Gwynedd Valley, Pa. – (10/7/2026) – On Friday, October 16 - for the first time in Red and Gold history - the Gwynedd Mercy University Athletics Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) will host its inaugural "Miss Griffin" contest. Beginning at 8:00 p.m. in the Julia Ball Auditorium, The "Miss Griffin" contestants will vie for the crowds favor in a talent show, a costume contest, a lip sync/dance battle, and a Q&A session. Admission for the school spirit pageant is set a $3/person or $5/people (2) with all proceeds from this year's event serving as a budget for the committee's future events.
 
A spin off the original "Mr. Griffin" contest, The Gwynedd Mercy University Athletics tradition originally dates back to 2010 as the new school spirit pageant sees one student-athlete from each women's sports program compete for the title of "Ms. Griffin". The evening will be emceed by 2025-2026 Gwynedd Mercy University Mr. Griffin, junior Jamar Gauda (Delran, N.J.) and will feature a panel of campus celebrity judges including the Gwynedd Mercy University Athletic Training Staff – Head Athletic Trainer Kevin Bernabe, Assistant Athletic Trainer Mark "Chip" Cherwony, and Assistant Athletic Trainer Erika Wible – as well as Gwynedd Mercy University Assistant Professor of Music and Choral Director of The Voices of Gwynedd, Carol Evans.
 
The contestants for the 2026 "Miss Griffin" contest includes; women's cross country/track & field freshman Evelyn Yun (Fort Washington, Pa.), women's basketball junior forward Truly Heft (Quakertown, Pa.), field hockey sophomore forward Christine Aemisegger (Ambler, Pa.), women's lacrosse sophomore midfielder Samantha Whelan (Birdsboro, Pa.), women's soccer sophomore midfield/defense Cecelia Felmey (Warminster, Pa.), softball sophomore outfielder Giavanna Kanaris (New Egypt, N.J.), and women's volleyball sophomore pin hitter Hannah George (Clay, N.Y.).
 
For further information about the "Miss Griffin" contest, please contact Gwynedd Mercy University SAAC President Brayden Scott (Gilbert, Ariz.) or Gwynedd Mercy University SAAC Advisor Braden Soubik (Soubik.b@gmercyu.edu).