A rich tapestry of long-standing (and newer) traditions nurtures the strong community of Mercersburg students, faculty, and alumni. From special places on campus to weekly community events, our traditions bring spirit and warmth to our lives. For example:


Senior Benches
Located just outside Ford Hall, the Senior Benches are campus icons. According to tradition, only seniors may sit here—until they ceremoniously bequeath them to next year’s seniors at the end of Senior Week.

The Harkness Table
At many other schools, a table is, well, a table. But at Mercersburg, the Harkness table is a hallmark. It’s where you’ll sit eye to eye, mind to mind, with your teacher and your classmates—equal partners in the search for truths about you and your world.

Irving/Marshall Week
In this spirited week-long competition held each February, the Irving Society squares off against the Marshall Society in everything from chess and basketball to Ping-Pong and wrestling. Students wear Irving’s red and white or Marshall’s blue and yellow proudly, becoming part of standing-room-only audiences as they cheer for fellow society members. The centerpiece event, Declamation, follows a formal dinner and precedes a dance, after which the head of school announces the winning society.

Community Gathering
Each Wednesday in the Burgin Center for the Arts, at a community gathering, seniors take to the podium to share subjects that have personal meaning to them. Whether it’s an original poem, reflections on lessons learned, or a bittersweet (or humorous!) song about graduating, these gatherings strengthen our community and nurture its character.

Chapel
Each Friday at Chapel, the community gathers to reflect. Visitors share something of their spirit with students: jazz musicians heat up a winter morning, while students dance in the aisles; the Academy’s minister talks about Mercersburg theology and its evolution; a Buddhist shares a tale about cross-country bike races with wild animals nipping at his heels. You never know what a Friday might bring.