“Charlie Day is a tremendous success story and a proud alumnus,” said Christopher E. Hopey, Ph.D., president of Merrimack. “He has been very supportive of the college, and we’re sure he will both enlighten and entertain our graduating seniors and their families.”
The college will present diplomas to 520 seniors during the undergraduate ceremony, to be held at 10 a.m. Sunday, May 18 in the Lawler Arena. Honors senior Kennedy Ndamba will deliver the student commencement address.
Philanthropic entrepreneur Rachael Chong will deliver the keynote at a ceremony for 175 master’s students, to be held at 6:30 p.m. Friday, May 16 in the Athletics Complex. Jade Scarpa, who will receiver her master’s degree in education, has been named by the Graduate Student Senate as the first-ever graduate student commencement speaker.
Day majored in fine arts at Merrimack and participated in the OnStagers dramatic society. He co-created and stars in the FXX series “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” and appeared in several major films, including “Pacific Rim,” “Horrible Bosses” and “Monsters University.”
Merrimack will confer honorary doctorates on Day, on retiring trustees Patrick Maraghy and Rev. Anthony “Mickey” Genovese, and on Timothy Murphy, who is stepping down as trustee chairman but will remain on the board, during the undergraduate ceremony.
At the ceremony for graduate students, an honorary degree will be conferred on Chong, founder and CEO of Catchafire.
“Rachael Chong’s outstanding work connecting professionals with social-justice organizations is making our world a better place, and our community more cohesive, every day,” said President Hopey. “All our honorees have proven themselves both successful and highly ethical leaders in their fields, truly embodying Merrimack’s core values.
