SENIOR SEND-OFF CereMONY
Senior Send-Off Ceremony
All students who have participated in and been formed by courses at the Institute for Social Concerns are invited to attend a ceremony that celebrates a commitment to the common good. Cords are given to students completing the Catholic Social Tradition Minor and Poverty Studies Interdisciplinary Minor. Following the ceremony, family and friends are invited to attend an evening of celebration, food, and drinks.
Featured Guests
The institute is honored to have the University president offer words of blessing to graduating seniors each year. In addition, distinguished guest speakers have included Dr. Rafat Ansari, ND Honorary Degree Recipient; Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, CEO of Feeding America; and Norma Pimentel, M.J., recipient of the 2018 Laetare Medal, among others. Music is performed by ND Glee Club.
The 2025 Send-off Ceremony
Story
On Friday, May 16, nearly 70 graduating seniors attended the institute’s annual Senior Send-Off at the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center’s Leighton Concert Hall. Father Dowd congratulated each student as they crossed the stage. In his remarks, he shared the story of Pope Leo XIV’s years of service in Peru as an example of learning through service to others. Read the story.
Video
A live stream of the Senior Send-Off Ceremony is available each year. Here is the recording of the 2025 ceremony.
Awards
The institute selects two students each year to be recognized with awards at the Senior Send-off for excellence in the pursuit of justice and the common good.
Leah Brucal received the Sister Thea Bowman Award, which is given annually to a student who exemplifies a commitment to justice and dignity through active engagement within and outside the campus community and who demonstrates a sense of vocation dedicated to the common good in the spirit of Sister Bowman.
Elaine Carroll received the Jay Brandenberger Research Award for the Common Good (named in honor of Jay Brandenberger after 36 years at the institute) for her capstone thesis on the viability of social impact bonds as a housing intervention in the United States.
Questions?
Contact Felicia Johnson O’Brien, justice education program director at f.obrien@nd.edu.
Previous Send-off Ceremony Videos
Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C.; Dr. Rafat Ansari, ND Honorary Degree Recipient
Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C.; Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, CEO of Feeding America
Rev. John Jenkins, C.S.C.; Jim O’Connell ’70
Rev. John Jenkins, C.S.C.
2021 Service Send-Off Ceremony
Virtual Ceremony
2020 Service Send-Off Ceremony
Virtual Ceremony
2019 Service Send-Off Ceremony
Rev. John Jenkins, C.S.C.; Erica Ramirez ’11
2018 Service Send-Off Ceremony
Blessing by Sister Norma Pimentel, M.J.,
recipient of the 2018 Laetare Medal