University Admissions - Mercer University

Mercer 411

Meet Some of Our Students

Emily Roberts
Class: Junior
Major: Accounting and Spanish
Hometown: Tampa, Florida
Current Activities: Delta Sigma Pi (Professional Business Fraternity), Mercer Judicial System, Leadership MU, Intermural Sports, Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society, Spanish Club
Personal Interests: Beach, shopping, hanging out with friends, and travelling
Best Mercer Moment: Mercer Madness & Alabama Tailgate – The school spirit that was present at those events shows what Mercer is made of and how much the students truly love their university
Favorite Campus Hangout: Plunkett pool and University Center
Favorite Off-Campus Activity: Going on trips to Lake Tobosoftkee and midnight movies
Advice to New Students: Don’t go home too much because becoming involved on campus is the key to having the best college experience you can. Good time management will help you balance your involvement, your schoolwork, and your social life.

Parker Odom
Class: Senior
Major: Industrial Engineering
Hometown: Augusta, GA
Current Activities: Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, Institute for Industrial Engineers
Personal Interests: Music, Guitar, and Movies
Best Mercer Moment: The Homecoming Game vs. Alabama, where we had a live band, tailgated and almost won! It was awesome!
Favorite Campus Hangout: Fraternity House
Favorite Off-Campus Activity: Hanging out with friends and having fun
Advice to New Students: Even though it does not seem important to go to every class, make an effort to attend every single class because you may miss something very important and it teaches you time management. At Mercer, the professors notice when you don’t show up.

Suzanne Bottorff
Class: Junior
Major: Political Science and Spanish
Hometown: Mahomet, IL
Current Activities: Greek Life, Leadership MU, Campus Outreach
Personal Interests: Current events, volunteering and philanthropy, learning about other cultures and places
Best Mercer Moment: My best Mercer Moment was the 2007 Homecoming game when we all came together to cheer on the men’s basketball team in the arena. The energy was awesome!
Favorite Campus Hangout: The couches above the pool in the University Center for studying or just hanging out
Favorite Off-Campus Activity: Volunteering in the Macon schools and after-school programs nearby
Advice to New Students: My advice is not to say "no" to new experiences upon arrival. It's scary, but holing up in the comfort of your dorm room will rob you of all the amazing new things to see and try alongside all the other new freshman, so get out there!

Leighton Elliott
Class: Senior
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Hometown: Ft. Myers, FL
Current Activities: Greek Life, Alpha Phi Omega Service Fraternity, Honor Council Justice, Mercer JV Basketball, Student Admissions Team
Personal Interests: Basketball, cycling, swimming, football
Best Mercer Moment: I got hypnotized at a Homecoming event. Since then, my nickname has been 'Jha Jha'...
Favorite Campus Hangout: My Fraternity House
Favorite Off-Campus Activity: Volunteering with Alpha Phi Omega
Advice to New Students: Be open-minded. Try new things. Take advantage of the array of opportunities Mercer offers you. RUN FOR SGA AND GO THROUGH GREEK RECRUITMENT!

Alice Crisp
Class: Sophomore
Major: MAPS International Economics
Hometown: Tyrone, GA
Current Activities: Student Government Association, Alpha Delta Pi, Reformed University Fellowship, First Presbyterian Choir
Personal Interests: Politics, non-profit work, religion, music, sports
Best Mercer Moment: Freshman year after Mercer Madness, exploring campus with a bunch of other freshman, signing our names on things we probably weren’t supposed to, laying in the grass in the quad, and talking about how Mercer had definitely become our new home, and our friends our new family.
Favorite Campus Hangout: So many. Greek Row, The Quad...
Favorite Off-Campus Activity: Midnight Movie and Downtown Life
Advice to New Students: Don’t run back home because that’s what is familiar and comfortable. Realize that Mercer and Macon have a wealth of traditions, opportunities, and liveliness to offer. Once you allow yourself the time to make connections with other students here, because you will, you will never want to leave this place. Somehow it will become part of you and you will never again refer to it as just your Alma Mater.

