Mercy Academy receives STEM award from Cognia

Mercy Academy was awarded Cognia's inaugural STEM Partnership Award at the Kentucky Continuous Improvement Summit in Lexington last month, a recognition of our outstanding eight-year collaboration with Cognia.

The partnership began in 2016 when Mercy Academy became the first school in Kentucky to complete Cognia's STEM certification review process. Since then, Mercy has consistently demonstrated continuous improvement, not only renewing its STEM certification but also actively contributing to Cognia's initiatives. We have also shared our expertise through presentations at conferences and webinars and worked with other schools to guide them through their own STEM certification journeys.

"In many ways, I believe that this is the aspect that truly reflects Mercy's commitment to STEM education - it's not that we are just obtaining our own certification, but that we have become a leader in the field that other educators can now depend on when it comes to STEM learning," said Pat Burton, Science Teacher/STEM Coordinator.

Mercy Academy's commitment to STEM education is evident in our ongoing efforts to maintain accreditation with Cognia, a globally-recognized organization known for its rigorous, evidence-based standard. Earlier this year, Mercy Academy once again earned Cognia accreditation, reaffirming our dedication to fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

Cognia's accreditation process examines every aspect of an institution, from policies to learning environments, ensuring that each part works in harmony to meet the needs of all learners.

As one of four all-girls Catholic high schools in Louisville, Mercy Academy stands out as the only one that is STEM certified. In fact, Mercy was the first all-girls school in the U.S. to achieve this distinction.

Currently, Mercy Academy has 32 active STEM partnerships, including collaborations with GE Appliances, Mammoth Cave National Park and NASA's "Growing Beyond Earth" research program. These partnerships provide students with real-world experiences that go beyond the classroom, reinforcing our mission to prepare young women for the future by blending academic rigor with practical applications.

To learn more about Cognia, visit cognia.org. To learn more about STEM education opportunities at Mercy, click here.