- 2:37Commencement 2026: What is one class you'll always remember?
Graduating students share the classes that shaped their Notre Dame experience—from freshman seminars and history simulations to policy labs and psychology courses that changed how they see the world.Learn more: https://stories.nd.edu/stories/commencement-2026/ - 1:56Commencement 2026: Seniors' Last Visit to the Grotto
The transition from Senior Week to Commencement Weekend begins with the Seniors' Last Visit to the Grotto.While it won't be the last time members of the Class of 2026 visit the sacred space on their own, it's the last time they'll visit together.Learn more about Commencement 2026: https://stories.nd.edu/stories/commencement-2026/
Notre Dame Videos
- 2:37Commencement 2026: What is one class you'll always remember?
Graduating students share the classes that shaped their Notre Dame experience—from freshman seminars and history simulations to policy labs and psychology courses that changed how they see the world.Learn more: https://stories.nd.edu/stories/commencement-2026/ - 1:56Commencement 2026: Seniors' Last Visit to the Grotto
The transition from Senior Week to Commencement Weekend begins with the Seniors' Last Visit to the Grotto.While it won't be the last time members of the Class of 2026 visit the sacred space on their own, it's the last time they'll visit together.Learn more about Commencement 2026: https://stories.nd.edu/stories/commencement-2026/ - 1:54The 2026 Salutatorian: Allison Elshoff
Allison Elshoff of Valencia, California, has been named salutatorian of the 2026 University of Notre Dame graduating class and will offer the invocation at the 181st Commencement Ceremony on May 17.Elshoff is a student in the Mendoza College of Business, with a major in business analytics and minors in the Hesburgh Program in Public Service, the Business Honors Program and impact consulting. She holds a 3.950 grade point average. - 1:24The 2026 Valedictorian: Martin Soros
Martin Soros of Bethesda, Maryland, has been selected as valedictorian of the 2026 University of Notre Dame graduating class. He will deliver the valedictory address at the 181st Commencement Ceremony on May 17.Soros, a student in the College of Engineering, has a major in civil engineering and minors in theology and education, schooling, and society. He holds a 3.966 grade point average.
What Would You Fight For?
- 2:01Fighting for Community Regeneration
Gary, Indiana, is a city with deep roots and a powerful story of resilience. Once a thriving steel town, Gary has faced decades of economic decline—but today, community leaders and the University of Notre Dame’s School of Architecture are working together to rebuild its downtown and restore opportunity.Through Notre Dame’s Housing and Community Regeneration Initiative, the city is developing a plan to revive its downtown, honor its history, and create a stronger future for residents. With community input and thoughtful urban design, Gary is charting a path toward social and economic renewal. - 2:00Fighting to Educate Children in Ghana
When Notre Dame student-athlete Daniel Boateng ’26 showed exceptional promise on the soccer field, his mother and grandmother reminded him to never lose sight of the power of education. Now a midfielder for the Fighting Irish, Daniel is helping children in his native Ghana access the same opportunities that changed his life.Through his nonprofit Changing Lives GH, founded with two Notre Dame teammates, Daniel is sponsoring 100 students who might otherwise never attend school and dreaming of a future where every child in Ghana can learn for free.Learn more: https://go.nd.edu/fighting-to-educate-children-in-ghana - 2:01Fighting to cure brain cancer
Each year, more than 12,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive and incurable form of brain cancer. The disease grows rapidly, adapts quickly, and evades the immune system—making it one of the most difficult cancers to treat.At the University of Notre Dame, Meenal Datta, the Jane Schoelch DeFlorio Collegiate Professor of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, and her research team are pushing the boundaries of cancer research by taking the fight to space. In 2024, they launched a first-of-its-kind glioblastoma experiment to the International Space Station, using microgravity to grow more realistic tumor models and accelerate testing for new therapies.Their groundbreaking work is helping scientists understand glioblastoma in new ways—and bringing us closer to a cure here on Earth. - 2:01Fighting for Maternal Health
The United States has the highest maternal mortality rate of any developed nation. For many new mothers, the weeks and months after giving birth can be the most dangerous—and too often, lifesaving care ends too soon.When Notre Dame professor, nurse, and researcher Joyce Adams saw these risks firsthand, she developed a groundbreaking model of postpartum care. Tested in Ghana and now saving lives in the U.S., her Focused Postpartum Care (Focused-PPC) program offers women yearlong follow-up visits, education on warning signs, and peer-to-peer support.Learn more: https://go.nd.edu/fighting-for-maternal-health
