1992 Seton Hall University graduate and executive director of Raise Hope Foundation Scott Chesney will be the keynote speaker for the University's 155th undergraduate commencement ceremony at the Izod Center in East Rutherford on May 21.
The official announcement came from a broadcast email sent out by the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President this morning.
Chesney, who suffered a spinal stroke at the age of 15, worked with the men's basketball team this past season as a motivational speaker, as reported by The Setonian earlier this year.
According to the email, Chesney is an "active" member of the University's Leadership Advisory Council.
This year's honorary degree recipient will be the recently retired President of Catholic Relief Services Ken Hackett, according to the email.
CRS was started in 1942 by the Catholic Bishops of America to help survivors of World War II in Europe, according to crs.org. Their mission is "to assist impoverished and disadvantaged people overseas, working in the spirit of Catholic Social Teaching to promote the sacredness of human life and the dignity of the human person."
Hackett, who graduated from Boston College in 1968, will add Seton Hall to his long list of colleges and universities that have given him an honorary degree; he has received honorary degrees from Boston College, Cabrini College, College of Great Falls, College of Notre Dame of Maryland, Mount St. Mary's University, New York Medical College, Siena College, University of Notre Dame, University of San Diego, University of Santa Clara, Villanova University and Walsh University, according to crs.org.
Last year's commencement speaker was N.J. Governor Chris Christie, who was greeted with mixed reactions at the ceremony.
Nicholas Parco can be reached at nicholas.parco@student.shu.edu.
