Adm. Christopher Grady, the Vice Chairman and Acting Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, served as the principal speaker at Notre Dame's 180th University Commencement Ceremony on May 18, 2025.The longest-serving surface warfare officer on active duty shared "lessons on trust and truth, on agility, on continuous improvement, and on moral courage" with the Class of 2025.Adm. Grady also received an honorary degree at the ceremony.

Bennett Schmitt, Salutatorian of the Class of 2025, offers an invocation at the beginning of Notre Dame's 180th University Commencement Ceremony on May 18, 2025.Learn more about Bennett at https://go.nd.edu/da4301

Six individuals received honorary degrees at Notre Dame's 180th University Commencement Ceremony on May 18, 2025.Recipients included: 00:00 Introduction 01:22 Dr. Rafat Ansari (doctor of science) 03:10 Stephen Brogan (doctor of laws) 04:59 David Brooks (doctor of laws) 06:48 Adm. Christopher Grady (doctor of laws) 08:42 Teresa Lambe (doctor of science) 10:30 Alice McDermott (doctor of letters)

Clare Cullinan delivers the Valedictory Address at Notre Dame's 180th University Commencement Ceremony on May 18, 2025.Learn more about Clare at: https://go.nd.edu/da4301

University Commencement Ceremony

The University of Notre Dame celebrated its 180th Commencement Ceremony on May 18 at Notre Dame Stadium.An audience of some 20,000 graduates, family members, friends and faculty attended, and 2,084 degrees were conferred on undergraduate students, with a total of 3,099 degrees being conferred over the course of Commencement Weekend activities.Commencement Program: https://go.nd.edu/2025CommencementProgram00:00:00 Fanfare & Opening of the Gates 00:03:28 Academic Procession 00:35:21 Welcome & National Anthem 00:37:45 Salutatorian Invocation: Bennett Schmitt 00:43:47 Valedictory Address: Clare Cullinan 01:01:39 Conferral of Honorary Degrees 01:14:02 Commencement Address: Adm. Christopher Grady 01:35:42 Presentation of Emeritus Faculty & Faculty Awards 01:39:29 Recognition of Student Academic Achievement 01:41:32 Laetare Medal Presentation 01:54:19 Graduate Degree Recognition 01:54:54 Conferral of Baccalaureate Degrees 02:05:15 Charge to the Graduating Class 02:13:41 Benediction 02:15:37 "For Good" (from 'Wicked') 02:19:45 Notre Dame, Our Mother