Excellence recognized
Trending
MARQUETTE -- Two distinguished Marquette Senior High School graduates were honored on Thursday as the newest additions to the A. Felch Pendill Wall of Excellence.
The induction ceremony took place at MSHS, where plaques of honorees are displayed.
This year's recipients of the honor are Robert Mercure, Class of 1969, and Adele Rapport, Class of 1973.
According to the Marquette Area Public Schools Education Foundation, which organizes the wall, honorees must have distinguished themselves in a chosen occupation or profession, been involved in public or community service, and demonstrated time and contributions to philanthropy.
"What is new to me but as many of you know, the Pendill Wall of Excellence is a distinguished group of individuals honored and celebrated for their contributions and successes after graduating from Marquette Area Public Schools," said Brandon Wheeler, the new principal at MSHS.
Wheeler also said the plaques represent role models for the students at the high school.
"None of the people on this wall are really that unique," Mercure said. "We just worked hard, tried our best and were successful in some way."
Mercure attended St. Michael's Elementary School before transitioning to Marquette Senior High School. During his sophomore year, he became involved in Homecoming and Winterfest activities and a theatrical play, and participated in football, wrestling and track. As a wrestler, Mercure placed second in the Great Lakes Conference and the Upper Peninsula wrestling finals in his senior year.
Graduating in 1969, Mercure earned his bachelor of science degree in history/geography, a master of arts degree in recreation and a master of arts in administrative endorsement.
During his 31-year career in education, Mercure was named regional wrestling Coach of the Year in downstate Milan. At West Iron County High School, the team earned its first and only district championship from the Michigan Wrestling Association. Mercure was Teacher of the Year at West Iron County High School and named Upper Peninsula High School Principal of the Year at Wakefield High School from the U.P. Association of Secondary School Principals.
Returning to Marquette after retiring, Mercure, along with his wife Pattie, was recognized as a Volunteer of the Year by the Upper Peninsula Sled Dog Association, and was honored for volunteer work at the Chocolay Senior Center, Marquette Regional History Center, the MAPS Education Foundation and the Marquette wrestling program.
Mercure was instrumental in the donation of the Vietnam Veterans portrait gallery to the Freedom Art Exhibit at MSHS, and an emeritus scholarship is given in his name from the MAPS Education Foundation. He was a recipient of the Arts Volunteer Award from the city of Marquette Arts and Culture Center.
Rapport said she decided to go to law school when she was 12 years old.
"I fell in love with the law, and I still love the law," she said. "After reading John Voelker's books and 'To Kill A Mockingbird' I found the practice of the law is the best way to make lasting positive change in the world."
In fact, Voelker, who wrote the legal classic "Anatomy of a Murder," eventually became her mentor.
In turn, she grew to love mentoring other lawyers -- and educating youngsters by teaching constitutional law to sixth graders and "encouraging them to follow their aspirations," Rapport said.
Rapport graduated from MSHS, having been active in debate and theater, and was a wrestling referee and cheerleader. She attended the University of Michigan Law School, graduating cum laude. Currently the regional director for the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights in Chicago, Rapport was the regional attorney for the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's Detroit District office.
Additionally, Rapport is chair of the Executive Committee for the Chicago Federal Executive Board, and is co-coordinator of the Great Lakes Regional Network of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders.
Rapport is chair of the American Bar Association Government and Public Sector Lawyers, a commissioner of the ABA Commission on Disability Rights and a liaison for the ABA Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Commission. Additionally, she is active in the ABA's Labor and Employment Section for which she was a former Government Lawyer of the Year.
Rapport is a former governor of the Board of Governors for the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers. She was an adjunct professor of law at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, where she taught employment discrimination and disability rights. She currently teaches constitutional rights at middle schools in the Chicago Public Schools.
Christie Mastric can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 550. Her email address is cbleck@miningjournal.net.