Mercersburg Academy’s Alumni Council has announced the recipients of its 2025 award, which will be presented Saturday, June 7, 2025, during Reunion Weekend. The awards are bestowed upon members of the Mercersburg alumni community for their service, leadership, and distinction. 

This year's awards will be presented to Benicio Del Toro ’85 (Alumni Council Medal for Distinguished Achievement), William Rockey, USMC (Ret.) ’45 (Alumni Council Medal for Distinguished Service), Lorraine Simonis Mahoney ’10 (Alumni Council Prize for Achievement), Alexis Gray ’05 (Alumni Council Prize for Service), and Paul Suhey ’10 (Young Alumni Leadership Award). Stacie Rice Lissette, Esq. ’85, P ’14, ’14, ’17, ’23, Board of Regents president emeritus, will also receive the school’s highest distinction—the Class of ’32 Distinguished Alumni Award. 

Benicio Del Toro ’85 will receive the Alumni Council Medal for Distinguished Achievement. Established in 1997, this prestigious award recognizes alumni who have excelled professionally or personally, bringing distinction to themselves and Mercersburg Academy. 

Throughout his career, Del Toro has earned critical acclaim and widespread recognition for his remarkable performances. He won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Steven Soderbergh’s Traffic, a performance that also garnered a Golden Globe Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, a BAFTA, and the Silver Bear Award at the Berlin International Film Festival, among other accolades. His work in Alejandro González Inarritu’s 21 Grams earned him an Oscar nomination and the Audience Award for Best Actor at the Venice Film Festival.

Del Toro re-teamed with Soderbergh to portray Che Guevara in the biographical epic Che, winning the Palme d’Or for Best Actor award at the Cannes Film Festival and Spain’s Goya Award. He has also earned three Independent Spirit Awards for standout performances in The Usual Suspects, Basquiat, and Inherent Vice.

Recent projects include the Netflix thriller Reptile, which he executive-produced, and Wes Anderson’s The French Dispatch, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. He will next be seen starring in two highly anticipated films, Wes Anderson’s The Phoenician Scheme, coming out May 30, 2025 alongside Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks, Willem Dafoe, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Charlotte Gainsbourg, and in the new Paul Thomas Anderson film scheduled to be released August 8, 2025, which he recently wrapped production and stars across from Leonardo DiCaprio and Sean Penn.

Other notable works include Sicario and its sequel Sicario: Day of the Soldado, for which he earned a BAFTA nomination; Guardians of the Galaxy and Avengers: Infinity War; Star Wars: The Last Jedi; and the Showtime miniseries Escape at Dannemora, which earned him an Emmy nomination. His critically acclaimed performances also extend to films such as License to Kill, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Snatch, Sin City, The Pledge, to name only a few.

After graduating from Mercersburg, Del Toro attended the University of California at San Diego with aspirations of becoming a lawyer. His passion for acting, developed in freshman drama classes, led him to pursue theater. He moved to New York City to attend the Circle in the Square Professional Theater School before earning a scholarship to the prestigious Stella Adler Conservatory.

Del Toro’s ties to Mercersburg run deep, with family connections spanning generations. His late grandfather Benicio Sanchez (1917), late uncle Benicio Sanchez-Rivera ’52, and several cousins are alumni of the school.

Throughout the years, Del Toro has remained connected to Mercersburg. He participated in the 2006 grand opening of the Burgin Center for the Arts, served as the inspiring Commencement speaker in 2018, and shared a heartfelt message with the Class of 2020 during the global pandemic. Beloved by students for his thoughtful words and enduring connection to the school, Del Toro exemplifies how passion, talent, and resilience can leave an indelible mark on both the arts and the community.

Del Toro resides in Los Angeles but returns often to his native Puerto Rico to visit family
 

Col. William Rockey, USMC (Ret.) ’45, will receive the Alumni Council Medal for Distinguished Service. Established in 1957, this award honors alumni who have made outstanding contributions to Mercersburg Academy’s mission and its continued excellence in faculty, students, facilities, and financial strength. 

Rockey is a decorated Marine Corps officer, a dedicated volunteer, and steadfast supporter of Mercersburg.

He is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and holds an MBA from National University. His distinguished career in the U.S. Marine Corps exemplifies the values of service and leadership instilled at Mercersburg. His military service includes courageous tours in Korea and Vietnam, during which he earned two Silver Star Medals—the nation’s third-highest military decoration for valor in combat—the Legion of Merit with a “V” for valor, and the Bronze Star, also with a “V” for valor.

Beyond his military accomplishments, Rockey has demonstrated exceptional commitment to Mercersburg. He has served in numerous roles over the years, including as an academic volunteer and Annual Fund caller, a member of the Alumni Council Nominating Committee (2004–2014), class agent (2012, 2013–2014), Alumni Weekend Committee member (2012), Reunion Committee co-chair (2005), phonathon volunteer (2006), and Alumni Council member (2003–2009).

Since the early 1980s, Rockey has been a dedicated supporter of Mercersburg’s philanthropic initiatives. A Torchbearer and consistent donor to the Annual Fund since 1991, he has also contributed to the Alumni Council Endowment Fund and the Chapel Windows Fund, among other projects.

Rockey resides in Falls Church, VA, and his family’s Mercersburg legacy spans generations. His father, Keller Rockey ’1905, his son, William Rockey ’71, his grandson, Keller Coulter ’07, and his cousin, Robert Weir ’51 are all alumni.

Rockey’s life of service, leadership, and generosity reflects the ideals of Mercersburg Academy. It is with great pride that the Alumni Council recognizes him with this well-deserved honor.
 

