Mercer University School of Law successfully defended its title as the champion of the Attorney General's Cup in the Second Annual Legal Food Frenzy – a competition to help feed the hungry in Georgia. In a friendly competition against the state's other law schools to see which could gather the most food for Georgia's food banks, Mercer Law School gathered more than any other school. In all, the School gathered 8,037 pounds of food, or 22 pounds per student, to help support the Middle Georgia Community Food Bank, which is more than double the total from last year.

Mercer University will support the revitalization of the former Tattnall Square Presbyterian Church to create the Tattnall Square Center for the Arts with a $425,000 grant from ArtPlace America. The University is one of 54 organizations across the country to be awarded funding from the highly competitive ArtPlace America grant program, which seeks to transform communities by driving vibrancy through investments in the arts and creative placemaking.

Dr. Carl R. Martray, dean of the Tift College of Education, will retire at the end of the academic year, capping a 10-year tenure that saw expansion of the College both in enrollment and program offerings. He led the creation of Tift's first Ph.D. programs, as well as accreditation by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education.

Ring out the victory song! Mercerians will welcome back their marching band after a 72-year hiatus this fall. Uniforms and instruments have been ordered and band camp is scheduled for Aug. 4-17.

The University will hold its final two commencements in Macon on Saturday in the University Center’s Hawkins Arena. The Walter F. George School of Law will hold its commencement at 10 a.m. with 165 participants. At 3:30 p.m., the University will hold the Macon commencement for 536 participants, featuring graduates from the Macon campus and nearby programs.