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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 a commencement address Monday (May 7) at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C., Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., president of the University of Notre Dame, urged graduates to hold fast to their convictions but express them in “more skillful, more respectful ways.”

Father Jenkins spoke to Wesley’s 130th graduating class in a ceremony at the Washington National Cathedral.

“We in this country are in the midst of a social crisis, a harsh and deepening split between groups that are all too ready to see evil in each other,” Father Jenkins said. “Each side has never been more eager yet more unable to dominate the other. Both sides call for change, but each believes it’s the other side that must change.”

Erin Hoffmann Harding, associate vice president for strategic planning at the University of Notre Dame, has been appointed vice president for student affairs at the University, succeeding Rev. Thomas P. Doyle, C.S.C., who will join Notre Dame’s Institute for Educational Initiatives as a faculty fellow focusing on initiatives in Catholic educational leadership development. He also will continue pastoral ministry among students and assist the Office of Human Resources with an initiative related to integrating Catholic mission.

“Erin brings with her to this new position a wide range of extraordinary skills that will serve the University well,” said Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., Notre Dame’s president. “I appreciate her accepting this appointment and look forward to working closely with her and the division to enhance our student life initiatives, which have always been and will remain a distinctive part of Notre Dame’s educational experience.

The 20 winners of Joyce teaching excellence awards represent faculty who have had a profound influence on undergraduate students through sustained exemplary teaching. Faculty committees in each of seven disciplinary areas review the peer and student nominations.

The awards are presented by the Office of the Provost, but recipients are selected through a process that includes peer and student nominations.

Dockweiler Award winners are: Ramzi K. Bualuan, associate professional specialist, computer science and engineering; Joshua B. Kaplan, associate professional specialist, political science; and Holly E. Martin, assistant dean, First Year of Studies.

The 20 winners of Joyce teaching excellence awards represent faculty who have had a profound influence on undergraduate students through sustained exemplary teaching. Faculty committees in each of seven disciplinary areas review the peer and student nominations.

Michael J. O’Brien, a political science major from St. Charles, Ill., has been named valedictorian of the 2012 University of Notre Dame graduating class and will present the valedictory address during Commencement ceremonies May 20 (Sunday) at Notre Dame Stadium. O’Brien, who also will be awarded an International Business Certificate from Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business, earned a 4.0 grade point average.

O’Brien is editor-in-chief of “Beyond Politics: Undergraduate Journal of Politics,” and serves as president of the Notre Dame College Democrats, leading one of the most active College Democrats chapters in the nation.

In response to student suggestions, the University of Notre Dame has taken several new steps to better support gay, lesbian, bisexual and questioning members of its community.

The result of meetings between student leaders and members of the University’s administration, the initiatives include improving awareness of existing non-discrimination practices and protections as articulated in Notre Dame’s discriminatory harassment policies and “Spirit of Inclusion” statement, and enhancing the structure and functions of the Core Council for Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Students.

Ten distinguished figures in business, education, engineering, law, mathematics, media, medicine and the Catholic Church will join principal speaker Haley Scott DeMaria as honorary degree recipients at the University of Notre Dame’s 167th Commencement Ceremony May 20 (Sunday).

The ceremony will be held in the morning at Notre Dame Stadium in order to accommodate as many guests as possible. Undergraduate diploma ceremonies for each college and school will be held the afternoon of May 20, and the Graduate School ceremony will take place May 19 (Saturday).

The University of Notre Dame is the No. 4 “dream college” among parents of college applicants, the Princeton Review reported in its annual “College Hopes and Worries” survey. Notre Dame moved up from the No. 9 slot last year.

Released Tuesday (March 27), the rankings are, in order, Stanford University, Princeton University, Harvard College, Notre Dame, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Pennsylvania, Cornell University, Duke University, Yale University and University of Southern California.

Haley Scott DeMaria, the University of Notre Dame 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 the recipient of an honorary degree at Notre Dame’s 167th Commencement Ceremony on May 20.

“The courage, perseverance and faith Haley has demonstrated over the past 20 years have been remarkable and are a shining example for us all,” said Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., Notre Dame’s president. “She has spoken to scores of groups across the country of the many challenges she faced in recovering from injuries suffered in the accident, always with a focus on God’s grace and the love and support she received from her family, friends and Notre Dame. I’m sure that her words will be as inspirational to our graduates as they have been to so many others.”

The University of Notre Dame has been named with distinction to the 2012 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll in recognition of the role it plays in solving community problems; achieving meaningful, measurable outcomes in the communities it serves; and placing students on a lifelong path of civic engagement.

Notre Dame is one of four Indiana colleges and universities to be selected with distinction. The Corporation for National and Community Service releases the Community Service Honor Roll annually.