A Heart for Service: Living Our Catholic Mission For 100 Years
In 1927, the Sisters of St. Mary of Namur founded Mount St. Mary Academy on the values of faith, service, and sisterhood. Nearly 100 years later, we are proud to see these values remain at the heart of our school’s mission. We empower our students to become compassionate leaders committed to lifelong learning, moral integrity, social justice, and a life of service and inclusion.
Throughout the past century, Mount St. Mary students have learned that serving others is an essential part of discovering who they are and who they are called to become. Our students are encouraged to serve their communities with compassion and purpose. Through these experiences, they not only make a difference in the lives of others but also discover greater strength, confidence, and compassion within themselves.
Service to Others Since the Beginning
Throughout its 100-year history, Mount St. Mary Academy has fostered a strong tradition of service, bringing students together to make a meaningful difference in their community. This commitment dates back to the 1940s, when students, teachers, and alumnae volunteered their time in support of the war effort, and continued with the formation of the Mission Club in the 1950s.
As the decades progressed, service opportunities continued to grow. In the 1980s, MSM students volunteered as candy stripers at local hospitals, gaining firsthand experience in caring for others. During the 1990s, the Volunteer Club served Thanksgiving dinners for those in need and made regular visits to senior residences and nursing homes. In the 2000s, Serteens became a popular part of student life, with Mounties volunteering for dozens of organizations throughout Western New York. The club grew so significantly that it established its own executive leadership team, including a president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer.
In the 2010s, the tradition continued through the Z Club, sponsored by the Zonta Club of Kenmore. Students dedicated their time to serving meals in soup kitchens, organizing toy drives, and supporting St. Luke’s Mission of Mercy.
The club’s name has changed over the decades, but MSM’s commitment to service has remained a defining part of the student experience, reflecting our enduring dedication to compassion, leadership, and community engagement.
MSM Serve Club Today
Serve Club strives to promote service to all people in need within our school community and beyond. As one of the largest clubs, it provides a variety of opportunities for Mounties to volunteer in school and the greater WNY community. Serve Club stresses the importance of showing God gratitude for the blessings in students’ lives and works to make a difference in others’ lives.
Throughout the year, Serve Club hosts a variety of collections benefiting local charities, including the St. Francis Parish of Tonawanda Food Pantry and St. Luke’s Mission of Mercy. Through these two organizations, Mounties not only have the opportunity to raise awareness for local nonprofits but also have the opportunity to work with two MSM Alumnae: Emily Ruh ‘18 at St. Francis Parish and Nancy Polino ‘79 at St. Luke’s Mission of Mercy.
The club recently wrapped up a Peanut Butter and Jelly drive this fall benefiting the St. Francis of Tonawanda Food Pantry and collected over 130 jars of peanut butter and jelly.
“With each drive, we bring awareness to our school community about the needs of others throughout WNY. I am so happy to see the success of our food drives, and the impressive collection of Christmas gifts for St. Luke’s! Last year, we put together gift boxes for 140 families!” – Mrs. Anne Evangelos, Math and Economics Teacher and Serve Club Adult Moderator
The Serve Club includes students from all grade levels, and set a goal for the 2026 – 2027 academic year of hosting four in-school collections and at least two off-site volunteer service opportunities. Each MSM student is required to complete 20 hours of community service per year, but many go above and beyond the standard amount of hours. Serve Club President Emma Gugino ‘28 completed an incredible 422.5 hours of service during her Freshman and Sophomore years at MSM.
“It is a privilege to be the student leader of the Serve Club. Service has always been a very important aspect of my life, and it is such an incredible opportunity to be able to share my love for service with the MSM community. There are so many reasons why I wanted to be a leader, but my top reason is being able to show others the importance of service. It really helps me realize all the more good we can do as a team. That is a great accomplishment: knowing that all the hard work of planning, packing, and making of these projects all comes together for our ultimate goal of serving our community with a purpose to help all.” – Emma Gugino ‘28, Serve Club President
Give today. Inspire tomorrow. Continue the legacy.
While the holiday season often reminds us of the importance of serving those in need and giving back to our communities, these values are more than a seasonal tradition at Mount St. Mary—they are a way of life. For Mounties, compassion, generosity, and service are values they carry with them throughout the entire year.
Your gift to Mount St. Mary Academy helps ensure that future generations of Mounties have the opportunity to learn, lead, serve, and make a difference in their communities. By giving, you are investing in students who will carry the values of compassion, generosity, inclusion, and service far beyond our halls and into the world.
Our Serve Club inspires students to recognize and give thanks to God for the many blessings in their lives by sharing His love, serving others, and making a meaningful difference in the lives of those around them. Join us in carrying the Mount St. Mary Academy mission forward. Give today to empower the next generation of compassionate leaders.
