Congratulations to Epsilon Chapter Members, Clare Cullinan and Bennett Schmitt!

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Clare Cullinan of South Bend, Indiana, has been named valedictorian and Bennett Schmitt from Jasper, Indiana, has been selected as salutatorian of the 2025 University of Notre Dame graduating class.

The 180th University Commencement Ceremony will be held May 18 (Sunday) in Notre Dame Stadium for graduates and guests. During the ceremony, Cullinan will present the valedictory address, and as salutatorian, Schmitt will offer the invocation.

A smiling female student with long brown hair, wearing a green jacket, stands in front of a stone archway on the Notre Dame campus.
Valedictorian Clare Cullinan (photo by Michael Caterina/University of Notre Dame)

Cullinan, a global affairs major with a studio art minor, is in the first graduating undergraduate class of the Keough School of Global Affairs. She will graduate summa cum laude with a cumulative 4.0 grade point average. She has been a member of the dean’s list every semester and is a member of the Phi Beta Kappa honor society.

Schmitt, who has majors in environmental sciences and applied and computational mathematics and statistics and a minor in energy studies, will graduate summa cum laude from the College of Science with a 4.0 grade point average. He is a Sorin Scholar with the Flatley Center for Undergraduate Scholarly Engagement, a member of the dean’s list and a Phi Beta Kappa early inductee.

A smiling male student with short brown hair wearing a navy suit, blue patterned tie and lapel pin stands in front of a building with stone arches on the Notre Dame campus.
Salutatorian Bennett Schmitt (photo by Michael Caterina/University of Notre Dame)

The Epsilon Chapter is very proud of you, Clare and Bennett! Congratulations and best wishes!