Chris Fountain, a senior from the Chicago suburbs, is majoring in mechanical engineering with a minor in engineering corporate practice.

Financial aid helped make his Notre Dame education possible, unlocking opportunities that have shaped his college experience. 

“My parents are middle-income folks,” Fountain explains. “My mom is a nurse and my dad is a beer distributor. When I took a look at the sticker price for Notre Dame, my family and I realized that it was very much out of our range.”

However, as financial aid offers came in from Notre Dame and the other schools he was admitted to, Fountain was pleasantly surprised. “Notre Dame, a private institution, was actually comparable to a lot of the in-state schools I was looking really closely at,” he says.

With the support of Notre Dame’s financial aid offer, Fountain enrolled. 

Now in his senior year, Fountain reflects on the opportunities that have shaped his undergraduate years. “In the past three years, going on my fourth, I have had so many opportunities that I would not have thought possible when I was 18 years-old.”

In addition to his academic work in mechanical engineering, Fountain has been involved in a variety of projects and activities on campus. From working on research with the Notre Dame Rocketry Team to a leadership role as a resident assistant in Keenan Hall, to traveling to Dublin, Ireland with the Notre Dame Marching Band, he has explored his interests and built lasting friendships along the way. 

Moreover, Fountain says, Notre Dame has given him a sense of purpose, helping him answer the "why" and "how" behind his goals. "I believe Notre Dame has strengthened my God-given abilities in truly incredible ways and has taught me how to use my abilities in service to others," he says. "I am so thankful for the experiences I have had here that are propelling me forward to serve a world in need."

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