Student Stories
Notre Dame endeavors to be a place where each student can grow individually in both mind and heart, and become a part of something larger than themselves. By celebrating the unique gifts each student brings to our shared community, student life is enriched immeasurably.
The stories below share just some of the ways Notre Dame students are celebrating and taking advantage of the wonderful diversity on our campus – through both scholarship and development and formation outside the classroom.
A statement on President Trump’s recent Executive Order.
Panel explores sanctuary status implications
A panel co-sponsored by the Center for Social Concerns and the Institute for Latino Studies discussed what it means for a city, state, university or faith-based…
Creating a culture for all students
Dual degree programs allow Notre Dame to partner with historically black colleges and universities and women’s colleges to offer engineering degrees, the Minority Engineering Program and Women’s Engineering Program respectively.
Interfaith prayer service focuses on peace for our nation
Following an acrimonious election season, the University of Notre Dame invited the campus community to take part in an interfaith prayer service on Nov. 14 to pray for peace for the nation, wisdom for leaders and care for the most vulnerable.
Panel: Diversity is desirable, but inclusive's elusive
As part of the annual Stand Against Hate Week, a panel of four young alumni gave their own stories of being in the minority when they were students and offered suggestions for what might be improved for current and future students.
Crossroads of the Americas: Notre Dame goes to Cuba in wake of papal visit
The Institute for Latino Studies hosted the first intercontinental conference examining the significance of Pope Francis’ visits to the Americas. The three-day colloquium in Havana included historian and papal biographer Austin Ivereigh from England, Jesuit theologian Rev. Allan Figueroa Deck of Loyola Marymount University, and other prominent theologians from the U.S., Cuba, Brazil and Bolivia.
Play encourages conversation on race relations
Kicking off Notre Dame’s first Race Relations Week, student government hosted a performance of the play “The Cop” in Legends Nightclub. Following the performance, the audience broke into groups to discuss the issues of racism and implicit bias explored in the play and how these issues can be addressed in the Notre Dame community and American society as a whole.
Participating in ND's DC Program: Sarafina Joseph
"During my time at Notre Dame, I explored different areas outside of my academic interests which included faith-based groups, student government groups, and even worked as a research assistant. Each contributed to my growth as a Notre Dame student. Over the course of that exploration, I added Africana Studies as a minor and have since been dedicated to advocating for...
Domer recognized as Champion of Change
Nicole Hurd '92 has led College Advising Corps from a pilot project in Virginia to the largest college access program in the country, placing hundreds of peer advisers in high schools from coast-to-coast. In the 2016-2017 school year, CAC’s 600 advisers will assist over 180,000 low-income, first generation, and underrepresented students in navigating the path to college.
Scholarship to help sociology/pre-med student gain international educational experience
Sociology and pre-med student King Fok has been awarded the Lord Acton Memorial Scholarship for his semester of study at the London Global Gateway. In his acceptance speech, King explained how studying in London would help him pursue his dreams of becoming an orthopedic surgeon; he plans to research rehabilitative services for amputees and to volunteer with organizations that support disabled people.
Interning in Rome for the U.S. Missions: a unique opportunity
The best way for students to be an active part of the city and use their linguistic and academic knowledge in a working environment is to do an internship, and what better place to start than one of the top three U.S. presences in Italy?
.
ND community celebrates Las Posadas
The Notre Dame community gathered Tuesday night at the Grotto to kick off the fourth annual celebration of Las Posadas. The event, whose Spanish title means “lodging,” represents Mary and Joseph’s search for shelter before Jesus’s birth.
Jenkins shows support for undocumented students
University President Fr. John Jenkins signed a statement in support of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Program on Monday, becoming one of more than 100 college and university presidents across the nation to do so.
Justice Alan Page encourages students to help others
As an African American growing up in the 1950s in Canton, Ohio, Alan Page thought his opportunities were limited. Most of his peers, like so many before them, would have little choice but to work in the steel mill: work that was physically demanding, dirty, and tedious. He wanted to have more of an impact.
