Kali Beutler

Kali Beutler is a sophomore from Tonawanda, New York, majoring in Integrated Media and Strategic Communication, as well as minoring in both Psychology and International Relations. Kali is an active member around campus, as she is a part of many clubs and organizations around campus. 

Kali is close to her family, which includes; her older sister, who works as a dog groomer, her mother, and pet dog. Kali's father passed away when she was seventeen years old. 

Kali's mother works in law enforcement and similar career goals to what her mother does for a living. Kali's goal is to work in the government doing crisis communication by developing natural disaster response plans. Her major, double minors, and her mother's background put Kali in an excellent place to achieve her career goal. 

 

Kali is very outgoing and friendly. She is always full of energy and shows she is passionate and hardworking in everything she does. Kali has demonstrated her success through hard work consistently through being both active around campus and in her academics. Kali is busy around campus as she huge with campus involvement.

Kali is a part of many clubs, including; Theater club. OAC, yoga club, modern cinema club,

Multicultural Activities Council, and Student Activities Council or better known as MAC/SAC to those around campus, as well as The Merciad. She does her work-study at the campus involvement center. 

Although she is active around campus, she has been able to achieve the perfect grade point average of a 4.00 consistently. Her excellent grade point average has resulted in her becoming an active member of Phi Eta Sigma. 

Kali was like this before college. She was quite active as well. She played tennis in high school, despite not being a fan of sports. Her hobbies consist of hiking, swimming, photography, reading, and painting. She describes herself as outgoing and kind. If you ever have an interaction with Kali, it is evident that she is both outgoing and helpful. 

- Isabel C. Merriman 

Will Zytnick

Will Zytnick is a freshman majoring in Sports Business Management and considering Communications as a minor. He is from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He is involved with The Merciad covering athletics on campus, as it correlates with his major.

Will played tennis in high school and fell in love with sports at the age of four. He is passionate about any Pittsburgh sports team. His dream job is to work with a Professional Sports team in the Pittsburgh area. Therefore, he chose to go into Sports Business Management and a possible Communication minor. He believes these areas of study will guide him closer to achieving his dream.

Pittsburgh sports have played a significant role in man aspects of his life. They have helped him get through some tough times in his life. If you came up to will and asked him about specifically the Penguins and Steelers, he would give you the complete rundown of the history of the franchises.  He can memorize most topics in life, especially pro-sports.

Will wanted to play tennis in college, but unfortunately, it was in his best interest. Through his major and Merciad, he can still find ways to participate in these activities with those close to him. Some activities he enjoys tennis, running, basketball, and he is discovering more.

Will believes his family plays an essential role in who he is today. He has a twin brother named Zach, who attends the University of Miami, Florida. He also has a younger brother named Matthew, who is a junior in high school. His father is named Jay and works in Real Estate, and his mother Kim is a former small business owner of a cleaning company in his hometown. He believes that his mother's entrepreneurial background played a role in going into business.

Will is a very outgoing and friendly person who is always looking to connect with new people. He can found at any Mercyhurst sporting event and covering it for The Merciad. If ever you have the opportunity to meet Will, take some time, and get to know him better.

- Isabel C. Merriman

Jieny Dour

Jieny Dour is a senior majoring in Political Science with a concentration in international relations and minoring in Pre-law and Sociology. Jieny was born in South Sudan but grew up in Buffalo, New York. Jieny runs the club Afrobeats, teaching dance to other students. She ran on the Cross Country team from her freshman through her junior year.

Jieny and her family came to the United States in 2000; as a result, to escape the war in Sudan. She is the second youngest of seven children, and she and her family are still close to their African roots and culture. She founded Afrobeats as a way to connect her culture to Mercyhurst. The club teaches dances from different cultures, helping bridge the gap for students wanting to learn about different genres of music and ethnicities.

Jieny did not run in high school; she played basketball. She wanted to remain active, so she decided to join the Cross Country team. Her senior year, she chose not to continue to run so that she could focus on her academics. She still socializes with her former teammates and finds ways to stay active.

Before Mercyhurst, Jieny attended a trade school, receiving a degree in criminal justice. While going to school as a student-athlete and trade school, Jieny also helped her mother with the daily chores around the house. Her culture values respect and hospitality, so Jieny was taught to be respectful and courteous to guests and anyone she meets. Jieny's culture also valued Earth, and this led to Jieny's become an environmentalist. As an environmentalist, Jieny advocates for the protection of Earth and animals, she's still an advocate for Mother Earth. She fights for the protection and preservation of the Earth and all its living creatures.

As well as being an environmentalist, Jieny is also a humanitarian and hopes to incorporate it into her career. Jieny wishes to use her degree as a way to help those less fortunate and push for equality. Jieny isn't afraid to fight for what she believes is right because her mother told her always to be proud of what she stands for.

- Isabel C. Merriman