Former Mercersburg Regent Lorraine Simonis Mahoney ’10 will receive the Alumni Council Prize for Achievement. Established in 2016, this award recognizes alumni within 25 years after graduation who have distinguished themselves in their professional or personal lives and, in doing so, have brought honor to Mercersburg.

Mahoney serves as global legal counsel at Chubb/ACE American Insurance Company in Philadelphia. Previously, she was an associate at Dilworth Paxson LLP and held prestigious clerkships with the Eastern District of Pennsylvania in the chambers of Judge Wendy Beetlestone and the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals in the chambers of Chief Judge Lavenski Smith. She also worked abroad as an English teaching assistant in Austria through a prestigious U.S. Fulbright Teaching Assistant Fellowship.

Beyond her professional achievements, Mahoney is a dedicated supporter of Mercersburg and an advocate for service. She recently served as a Regent (2020–2023) and as a 10th Reunion Committee member (2019–2020). She is a steadfast donor and is recognized as a Torchbearer for her consistent generosity to the Mercersburg Annual Fund, ensuring that future generations of students benefit from the opportunities that shaped her own experience. 

Her commitment to service extends beyond Mercersburg—she has volunteered with the Virginia Innocence Project, St. James School, and the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, reflecting her dedication to justice, education, and community engagement.

Mahoney holds a Bachelor of Arts in German Language and Medieval and Renaissance Studies with Honors, a Master of Arts in Anglican Theology from the Reformed Episcopal Seminary, and a Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law. 

During her time at Mercersburg, Mahoney was an exceptional student and leader. She served as student council president, class president, lower middler president, and was a member of the Conduct Review Committee. Her extensive involvement included Chapel Choir, The Fifteen, German Club, Mercersburg News and Blue Review, Stony Batter, tennis and winter track.

She earned numerous accolades at Mercersburg, including the Head of School Prize, Daughters of the American Revolution Award, Yale University Aurelian Prize, John Derr Prize, Dorothy Baker Prize, Schaff Orator, and recognition as a National Merit Scholar, among others.

Mahoney lives in Philadelphia with her husband, Dillon. Her achievements, dedication, and leadership continue to exemplify the values of Mercersburg Academy.

Alexis Gray ’05 will be honored with the Alumni Council Prize for Service. This award was established in 2016 to recognize alumni within 25 years of graduation who have made significant contributions to Mercersburg Academy’s mission. The award celebrates alumni who support the school’s excellence in are
as such as faculty, student body, facilities, and financial strength.

As a business analytics adviser at eviCore Healthcare, Gray specializes in portfolio valuation and financial strategy. With deep expertise in data-driven decision-making, she works to assess and optimize financial portfolios, providing key insights that guide executive leadership. She plays a pivotal role in developing and delivering analytics that drive success across sales, marketing, program management, and finance. 

Prior to her current role, Gray built a strong foundation in the energy sector, holding key positions at MarkWest Energy Partners and Consol Energy. 

Her expertise in data analysis and economic strategy is backed by an impressive academic background—earning a bachelor’s degree from Duquesne University and a master’s in applied statistics and economics from Clemson University.

A dedicated and longtime supporter of Mercersburg Academy, Gray has been deeply involved in alumni engagement and service for two decades. She was honored with the Alumni Council Young Alumni Leadership Award in 2020 and the Outstanding Committee Award in 2010, recognizing her commitment to strengthening the Mercersburg community.

Her leadership has been evident in milestone reunions, having chaired both her 5th and 10th Reunion Committees. As a longstanding member of the Alumni Council (2016–2022) and a class agent since graduation, she has consistently championed alumni involvement, serving as an Annual Fund caller, event host, and dedicated volunteer.

During her student years, Gray served as prefect, captain of the cross country team, and president of Model UN, fully immersing herself in campus life. 

Her connection to Mercersburg runs deep—her father, Joseph Imler ’72, and sister, Ariel Imler ’09, are also alumni. She currently resides in Bluffton, SC, with her two children. With her unwavering dedication to the school and her professional achievements, Gray is a truly deserving recipient of this honor.
 

Paul Suhey ’10 will receive the Young Alumni Leadership Award. This prestigious honor, established in 2016, recognizes alumni within 15 years of graduation whose achievements reflect excellence in their profession, service to their community, and contributions to humanity, the public, or Mercersburg. The award embodies the values, spirit, and pride of the school. 

Suhey is co-founder and chief operating officer of Revel, a New York City-based startup on a mission to accelerate electric vehicle adoption in cities. He spearheads the company’s efforts to develop fast-charging electric vehicle infrastructure. Revel has secured significant investment from firms like BlackRock and Toyota Ventures and public funding from the State of New York. 

Before co-founding Revel in 2018, Suhey worked for ExxonMobil in Baton Rouge, LA, and the Gerson Lehrman Group in New York City. His career exemplifies innovation at the intersection of energy and transportation.

During his time as a student at Mercersburg, he participated in golf, wrestling, and football. He declaimed for the Irving Society, served as an usher, and was class marshal. Suhey also earned numerous awards, including the Dorothy Baker Prize, John S. Derr Prize, J. Harry Wood Prize, John K. & Mary Jane Berger Prize, President’s Education Award, Rollin P. Gilbert Chemistry Prize, and the Frank Hoffmeier Scholar/Athlete Prize.

After Mercersburg, Suhey attended Penn State’s Schreyer Honors College, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering with honors. He remains engaged with Penn State, regularly volunteering and speaking to promote entrepreneurship and careers in engineering.

Suhey lives in Brooklyn, NY, with his wife, Sarah and son, Dara. His achievements highlight the potential that Mercersburg students have to reshape industries and communities.