The unsung saint of South Vietnam
My wife and I first met Sister Kateri Maureen Koverman in February 1975. She was bringing orphans from Vietnam to adoptive parents in the United States, and we helped babysit some of these children at the San Francisco International Airport while they awaited planes to take them to other states.
Panelists discuss race and educational opportunity
As part of student government’s Race Relations Week, David Robinson, former NBA player and father of student body president Corey Robinson; David Krashna, Notre Dame’s first African-American body president; Christina Brooks, the City of South Bend’s diversity and inclusion officer; and Maria and Gabby Muñoz, undocumented students at Notre Dame spoke in a panel on racial justice in the context...
Economic Justice Clinic saves a home from foreclosure
When Scott Miller, a single father of three kids and small business owner, was at risk of losing his home to foreclosure, Notre Dame Law School’s Economic Justice Clinic helped to make sure that didn’t happen.
Notre Dame’s Association for Women in Science hosts inaugural graduate student conference
On Sept. 30 and Oct. 1, 2016, the Association for Women in Science–Notre Dame (AWIS-ND) hosted its inaugural conference for female graduate students, which was the first of its kind in the Midwest region.
Alum Alan Page named Heisman Humanitarian
The Heisman Trophy Trust has named College and Pro Football Hall of Famer and Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Alan Page as the eleventh Heisman Humanitarian Award Winner.
‘Feel the music, change the world’
A mix of entertainment and education to tell the story of slavery in America and the anti-slavery efforts of whites and blacks is the foundation of the Ray of Hope Project, launched by Alika Hope Bryan ’99 and Ray Morant in 2013.
Students build strategy for DuSable Museum of African American History
Teams explored the DuSable’s role and identity as Chicago’s storyteller for African American history, as a South Side community center, as a tourism destination, and as an entertainment venue.
Cynthia Cordes, '04 J.D. receives award from Missouri Commission on Human Rights
The Missouri Commission on Human Rights named Cynthia Cordes the recipient of its 2016 Judge Arnold Krekel Trailblazer Award for promoting civil rights and equal justice. The award honors individuals or organizations that show passion for civil rights and equal justice and is named after the federal judge who presided over Missouri’s 1865 Constitutional Convention, signing the ordinance abolishing slavery...
Ma Ying-jeou, former president of Taiwan, speaks at Notre Dame’s Asia Leadership Forum
In his keynote address, Ma highlighted greater China’s history and described his role in Taiwan’s recent progress toward “peaceful, friendly and close” relations with mainland China, Japan and the U.S.
FIghting for Our Veterans
At a young age, it was ingrained into Brady Quinn ’07 that it was important to respect and support the military. His father was a marine in Vietnam. His grandfathers had both served.
Speaker: Changes to Voting Rights Act could mean fewer people vote
In Shelby County v. Holder, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a section of the Voting Rights Act that required states with the longest history of voter suppression and discrimination to get approval from the federal government before changing their voting laws.
ND students spend fall break in Appalachia
Over fall break, 245 Notre Dame students traveled to the Appalachia region of the United States as a part of the Appalachia Fall Seminar through the Center for Social Concerns (CSC).
ND football helps fight childhood hunger
100 Notre Dame football players helped pack enough backpacks at the Food Bank of Northern Indiana on Sunday that over 2,000 kids could take food home over the weekend.
Notre Dame launches Latino Studies Scholars Program
Notre Dame announces the launch of the Latino Studies Scholars Program (LSSP). The merit-based scholarship and accompanying curriculum for undergraduate students is designed to attract and shape leaders working to support and empower Latino communities.
Introducing Notre Dame Police Chief Keri Kei Shibata
Keri Kei Shibata, the University’s recently appointed police chief, is a 12-year veteran of the Notre Dame Security Police Department (NDSP).
Out of the office: A supreme speaker
Parade magazine reported in its September 9th issue that 10 percent of college grads polled thought Judge Judy was on the U.S. Supreme Court, but it was an actual Supreme Court justice, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who showed up on campus on September 12th to address Notre Dame students and members of the public. The session began with a look at...