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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.

When Jackie Robinson came to campus

Published: February 20, 2024

Notre Dame Magazine

It was 70 years ago — on February 10, 1954 — that baseball great Jackie Robinson came to Notre Dame and South Bend to speak about brotherhood, cooperation and eliminating prejudices. He declared that slow but steady progress was being made in race relations.

In the presence of Giants

Published: February 14, 2024

Carrie Gates

Decades before Jackie Robinson became the first Black man to play in the major leagues, the Foundry Giants—a team of Black players working in the Studebaker factory’s foundry—were making a name for themselves as one of the strongest independent baseball teams in the Midwest. The South Bend team played in Studebaker’s otherwise all-white industrial league in the 1920s and 1930s...

Black Alumni of Notre Dame kick off Black History Month with Black Domers 2 webcast

Published: February 08, 2024

Cidni Sanders

Month-long series will explore the experiences of Black alumni and students, imagine the future of social justice, convene Black entrepreneurial and business trailblazers, nurture Black well-being, and enhance Black spirituality.

Inspirational leaders encourage justice, perseverance, compassion and courage during Walk the Walk Week events

Published: January 22, 2024

Notre Dame News

As part of Walk the Walk Week, a diverse group of leaders in science, engineering and technology offered words of encouragement to over 250 students, faculty and staff on Wednesday (Jan. 17).

The Troublemaker

Published: January 15, 2024

Notre Dame Magazine

As a biopic introduces Bayard Rustin to a new generation, take a look back at the civil rights activist’s stint as a Notre Dame trustee.

Exposure to the venture capital world: Janaeé Wallace's ESTEEM experience

Published: January 01, 2024

Notre Dame ESTEEM

Janaeé Wallace, an ESTEEM alumna, shares how the program equipped her with valuable skills in business, technology, critical thinking, networking, and pitching, enabling her to succeed as a technical product manager and angel investor, and empowering her to drive change in the Bahamas.

Senior Kendra Lyimo named 2024 Marshall Scholar

Published: December 11, 2023

Erin Blasko

University of Notre Dame senior Kendra Lyimo will study in the United Kingdom next year as a member of the Marshall Scholars class of 2024. Lyimo is the 11th Marshall Scholar in Notre Dame’s history. With the award, she will continue her education in London, with a focus on the art of the African diaspora.

Former ND-GAIN research associate brings food systems into focus at UN climate summit

Published: November 27, 2023

Renée LaReau

Later this month, more than 70,000 participants will attend the UN climate summit in Dubai. In the months leading up to the summit, known as COP28, Mohammed Farrae, a Master of Global Affairs graduate (2022) from the Keough School…

ND Journey: Sophia Ochoa ’25 expresses creativity, builds community

Published: November 27, 2023

Shannon Rooney

Sophia Ochoa first heard about Notre Dame when she was a senior in high school. Her uncle talked up Notre Dame so much that, since Ochoa couldn’t get to the States from her hometown of Manila in the Philippines due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, she decided to attend an online information session hosted by the director of international recruitment.

Envisioning greater accessibility

Published: November 20, 2023

Jack Rooney

By the time Danny Fritz ’22 M.S. and Riley Ellingsen ’22 M.S. graduated from the 11-month ESTEEM master’s program at Notre Dame, they had co-founded a start-up, earned seed money to start developing their innovative product, and now dedicate themselves to expanding accessibility options for people who are deaf and hard-of-hearing.

Putting 'the South' in South Bend

Published: February 19, 2024

The IDEA Center

In honor of Black History Month, the IDEA Center is highlighting four black entrepreneurs from the South Bend-Elkhart community who have worked with and helped the IDEA Center and are paving the way for future underrepresented entrepreneurs. …

ND Founder Profile #150: Latinos’ lack of access to capital inspired this founder to launch a fast-growing angel group

Published: February 14, 2024

Melanie Lux

Born in Gary, Indiana, in 1972 to immigrant parents from Puerto Rico, David Olivencia had a typical American childhood. He attended Catholic school. Played football, including his high school’s state champion team. He also enjoyed math and computers. One thing was different, however. All of his grandparents mainly spoke Spanish, and his extended family was bilingual. They’d come to his games...

Ninth Annual Walk the Walk Week events to mark Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Published: January 22, 2024

Notre Dame News

The University of Notre Dame’s ninth annual Walk the Walk Week will take place Jan. 15 (Monday) through Jan. 22 (Monday).

