Meet our Bears.
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Sam Orjuela
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Kyla Semmendinger
Environmental Engineering, Mercer Alum, Class of 2018, Ithaca, NY
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Shane Buerster
When Shane’s dream of playing college baseball ended, he needed another outlet to channel that drive and determination. While participating in a Mercer On Mission trip to Ecuador to study the economic viability of the coffee industry, he befriended a local government official. The two kept in touch so Shane could practice speaking Spanish, and through these phone conversations, the idea of Z Beans Coffee was born. With support from the Mercer Innovation Center, Shane started his own business, importing processed organic coffee through fair trade to provide top-quality coffee to U.S. consumers and a fair wage to impoverished farmers in Zaruma, Ecuador. In addition to an online storefront and business wholesales, Shane has expanded his business to include a coffee shop in Mercer Village.
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Donald Williams
International Business and Marketing Major, Class of 2020, Columbus, GA
Selected by the U.S. Department of State as a Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholar, Donald had the opportunity to spend the summer studying abroad in Seville, Spain, where he improved his Spanish language skills while studying Spanish foreign markets. Donald says this experience increased his global perspective and made him a more informed world citizen. As a leader on campus, Donald is vice president of professional activities for Delta Sigma Pi business fraternity and a member of the Residence Hall Association’s Programming Committee. He volunteers with anti-trafficking organization Traffick Jam, MerServe, and as a tutor at a local elementary school.
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Ashila Jiwani
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Darice Cudjoe
I came into college relatively shy. How could I ever come out of my shell and do great things? That quickly changed when I stepped foot onto Mercer’s campus and was overwhelmed by the amount of encouragement coming my way. Mercer has given me the confidence and resources I need to overcome my fears and to be a leader in my generation.
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Ponch Chantha
Marketing and Sports Marketing and Analytics Major, Class of 2018, Atlanta, GA
When Ponch arrived at Mercer, he quickly got involved with MU Miracle, an extracurricular organization that fundraises for the Beverly Knight Olson Children’s Hospital in Macon. In fact, he once shaved his head and raised $1,800 for MU Miracle. Ponch is president of his fraternity and a member of the executive board of the Sports Marketing and Analytics Club. He works as creative marketing intern for Elite Basketball Services, where he generates sponsorship leads and designs brand assets. After graduation, he plans to work in collegiate athletics or with an NBA franchise, focusing on ticketing and sales or marketing and digital analytics.
“The people here are so genuine, driven, and passionate about all they are involved in, and it’s inspiring to be surrounded by that.”
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Shailey Shah
Working with the Office for Student Success, Shailey and a group of Mercer students created an event called “Real Talk: Student Edition,” where students could share their stories about the challenges they have faced overcome in life. She began conducting research during her first year at Mercer, working with bacteria to synthesize antibiotics for human use. As a member of the Mercer Orthotics and Prosthetics Club, she serves as lab secretary, teaching other members how to modify, cut, and wrap prosthetics. In the community, Shailey volunteers on Service Saturdays, works on projects with Rebuilding Macon, and participates in the Backpacks for Kids food drive. She enjoys engaging the community, getting to know the city of Macon better and the people who live here.
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Josh Wilck
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Sagar Patel
Biomedical Engineering Major, Pre-Med, Class of 2019, Perry, GA
Sagar is a member of CURE Mercer, Reformed University Fellowship (RUF), Alpha Epsilon Delta (National Health Pre-Professional Honor Society), Mercer Prosthetics and Orthotics Club (MPOC).
“By being at Mercer, I know I can help change the world for the better. My goal is to become a doctor and join Doctors Without Borders.”
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Margaret Rooyakkers
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Matt Halbert
During his first year at Mercer, Matt began conducting research and spent two summers studying brain tumors. He has since been published for this work. Matt’s current research focuses on developing alternative forms of antibacterial production, testing each compound’s potency to create a library of antibiotics. After graduating from Mercer, he hopes to earn a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in biochemistry or molecular biology to work on cancer therapeutics and drug development.
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Kay Bush
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Kyle Bligen
Politics, Philosophy, and Economics Major, Class of 2018
“I want to tell you to get ready. For what? For what’s next. These next for years will consist of an amalgamation of experiences that are more than life-changing. Mercer University will be a birthing ground for new experiences, relationships, and destiny-defining decisions.”
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Elise Young
Electrical Engineering Major, Class of 2021, Lawrenceville, GA
An Honorable Mention for the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship, the nation’s most prestigious scholarship for undergraduates in science, mathematics, and engineering, Elise conducts research that investigates the inherent presence of state dependent time delay in internet traffic congestion problems, as well as developed control strategies for optimizing the coordinated control of signalized traffic intersections. She plans to earn her master’s degree through the School of Engineering’s 4+1 Integrated Degree Program, obtain a Ph.D. in electrical engineering and work in a national laboratory. She also hopes to study abroad in Japan. On campus, Elise has participated in Mercer’s women’s choir, K-Pop dance team, Mercer Asia, and intramural soccer and volleyball.
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Jayla Moody
French and Global Development Studies and Journalism Major, Class of 2019, Decatur, GA
In the summer after her first year at Mercer, Jayla participated in a research fellowship in Israel sponsored by the Anti-Defamation League. Through the fellowship, she studied Israel’s historical and current social challenges while researching conflict-resolutions. Then, she brought these lessons back to apply in the local community through programs, clubs, and projects. Jayla was also chosen to attend the National Campaign for Political and Civic Engagement Conference, coordinated by the Institute of Politics (IOP) at Harvard Kennedy School, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where she worked to identify processes and strategies to support open, diverse, and inclusive political conversations that can provide first steps toward reconnecting college students and Americans who often see no common ground.
In addition, Jayla has served as arts and entertaiment editor for The Cluster, and is a member of the Admissions Special Events Team and Leadership Mercer as well as a Peer Advisor and sorority member.
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Micah Davis
History Major, Class of 2020, Stone Mountain, GA
“I wanted a distinctive college experience. As I considered my options, Mercer was clearly the right fit for me. There’s a vibe to this place that I didn’t find anywhere else. Mercer is big enough to offer a thriving campus life experience but small enough that you feel connected to a community. When I came to Mercer, I joined ROTC and immediately found a tight-knit group of friends. We all care for each other and want to see each other improve to reach our full potential as leaders. My fellow cadets motivate me to exceed what I thought I could do. Mercer and ROTC have taken me beyond my comfort zone in a good way.”