced by her senior course schedule of six classes, five of which are AP classes.  

She has been the recipient of academic excellence awards in Algebra, Biology, Latin, Spanish, Honors, Civics, English, World History and AP U.S. History. She was as semifinalist for Governor’s Scholar and was presented the Harvard Book Award Junior year.  

Alexandra has contributed positively to many of Mercy High School’s clubs, activities, and volunteer service programs. 

She has been an active member of the National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, Peer Ministry, Students Against Destructive Decisions, Finance Club, Latin Club, Helping Hands Helping Paws, Mercy Ambassadors, and the Students Fight Against Cancer Club. 

Outside of school, Alexandra studies dance, gymnastics, and she holds a part-time job in addition to her dedicated hours of volunteer service to such agencies as Middlesex Hospital and Christ Church Cathedral Soup Kitchen.  

She will attend Northeastern University Honors Program in the fall to continue her studies in nursing with a plan to ultimately pursue medical school. 

Catherine is a resident of Durham, and the daughter of Thomas and Heather Kannam.  

She has been an outstanding scholar during her four years at Mercy High School. She has distinguished herself as the recipient of the Brown University and Princeton University Book Awards, the President's Volunteer Service Award, and the Comcast Leaders and Achievers Scholarship.  

She will receive the prestigious Girl Scout Gold Award this summer, the highest honor a Girl Scout can earn.

Catherine has contributed positively to many of Mercy’s clubs, activities, and volunteer service programs. She has been an active member of the National Honor Society serving as the Vice President of Tutoring, Peer Ministry, Choralations, Chamber Choir, Concert Choir, Mercy Ambassadors, the Mercy/Xavier Musical, Students Against Destructive Decisions, and Helping Hands Helping Paws. 

She studied metal working and jewelry design at Wesleyan Potters and was a production assistant, voice coach, and assistant director for school plays at the John Lyman Theater.

Catherine has devoted numerous volunteer hours at the New Britain Museum of American Art with the art education program and as a Sunday school teacher, altar server, and Eucharistic Minister at the Church of the Epiphany in Durham. 

In the fall, Catherine will be attending Dartmouth College.