ND Founders Profile #148: Motivated by his brother, this founder is commercializing vitally needed sensor technology for heart failure patients

Published: January 17, 2024

Melanie Lux

RAY FRASER Company Founded: Vital View Technologies, Inc. Year …

Notre Dame earns 2024 NCAA diversity and inclusion award

Published: January 08, 2024

Athletics

Big change starts small. That, in part, is the hope behind Notre Dame’s Together Irish program, which has served as a redefinition of the athletics department’s commitment to social…

Notre Dame Law School event highlights the need to protect the Jewish community amid the rise of antisemitism on U.S. college campuses

Published: December 14, 2023

Notre Dame Law School

On November 30, Notre Dame Law School’s Religious Liberty Initiative hosted the event, "The Rising Tide of Antisemitism on American Campuses and Beyond" at the McCartan Courtroom.…

Join the Office of Institutional Transformation for cookies, coffee, and conversation

Published: December 01, 2023

Cidni Sanders

Students, faculty, and staff are invited to stop by the Office of Institutional Transformation’s holiday open house on Thursday, December 7, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. in Suite 217 of the Main Building.

November is Native American Heritage Month

Published: November 27, 2023

diversity.nd.edu

Dance and drum performance among many opportunities for Notre Dame’s students, faculty, and staff to expand their knowledge and understanding of Native and Indigenous communities.

Celebrating Native American Heritage Month

Published: November 20, 2023

NDWorks

In honor and celebration of Native American Heritage Month, the Notre Dame Initiative on Race and Resilience, in collaboration with its artist-in-residence, David Martin, hosted a Native American dance and drum performance in DeBartolo Hall on Wednesday, Nov. 8. The program featured songs and dance…

What is the Transformational Leaders Program?

Published: November 20, 2023

Shannon Rooney

Academic support, mentorship, community building, competitive funding for academic materials and experiences, and much more—these are just a few…

From prison to employment: Solar partnership advances Notre Dame’s mission, values

Published: February 15, 2024

Erin Blasko

When the University of Notre Dame breaks ground on a new solar project later this year, it will be a full-circle moment for Patrick Regan, whose company, Crossroads Solar, is supplying the panels for the project — and helping formerly incarcerated men and women transition from prison to employment in the process.

Faculty, staff, students, and alumni welcome the Year of the Dragon

Published: February 09, 2024

Cidni Sanders

Expand your understanding of Lunar New Year with a fun toolkit as well as events on campus and in the community.

Empowering the next generation of healthcare professionals

Published: January 22, 2024

Maura Sullivan Hill '11

Ashley Kyalwazi '18 is determined to help build and advocate for equitable systems of care, with a clear focus on improving health outcomes among marginalized communities.

Father Jenkins given keys to South Bend, Mishawaka at MLK Day event

Published: January 16, 2024

Erin Blasko

University of Notre Dame President Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., was presented with keys to the cities of South Bend and Mishawaka during the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Service Recognition Breakfast on Monday in South Bend.

Creative Writing MFA Alumni Spotlight: Sami Schalk ('10)

Published: January 05, 2024

Paul Cunningham

Dr. Sami Schalk's ('10) second book, Black Disability Politics, was published by Duke University Press in 2023. Kimberly Springer (author of Living for the Revolution: Black Feminist Organiztaions, 1968-1980) argues that Dr. Schalk's latest book challenges " myriad assumptions about disability activism and Black social movements."

The DEI Podcast with Max Gaston Season 2 Episode 2: Perspectives of Black Men in Law School Part 1

Published: December 11, 2023

Jonathan Bailey

Black men make up less than 5% of lawyers in the United States. Though drastically underrepresented in the legal profession, Black men are overrepresented…

Rare Books and Special Collections exhibit explores emancipation during the 19th century

Published: November 29, 2023

Becky Malewitz

Making and Unmaking Emancipation in Cuba and the United States explores the fraught, circuitous and unfinished course of emancipation over the 19th century in Cuba and the United States. It will remain on display in 102 Hesburgh Library, Rare Books and Special Collections through December 15.

Creating pathways of opportunity for future Black domers

Published: November 27, 2023

Maura Sullivan Hill '11

Kendra Washington-Bass ’94 uses her expertise in education to empower Black students at Notre Dame as the board chair of the Black Alumni of Notre Dame.

Walking in the footsteps of Father Augustus Tolton

Published: November 20, 2023

ThinkND

This November, in recognition of Black Catholic History Month, ThinkND and the Medieval Institute published…

MSM voice student wins first place in upper advanced classical category at National Association of Teachers of Singing student auditions

Published: November 19, 2023

SMND

Soprano Uche Aghulor, a first-year student in the MSM voice studio, won first place in the Upper Advanced Classical category…