Daniel O'Neal
Class: Freshman
Major: Biology
Hometown: Hahira, GA
Current Activities: Alpha Tau Omega, SGA
Personal Interests: Fishing, Music, Hiking
Best Mercer Moment: SGA Elections and Fraternity Bid Day
Favorite Off-Campus Activity: First Friday in Downtown Macon
Advice to New Students: Get involved! Study hard, but enjoy your college experience.

Anitra Simmons
Class: Junior
Major: Business
Hometown: I was a military kid growing up, so I’m a bit from everywhere! Currently, my hometown is in Camden County, GA.
Current Activities: Alpha Delta Pi Sorority, Resident Assistant (RA), Mercer Service Scholars,  Student Admissions Team, Greek Judicial Board, BCM Women’s Ministry Freshman Bible Study Leader, Phi Eta Sigma Volunteering at the Macon District Attorney’s Office
Personal Interests: Reading, going to movies and having dinner with friends, being involved on campus and volunteering in the community!
Best Mercer Moment: Every moment at Mercer is the best! Mercer has an atmosphere of constant activity and adventure in every aspect of the university. From the dynamic and diverse students, to our challenging and caring professors, staff and administrators, everyone at Mercer makes every moment incredible.
Favorite Campus Hangout: Back porch of the Alpha Delta Pi house
Favorite Off-Campus Activity: Going to dinner with friends
Advice to New Students: Know yourself and pick a major which coincides with a carrer that you are passionate about. As a college student, you will be learning a lot about yourself academically and personally, but always stay true to your character and personality, because in the end you have to live with you.

Stephen Dominy
Class: Senior
Major: Business-Integrated Marketing Communications with an Emphasis in Sports Management
Hometown: Augusta, GA
Current Activities: Resident Director of Greek Village, Greek Life, Interfraternity Council, QuadWorks, Student Admissions Team, Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society, Mercer Service Scholar
Personal Interests: I enjoy spending time with my family and friends. I hold my education and career goals high on my list of priorities with God leading the way for me to accomplish these goals.
Best Mercer Moment: My Fraternity Bid Day and Initiation represent my most exciting and memorable moments at Mercer.
Favorite Campus Hangout: University Center
Favorite Off-Campus Activity: Spending time at Lake Tobosofkee
Advice to New Students: Live and learn. Each day will enhance your life as well as your experience at Mercer.

Kelli Banister
Class: Senior
Major: Holistic Child - Early Childhood/Special Education
Hometown: Warner Robins, GA
Current Activities: Mercer Educators in Action, Student Admissions Team, Kappa Delta Epsilon Education Honor Society
Personal Interests: I love traveling, shopping, and being in good company. I also love going to sporting events (Go Mercer!), reading, and working with children.
Best Mercer Moment: My best Mercer moment would have to be my 10-day study abroad in Scotland. I went with the Tift College of Education and had a chance to observe Scottish schools as well as talk to Scottish teachers and students about their school experiences. I learned some wonderful information that I will take into my classroom with me in the future. However, the trip was not all work. We traveled around Scotland, visited some wonderful shops in Edinburgh, and sampled the local cuisine.
Favorite Campus Hangout: My favorite campus hangout is the University Center, or as we call it, the UC. The UC houses Mercer’s basketball arena and I love to go there to watch basketball and volleyball. There is also a food court in the UC with some great food, and nice comfortable chairs to sit in to do homework or simply to relax.
Favorite Off-Campus Activity: I love going either downtown to the local restaurants or to one of the many chain restaurants that are present in Macon. As long as there is good food and good company, I’m there!
Advice to New Students: Soak everything in while you are at Mercer. The experience goes by so quickly. Get involved, but do not over commit. Find where you fit best and join that organization. Being involved on campus is the best way to meet new people and make life long friends.