All it took was one look at the Austin Scholars for Emily Hanrahan ’26 to know she made the right choice enrolling at Merrimack College.
“When I was at my Admitted Student Day, I learned all about (the program),” she said. “My mom was like, ‘This is so you! You need to do this.’”
Hanrahan discovered her love for service in high school. Now, in addition to her work as an Austin Scholar, she’s spearheading Merrimack’s annual Sweeps Week fundraiser for the third consecutive year. This year’s event was held from May 6 through 10.
During Sweeps Week, students, before returning home for the summer, recycle and donate unused or lightly used clothing, housewares, food and other supplies to support local families in need. Donations benefit local schools and nonprofits such as the Lazarus House Ministries and the Essex County Habitat for Humanity.
“The first day is usually on the slow side,” Hanrahan said while organizing donations at the Collegiate Church of Christ the Teacher on May 6, “but it really ramps up later in the week. Still, this year has been pretty strong so far.”
Initially an education major, Hanrahan got her feet wet in Merrimack service through Sweeps Week in her freshman year.
“I met Rileigh Armstrong (associate director of Campus Ministry) during Sweeps Week and we hit it off,” Hanrahan said. “Right after that, I went on my first service trip to The Romero Center in New Jersey. From there, my love for mission and ministry skyrocketed.”
To date, Hanrahan has been on six SEND Trips, leading two of them, and served on the Mack Gives Back and Be The Change committees.
“Rileigh and Fr. Dan (Madden, director of The Grace J. Palmisano Center for Campus Ministry) have given me so many opportunities to do service,” she said. “I just love it. Campus Ministry is the most accepting community I’ve ever been a part of.”
The more Hanrahan worked with Campus Ministry, she said, the more she realized something was missing inside herself.
“Faith wasn’t very important to me for most of my life,” Hanrahan explained. “With help from Campus Ministry, I stepped more into my faith to try to understand it. It’s taken more of a role in my life now – I was confirmed two weeks ago.”
After dedicating so much time to service, Hanrahan eventually decided to pursue a bachelor’s in human development and services with a minor in religion and theological studies.
“I was really struggling with it,” she said of her decision. “I realized the work that I wanted to do is aligned with the service that I do. It would be my dream to do service every day and work in a nonprofit field. That’s what I’m geared for.”
Hanrahan said the human development department was extremely supportive when she decided to change her major.
“The professors in my program are all amazing,” she continued. “They’re always there when they need them. I feel like they’re really helping me set up my future.”
By future, she means a potential job running behind-the-scenes work at a nonprofit. Right after graduation, however, she hopes to spend some time in the Peace Corps and find more opportunities through there.
“There’s always been this call for me to do service,” she explained. “I love working with younger people. Seeing their love for service is what brings me joy and motivation to keep doing it.”
