Thriving by helping others, Whitefish High School senior Maggie Mercer looks to make a difference in both small and big ways.  

From coaching youngsters in volleyball and tennis, to mentoring a fellow student, to forming a club that raises funds for those battling cancer -- it’s all part of how Mercer looks to assist others in her school and community.  

“It makes me feel really good,” she said. “It makes me feel like I have a purpose. Seeing others happy is what really drives me.”  

The Whitefish High School Class of 2025 graduates on June 7 at the high school gym. The ceremony begins at 1 p.m.  

Since she was young, Mercer, who is the daughter of Jon and Paula Mercer, has played volleyball and throughout high school played tennis. She’s used her skills to instruct young athletes learning those sports. 

She’s taken opportunities to work with students at Muldown Elementary and as a mentor to freshman students. She has also served as a one-to-one mentor with another senior student with special needs.  

“I have really enjoyed being a leader,” Mercer said. “It's really rewarding to me for someone to be successful and know that I kind of had a little bit of a part in that." 

Principal Kerry Drown in listing Mercer’s many accomplishments throughout high school, noted her “exceptional efforts” to assist others in a variety of ways.   

“One of Maggie's most remarkable qualities is her genuine compassion for others,” Drown said. 

A major focus has been to help others with a focus on cancer.  

When Mercer was a child, her mother was diagnosed with cancer. The experience became a large part of her childhood as she recalls her mother showing up to school events even while battling cancer.  

“My mom is such a huge part of my life,” Mercer said. “Watching her go through what she did and then still being there for us.” 

When Mercer’s parents traveled to Boston as her mother when through treatment, nanny Robin Greenwood cared for Mercer and her siblings. Greenwood died from breast cancer last year. 

“She had a huge impact on many families and was such a selfless person working in childcare,” Mercer said of Greenwood. “She had her hands full with her own family and then she was taking care of us. When she was going through treatment, she was texting me asking to see pictures of my prom dress.”  

Those experiences inspired Mercer to start the Cancer Support Association, which raised about $8,500 for families locally dealing with cancer and organizations assisting those with cancer. Members of the group also created handwritten cards and tissue paper flowers that distributed through Logan Health to cancer patients.  

“Cancer is a really terrible thing to go through,” Mercer said. “And I knew from personal experience, and so I really just wanted to be able to share support with others who kind of lack it — financial but also emotional support.” 

Following graduation, Mercer plans to study psychology at either the University of Southern California or the University of Wisconsin in Madison. She has plans to take a premed track eventually to psychiatry and then pediatric psychiatry.  

Looking back on her own experiences, she realizes it was the coaches and adults throughout her life who inspired her to take on leadership roles.  

"I hope that someone's looking up to me thinking that they want to be a leader one day, too,” she said. “I hope that I inspire people to help others and to be a part of their community and be active members and not do it for the recognition, but just do it because it's helping others.” 

Whitefish High School holds its commencement ceremony on June 7 at 1 p.m. at the high school gym, 1143 E. 4th St.

Deputy Editor Heidi Desch may be reached at 758-4421 or [email protected].