Relay for Life Raises Over $60K, Features Pro Football Star Danny Amendola

For 12 hours (6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.) on Friday, April 13, over 700 people walked or ran laps around Merrimack’s Lawler Rink during the Relay for Life — an overnight, non-competitive walk in honor of those who have succumbed or continue to fight cancer.

Sponsored by the American Cancer Society, the event — which started at Merrimack in 2007 — raised over $60,000 to support disease research, programs and services for people touched by cancer. As a morale booster to the walkers, two-time Super Bowl Champion and former Wide Receiver Danny Amendola headlined Relay for Life as part of this year’s President’s Speaker Series. Merrimack football coach Dan Curran conducted a Q & A session on stage with Amendola who shared his advice about overcoming life’s obstacles.

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Merrimack College Names as Eighth Head Coach of Men’s Program

Merrimack College has named Scott Bor ek as the eighth head coach of the men's ice hockey program, as announced by Director of Athletics Jer em y Gibson Monday. Borek arrives in North Andover with 33 years of collegiate coaching experience, including eight as a head coach.

> Read Mor e about Coach Bor ek

New York City Alumni Welcome Girard School of Business Students and Dean Catherine Usoff

A group of students, faculty members, and Dean Catherine Usoff from the Girard School of Business traveled to Manhattan in March to visit three alumni worksites and learn more about the finance industry. Sponsored by the Mucci Capital Markets Lab Innovation Fund and the Finance Club, this career trek included visits to State Street Global Advisors, JP Morgan Chase & Co., and Goldman Sachs.

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Get Ready to Rediscover Merrimack: Reunion Weekend is June 1 – 3 Celebrating the classes of 1953, 1958, 1963, 1968, 1973, 1978, 1983, 1988, 1993, 1998, 2003, 2008 and 2013.

Our Reunion classes are busy finalizing plans for an all-out weekend of fun, friendship and rediscovery. Join us and re- experience Merrimack’s beautiful campus, see the transformative effects of recent renovations and new facilities, and enjoy living like a student again by staying in one of our newer suite-style dorms in the South Residence Village.

Events get underway Friday evening with the Warrior Welcome Back Reception in Merrimack Stadium, home of the College’s new multipurpose field and elite track facility. Bring yourself, friends and family and enjoy great food, cocktails and live music. Saturday promises something for everyone, from interactive health sciences and technology demonstrations to student-led trolley tours of campus and a Warrior Family Barbeque. Additional highlights include Saturday evening’s welcome back cocktail party, followed by Class Dinners and a dessert reception with music and dancing.

> Register for Reunion weekend > Reunion weekend schedule of events

Young Alumni Spotlight: Christa Rizkallah '10

“I knew I wanted to pursue the field of dentistry while I was still in high school so I went to Merrimack with that vision in mind. I tried to take as much as I could from all of my science courses and to absorb and learn everything my professors taught. While at Merrimack I also worked part time as a dental assistant.”

My Merrimack professors knew of my early interest in attending dental school and I received lots of support to help me reach this goal, especially from Biology Professor Mark Birnbaum, Ph.D. and Associate Professor and Chair of Biology, Janine M. LeBlanc-Straceski, Ph.D. Their care, support and interest was really overwhelming and so helpful. They wrote me glowing letters of recommendation, which I believe were a big factor in my gaining admission into dental school. After I graduated from Merrimack, I went on to attend University’s Goldman School of Dental Medicine in July 2010.

> Read This Month's Alum ni Spotlight

Career Opportunities

The Office of Development & Alumni Relations is pleased to partner with the O'Brien Center for Career Development to share career opportunities in each monthly alumni newsletter.

This month's featured jobs include: EDCO Collabor ative: Executive Dir ector Nauset Public Schools: High School Pr incipal

Advantage is Merrimack College’s online career database which hosts full-time employment opportunities, career events at Merrimack and in the Greater Boston area, and online career resources such as resume guides and interview techniques. If you are interested in an Advantage account, please click her e. If you already have an Advantage account, use this link to login.

Alumni in the News

David McGillivr ay | Class of 1976 Boston Marathon Race Director David McGillivray '76 co-authors inspirational children’s book. > Read Mor e Upcoming Alumni Events

Tr ack and Field/Cr oss Countr y Alum ni Day | Apr il 21 5 p.m . Tailgate and Tr ack Meet vs. Assum ption College Mingle with fellow alumni and enjoy great food at a tailgate party while cheering on the Track and Field team as the Warriors host their inaugural meet in the new Merrimack Stadium. > Register

Men’s Lacr osse Alum ni Day | Apr il 21| 1 p.m . Gam e Join fellow Warriors and enjoy great food at a post-game tailgate after the Men’s team takes on Adelphi University. For more information, please contact Coach Mike Mor gan .

Softball Alum ni Day | Apr il 28 | 12 p.m . Gam e Mingle with fellow alumni and enjoy a post-game tailgate while cheering on the Women's Softball team as they take on Franklin Pierce University. For more information, please contact Coach Elaine Schwager .

Reunion Weekend | June 1–3, 2018 This year, we are proud to celebrate the classes of 1953, 1958, 1963, 1968, 1973, 1978, 1983, 1988, 1993, 1998, 2003, 2008 and 2013. Visit for a day or stay for the entire weekend. You are sure to enjoy all that Reunion has to offer: fun and interactive sessions, live music, fireworks, and class dinners. > Register

Upcoming Campus Events

Tolle Lege Reception | Apr il 26 | 4 p.m . The annual Tolle Lege Reception recognizes the academic scholarship of the Merrimack College community by collecting the works of authors of books, journal articles and papers published during the previous academic year. To confirm your attendance for this reception at the Writers House, please contact Frances Nilsson at nilssonf@ m er r im ack.edu .

Spr ing Concer t featur ing Flo Rida | Apr il 26 | 7 p.m . Alumni tickets for this year's Spring Concert with headliner Flo Rida are still available. This annual event will take place on Thursday, April 26 at Merrimack’s J. Thom Lawler Rink. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show will begin at 8 p.m. Please note this is an 18+ show. Alumni use pre-sale code ALUMNIFLORIDA. > Pur chase Tickets

Mer r im ack Music Jam Weekend I I I | Apr il 27 – 29 Enjoy a celebration of and by collegiate musicians from Merrimack College and student music groups from other invited institutions. Learn more about Merrimack Music Jam Weekend III, which includes the Mackapella Intercollegiate A cappella Invitational on April 27; the Concert Band and Concert Choir on April 28; and An Evening of Jazz on April 29. > Mor e I nfor m ation & to Pur chase Tickets

Mer r im ack’s 68th Com m encem ent | May 19 – 20 Our community is preparing to celebrate the achievement of our students at our 68th Commencement in a few short weeks. > Mor e I nfor m ation

News from Around Campus Car dinal O’Malley visits Mer r im ack to m eet Mer r im ack Student Volunteer s Help Young with Students Athletes with Disabilities Develop Life Skills Cardinal Seán O’Malley visited Merrimack College to meet with students in the Austin Scholars Living Rachel Maliewski '19 is a busy double major Learning Community and hear their reflections on studying human development and health science the community service they perform in Lawrence with a minor in education, but somehow she also and Lowell. finds time to serve as president of the Special Olympics: Young Athletes Program (YAP). This > Read Full Stor y student-run organization at Merrimack caters to the physical, social and emotional development of children with and without intellectual disabilities.

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