More than 2,900 students will receive degrees at Notre Dame’s 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 Haley Scott DeMaria, 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 2012 Laetare Medal, Notre Dame’s highest honor and the most prestigious award given to American Catholics.
Michael J. O’Brien, a political science major from St. Charles, Ill., will deliver the valedictory address.
In addition to DeMaria, other honorary degree 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’Neill, University Trustee and managing partner of O’Neill 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’s and doctoral degrees at the Graduate School Commencement Ceremony, along with 401 master’s degree students at the Mendoza College of Business Ceremony and 215 students at the Law School Ceremony.
Other notable Commencement weekend events are:
- ROTC Commissioning Ceremony, 9 a.m. Saturday, Leighton Concert Hall, DeBartolo Performing Arts Center
- Graduate School 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 School 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 Commencement website.
A number of the weekend’s events will be streamed live on the Internet.