Clare Cullinan has been named valedictorian of Notre Dame’s Class of 2025, the first from the Keough School of Global Affairs. She will graduate summa cum laude with a 4.0 GPA and has been on the dean’s list every semester. Cullinan’s speech aims to highlight the positive impact of the Notre Dame community and the importance of carrying its values forward. She switched to global affairs from math and economics, embracing ambiguity and beginner status, and found a passion for the major. Cullinan’s time at Notre Dame has been defined by valuing people as much as academics, with involvement in the Folk Choir and the Institute for Ethics and the Common Good.
