Catherine Distler named 2006 valedictorian

Catherine Distler, a double major in anthropology and preprofessional studies from Leawood, Kan., has been named valedictorian of the 2006 University of Notre Dame graduating class and delivered the valedictory address during Commencement.

Distler earned a 3.94 grade point average and was a member of the Dean's List each semester. Her service activities include an international summer service project in Calcutta, India, where she worked for nine weeks in 2005 at Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity home for the destitute and sick. She also served as co-organizer of Notre Dame's World AIDS Day Campaign and as a member of VOICE, the student advisory board to the University's Center for Social Concerns.

A volunteer at South Bend's Center for the Homeless and Memorial Hospital, Distler also worked as a researcher on studies on the impact of HIV/AIDS on children in the developing world, and clinical oncology and palliative care. She served as sophomore class vice president and participated in the Notre Dame chapter of the Children's Defense Fund.

In the video, Catherine (Kate) who is being interviewd by Jessica Maciejewski, also a graduate of the class of '06, describes her experiences at Notre Dame, and offers incoming student some advice on how to balance course work, friends and service projects.

This remarkable young woman will be attending Johns Hopkins Medical School this fall.

Read Catherine's Valedictory Speech...