173rd Commencement Ceremony
Hallmarks, Transforming the World and Living Life to the Fullest Front and Center on this Special Day
NDNU’s 173rd Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 3rd was another exceptional event, with over 400 faculty, staff, family members and friends gathered in the Walter Gleason Gymnasium to celebrate the 65 students receiving certificates, credentials and undergraduate and master’s degrees.
Ingrid Martinez, School of Business and Management; Erica Draybic, School of Education and Amanda Thompson, School of Psychology, carried the American flag, California flag and NDNU flag, respectively. New this year were flags from each graduate school, with Diana Mendez, Jesus Marales Lozano and Hannah Liviana carrying them from the School of Business and Management, School of Education and School of Psychology, respectively.
Performing the Invocation was Elgiva Wood, Resettlement Manager, San Jose office of the International Rescue Committee (IRC). Over the past three years, NDNU has partnered with IRC to resettle over 60 refugees from eight different countries.
“For 174 years this university has educated women and men of excellence, integrity and service,” said Sr. Jean Stoner, Chair of NDNU’s Board of Trustees, in her Welcome remarks. “Today it is you, our newest graduates, who make us proud. We trust that the core values we share – living with integrity, serving a diverse community with excellence, and working for peace and justice – will continue to motivate your actions and relationships. “
NDNU President Beth Martin spoke about the Hallmarks, and how they have shaped every facet of a Notre Dame education, including “a belief in the dignity of every person … in the power of community … in the responsibility of service … in the discipline of reflection … in the pursuit of lifelong learning.”
She continued, “These are not just values etched on walls; they are principles for how to live, lead and love in a world that deeply needs your light. Now you carry these principles forward – into your careers and your communities.”
President Martin called upon the School of Business and Management graduates to be principled leaders, “marrying sound judgement with deep empathy,” and encouraged graduates in the School of Education to remember that “education is a transformative experience … carried into every classroom they enter.” Addressing graduates in the School of Psychology, she said, “The Hallmarks remind us that every person holds dignity, and every story deserves to be heard. Let that truth guide your practice and never underestimate that power of your care.”
She concluded her remarks with these inspirational words, “May you go forward with boldness. May you find joy in your work, strength in your values, and fellow travelers who walk beside you. And wherever your journey leads, may you always know that you are part of the NDNU family community rooted in faith, learning and the enduring belief that your life can remake the world.”
Additional highlights include the following:
Speakers
For this year’s commencement address, graduates and their guests were privileged to hear from former Congresswoman and current San Mateo County Supervisor Jackie Speier, a trailblazer with four decades in public service and “lifelong champion of integrity and compassion and leadership in leadership.” Drawing upon her experiences in public office and personal life, including being shot five times and left for dead on an airstrip in South America during the 1978 Jonestown Massacre, she offered the following insights and advice: “First, don’t be afraid to fail; second, don’t waste a minute, and third, have a Plan B.” She went on to remind graduates to remember to live in the moment, not to let uncertainty paralyze them, and to live life to the fullest so that at the end, they can say, “Woo-hoo, what a ride.”
Class of 2025 student speaker Angeline Lucia Rubino, School of Psychology, addressed her fellow graduates, stating that “this moment is more than a finish line … it’s a recognition of the transformation we’ve undergone” and implored them to “move forward with the belief that the work we do matters – because it does.” She talked about how her personal journey led to “meeting a version of myself I never knew I needed to meet. That moment … became my turning point – and in it, I found clarity, courage and the beginning of something new.”
Awards
Professor Jeff Cox, School of Business; Professor Cathy Ennon, School of Education; and Dr. Hannah Yanow, School of Psychology were this year’s recipients of the George M. Keller Teaching Excellence Award. This award is named for the late George Keller, a long-serving member and former chair of the Board of trustees. The Keller Teaching Award was established in 1995 to honor excellence in teaching at NDNU. One awardee is selected for each of the three schools.
Professor Marion Marshall, School of Education, was honored with the Sr. Catharine Memorial Teaching and Research Award, which is given to one faculty member annually –across all schools – to encourage new and creative ways of achieving excellence in teaching. It was established in honor of Sr. Catharine Julie Cunningham who served as NDNU’s President for 24 years.
City of Belmont Community Development Director Carlos de Melo presented the Belmont Community Service and Leadership awards Dawn Leiro, School of Psychology; Angelina Lucia Rubino, School of Psychology and Chloe Banks, School of Education. This honor recognizes the spirit of volunteerism and leadership with the core values of what Belmont celebrates and embodies NDNU’s mission of community engagement.
Congratulations to the Class of 2025 and our student and faculty award recipients!
