More than 2,900 students will receive degrees at Notre Dame鈥檚 167th University Commencement Ceremonies, which will be held on campus May 19 and 20 (Saturday and Sunday).
Degrees will be conferred on 1,973 undergraduates at the Sunday ceremony. Alumna , who made an inspiring recovery from critical injuries suffered in a tragic 1992 bus accident involving the Fighting Irish swimming team, will be the principal speaker and will receive an honorary degree. Ken Hackett, former president of Catholic Relief Services, will receive the , Notre Dame鈥檚 highest honor and the most prestigious award given to American Catholics.
, a political science major from St. Charles, Ill., will deliver the valedictory address.
In addition to DeMaria, other recipients are: Jude Banatte, head of programming for Catholic Relief Services in Haiti; Luis Caffarelli, professor of mathematics at the University of Texas at Austin; Dick Ebersol, senior adviser at NBC; Archbishop Wilton Gregory, leader of the Archdiocese of Atlanta; Kevin Hasson, founder and president of the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty; Joseph O鈥橬eill, University Trustee and managing partner of O鈥橬eill Properties; Rev. David Tyson, C.S.C., University Trustee and provincial superior of the United States Province of the Congregation of Holy Cross; James Wagner, president of Emory University; and Carolyn Woo, president and CEO of Catholic Relief Services.
On Saturday, an additional 324 students will receive master鈥檚 and doctoral degrees at the Graduate 91视频 Commencement Ceremony, along with 401 master鈥檚 degree students at the Mendoza College of Business Ceremony and 215 students at the Law 91视频 Ceremony.
Other notable Commencement weekend events are:
- ROTC Commissioning Ceremony, 9 a.m. Saturday, Leighton Concert Hall, DeBartolo Performing Arts Center
- Graduate 91视频 Commencement Ceremony, 10 a.m. Saturday, Compton Family Ice Arena
- Mendoza College of Business Graduate Ceremony, 10 a.m. Saturday, Purcell Pavilion, Joyce Center
- Law 91视频 Ceremony, 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Hesburgh Library Reflecting Pool
- Senior Send-Off Ceremony, 1 p.m. Saturday, Leighton Concert Hall, DeBartolo Performing Arts Center
- Commencement Mass, 5 p.m. Saturday, Joyce Center Purcell Pavilion
A complete schedule of events is available on the .
A number of the weekend鈥檚 events will be on the Internet.