Graduation 2026: Brice Hansen named Carpe Diem Award recipient
The Mercyhurst University Carpe Diem Award honors a graduating student who has made a meaningful and positive impact on the university while fully embodying the spirt of seize every opportunity.
This year’s recipient, Brice Hanson, exemplifies that spirit through her leadership, initiative, and commitment to others.
A mission centered student-athlete and leader, Brice has distinguished herself though a combination of academic excellence, creativity, and services. She was also recognized as Female Student-Athlete of the Year, reflecting her ability to lead and excel across multiple areas of campus life.
Since transferring to Mercyhurst, Brice quickly established herself as a driven and engaged member of the community. As the university’s only Sustainability Studies major, she excelled academically while demonstrating the potential of the program through her initiative and consistent pursuit of new challenges.
That initiative is evident in the work she has led across campus.
As founder and president of the Ethical Purchasing Club, Brice organized Mercyhurst’s first farmers’ markets, hosted an Ethical Fashion Panel, and introduced ethically sourced products to the bookstore. Through these efforts, she helped bring greater awareness to sustainability and ethical consumption within the campus community.
As a sustainability intern, Brice further expanded that impact by launching a composting system and helping construct and maintain campus garden beds. These projects will continue to benefit Mercyhurst in the years ahead. Her commitment to environmental and community impact extended into Erie through her internship with Wild Field Urban Farm, where she focused on using urban farming as a strategy to address food insecurity.
Brice also made a strong impact within the student-athlete community. As a member of the women’s volleyball team, she served as vice president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and as Initiative Coordinator for the Division I NEC. In that role, she developed a conference-wide initiative aimed at addressing food insecurity, expanding her impact beyond Mercyhurst.
Brice’s academic work further reflects her dedication and curiosity. Her research presentation, “Bacteria in Wild Fungi in Allegheny National Forest,” earned first place at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center Annual Research Symposium. Through her involvement with the Ignation Solidarity Network, she was also featured on a national podcast and awarded a Student Leadership Badge.
Across each of these roles, Brice has consistently recognized opportunities and taken action. Her positive attitude, strong work ethic, and commitment to supporting and uplifting others have left a lasting impact on the Mercyhurst community.
In every sense, Brice exemplifies the meaning of Carpe Diem, approaching each opportunity with purpose and making the most of every moment.
As the Class of 2026 prepares to take its next steps, her impact stands as a powerful example of what it means to lead, serve, and seize the day.