My message today is one of appreciation for all of you who contributed to our Commencement Weekend. It was a fantastic weekend that included some special events, such as Jerome Bettis’ receiving his degree, the dedication of a bench overlooking the east side of Stayer in commemoration of late EMBA student Michael Carroll, and an inspiring address by Suni Harford, the president of UBS Asset Management. Even the weather cooperated!

We conferred degrees to 1,205 Class of 2022 graduates — 583 from the undergraduate program (22 January graduates and 561 this weekend) and 628 from the graduate programs. About 10,000 guests collectively attended the College’s commencement events.

More than 70 Mendoza faculty and staff members assisted with the planning and execution of these events, not including the associate deans, the chairs and other faculty and staff who served as emcees or other capacities. I am very, very grateful and appreciative of everyone who helped out to make this weekend a fantastic celebratory experience for our students and their families.

I especially want to recognize the members of the diploma ceremonies’ planning committees. Because we changed the way we organized the ceremonies this year — hosting six ceremonies plus three receptions instead of two ceremonies and a single reception — the committees had to start at square one in making all of the arrangements.

A huge kudos to the Student Services and Facilities and Program Operations teams, and in particular their respective leaders, Christine Gramhofer and Morgan McCoy. They and their teams planned, organized and orchestrated six diploma ceremonies with three vibrant receptions over the Saturday and Sunday of Commencement Weekend. Strong leadership is what makes the difference between a good event and a great experience, and we're blessed to have two of the strongest professionals tag-teaming one of the most visible and important moments in the student journey.

Andy Wendelborn, Samantha Crisp and Teresa True played significant roles in serving as ceremony leads for our six ceremonies. They took the lead on organizing the planning committees and led them in facilitating efforts such as ceremony check-in processes, scriptwriting, graduate lineup, logistics and so much more. Amanda Rink and Laura Glassford supported the undergraduate ceremonies as well as members of Amanda's team. Joseph Torma, Meghan Huff, Jennifer McGuire, Wendy Walker and Connie Varga were instrumental in planning the Dean’s Receptions on Saturday and Sunday at Stayer.

Thanks to all of the members of the planning committees:

Lastly, if you didn’t attend the interdisciplinary graduate ceremony, I encourage you to watch Suni Harford’s address on the theme of “world at a crossroad.” (Her talk begins at the 46:47 mark.) I’d like to share with you two brief quotes:

"Anyone can lead, and yet not everyone leads. Leadership by any other name is courage. Courage to challenge the status quo. Courage to lead by example and asking others to do only that which you would do yourself. Courage to put others on your team first. Courage to admit that you don’t know everything. (You know a lot. But you don’t know everything.) Courage to speak up if you see something that doesn’t feel right. Courage to be inclusive, to seek views other than your own; courage to share credit. Courage to be true to yourself."

"For that is what true leadership does. Sets an example. Stands up to opposition. Inspires others. And leverages individual efforts to drive impact. And that’s the point I would like to leave you with. Everyone can make an impact. You don’t need a title. You don’t need to sit at the top of an org chart. You can lead, every single day, from your first day on the job to your last. You need only decide that you are going to make an impact."

I’m thankful to all of you who have an impact on our students, the College and the University through your commitment to serve.

In Notre Dame,

Martijn