This year, Endicott College has been presented with an exciting opportunity that is the first of its kind for the College. The John Hancock Boston Marathon Non-Profit Program has awarded Endicott with three guaranteed entries into the historic Boston Marathon! As part of the marathon sponsorship each year, John Hancock provides local non-profit organizations with entries into the race, which can help create a significant fundraising opportunity and great exposure for a non-profit cause.

The three recipients of the Endicott Boston Marathon entries will be tasked with not only training for this prestigious race, but raising $15,000 for scholarships for the Keys to Degrees Program along the way.

The Keys to Degrees Program was founded at Endicott College to address a national problem – lack of educational and vocational opportunities for young single parents – one family at a time. The increasing number of children living with single parents has greatly affected family structure and the economic security of children in the United States over the past twenty years.

The primary goals of the Keys to Degrees program consist of providing essential tools for students to earn a baccalaureate degree from Endicott College, successfully balance academic, work and family obligations, become economically self-sufficient in their chosen field of study, be responsible and contributing members of the community, and finally, live and learn on campus with their children.

Our inaugural Endicott College Boston Marathon Team consists of three faculty and staff members of the College who expressed interest in taking on this challenge and were drawn at random to acquire one of the three bibs.

For background, photos, and donation updates visit the Endicott team’s Crowdrise page here.

Let’s meet the inaugural team, and please join us in wishing them all the best on the big day!

James Daley, Assistant Athletic Trainer

James Daley, a native of Coventry, RI, is a certified athletic trainer and has been with Endicott since August of 2012. He received a BS in Exercise & Sports Sciences from Colby-Sawyer College and a MS in Health Science & Sport Studies from California University of Pennsylvania.

James has taught a variety of health and physical science courses during his professional career and has worked with a variety of sports and student-athletes at the NCAA DII and DIII levels. He has also spent time with the New England Patriots, charged with athlete practice preparation, as well as facility management and travel packing. James has previously volunteered as a Medical Assistant at the B.A.A. Boston Marathon.

“I have always been a pretty active person, running competitively as a freshman in high school and continuing the sport as often as my schedule allows. To run in the Boston Marathon is an opportunity of a lifetime. When I heard that Endicott was granted three entries to raise money for the Keys to Degrees Program, I had to jump on board.”

The Boston Marathon will also be Daley’s first marathon. He is excited that he not only has the opportunity to run in this historic race, but he gets to make a difference by raising money for such a dynamic and much-needed program at the College.

Amanda Finnegan, Administrative Assistant to the School of Business

Amanda Finnegan has been with Endicott for the past two years as the Administrative Assistant to the School of Business. She received her BA in Communications from Salem State University and is currently pursuing her MBA at Endicott, with an expected graduation date of June 2014.

“I am extremely excited to be running my first-ever marathon this coming April! I began running about two years ago and have done a number of 5Ks and other fun-runs, so I am very much looking forward to the experience of training and preparing for the Boston Marathon. I am also looking forward to immersing myself into the running community more so than I have in the past. Running the Boston Marathon has always been on my bucket list, so when I heard about the opportunity to participate, I knew I had to be a part of it.”

As for the fundraising aspect of the experience, Amanda is more than passionate about the cause.

“My brother and I were very young when my mother went back to college to further her education and I remember how hard it was for her to balance work, school and being a mother. I am proud to work for an institution that recognizes how difficult this can be. Knowing that I will be able to make a difference in a young family’s life (no matter how small) is truly an honor.”

For the next 18 weeks, Amanda encourages anyone and everyone to visit her blog, www.makewayformimi.blogspot.com, where she will be chronicling her journey of training and fundraising for the Boston Marathon and the Keys to Degrees Program.

Dr. Mark Herlihy, Associate Dean of Arts & Sciences

Dr. Mark Herlihy is in his twelfth year at Endicott College, beginning as a full-time History professor, appointed Chair of Humanities in 2006, and, since last summer, also serving as Associate Dean of Arts & Sciences.

Dr. Herlihy holds a Ph.D and MA in American Studies from Brown University and a BA in English from Tufts University.  At Endicott, he has overseen the growth of course offerings and programs in a range of disciplines, including English, History, International Studies, Liberal Studies, Philosophy, Religion and Foreign Languages. He also coordinates the College’s first year seminar program. “It’s been great to be a part of the amazing transformation that the College has undergone in recent years.”

Dr. Herlihy jumped at the opportunity to run the Boston Marathon.  “For me, growing up in a suburb of Boston, watching the marathon on television or from along the route, was a rite of spring.  I’ve studied the marathon’s rich history and discuss it in my Boston History course. I’m also excited about supporting the Keys to Degrees Program.  I’ve had numerous students in the program in my classes and they’ve been great.  Graduates have landed good jobs, gone on to graduate school, and achieved financial security for themselves and their children.”

Herlihy has never run a marathon, but was formerly a top collegiate runner.  As an undergraduate at Tufts, he captained the cross-country and track and field teams and was a 5-time New England Division III Champion, a 3-time NCAA Division III All-American, and, in his senior year, was the NCAA Division III National Champion in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. “My training is going well, but it’s been about 25 years since I’ve been in really good running shape. My primary goal is to finish the race, ideally within four hours.”

Herlihy lives in Winchester, MA, with his wife Theresa and three children.