Katherine Mirarchi Named Outstanding Undergraduate Award Winner and to Serve as 2025 Undergraduate Commencement Student Speaker
Each year, Gwynedd Mercy University’s Alumni Association presents two students, one undergraduate and one graduate, with an award at Honors Convocation. This year, Katherine Mirarchi is being recognized as this year’s Outstanding Undergraduate Student on Friday, May 16. Katherine will also serve as this year’s student speaker for the Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 17, where she will graduate with her Bachelor of Science in Biology with dual minors in Chemistry and Psychology.
Katherine thrived both in and out of the classroom during her educational journey at GMercyU. She completed clinical and professional experience in both hospital and pre-hospital settings, beginning as a volunteer EMT and later becoming the Coordinator of the Volunteer Division at Warrington Community Ambulance Corps. There, she helped manage operations, led volunteer recruitment, and guided training efforts. Katherine played a crucial role in expanding the team and inspiring others to enter the EMS and healthcare fields by offering hands-on learning opportunities with experienced providers in the county.
Katherine also served as a Patient Care Technician in the Emergency Department at Doylestown Hospital, where she assisted in direct patient care, EKGs, phlebotomy, trauma resuscitation support, and close collaboration with nurses and physicians.
Katherine earned her National Registry EMT certification and advanced to become a Nationally Registered Advanced EMT, allowing her to provide higher-level care to patients, including IV access, medication administration, and advanced airway interventions. She is also an AHA-certified CPR and First Aid Instructor and teaches EMT courses in Bucks County and Philadelphia.
On campus, Katherine served as President of the Student Association of Science, where she organized academically enriching and socially stimulating events to help foster a strong, inclusive community for science majors and enthusiasts. She also worked as the Social Media Coordinator for the Biology Department, highlighting student achievements, faculty research, and departmental news to current students, alumni, and prospective Griffins.
Katherine served as a Student Ambassador for the Biology program, representing at events like Open House and Accepted Students Day. She had the privilege of being one of 10 students featured in Amazon Prime’s The College Tour, speaking on her experience as a student at GMercyU.
Throughout her time at GMercyU, Katie was named to the Dean’s List every semester and was inducted into Sigma Zeta, the National Science and Mathematics Honor Society, and Alpha Lambda Delta.
Within the Biology program, Katherine conducted research focused on sustainable chemistry and enzyme optimization. During two summers, Katherine completed a project that translated into her senior thesis, titled Determining the Optimal pH Range of Plant Ketoreductases. Her research focused how plant-derived enzymes, specifically ketoreductases extracted from radish leaves, can serve as eco-friendly biocatalysts to reduce pharmaceutical waste. She analyzed how varying pH conditions affect the catalytic efficiency by examining the enzymatic reduction of acetophenone using Think Layer Chromatography (TLC) and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). She presented her findings at the University’s annual Undergraduate Research Conference.
Service has underscored Katherine’s experience at GMercyU and in the broader community. On campus, Katie played a pivotal role in the Mercy Monarch Butterfly Garden project, a service project rooted in the Sisters of Mercy’s call to environmental stewardship. She led the planning, fundraising, and development of educational materials to promote pollinator conservation and stability.
Off campus, as an EMT volunteer and a certified AHA HeartStarter Instructor, she provided minimal cost training sessions to camp counselors, volunteer EMTs, and students preparing to enter the field. The classes serve as a reflection to Katie’s commitment to the Mercy Mission – “ensuring that lifesaving knowledge is accessible and empowering others to serve their communities with compassion, competence, and confidence.”
Katherine will attend the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine to pursue her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree. She looks forward to continuing her education in a setting that emphasizes compassionate, patient-centered care and to continuing to build on the foundation of service and leadership she’s developed at GMercyU. She is committed to carrying forward the Mercy Mission by approaching medicine with empathy, integrity, and a dedication to lifelong learning.