Members of the class of 2030, accompanied by their families, gathered on the intersection of South Quad for the final time to conclude The Rally 2026.
Beginning on Sunday morning, the Rally brought students of the incoming class together for various events around campus, with opportunities to interact with their future classmates.
The final event, which is new this year, was known as “Love Thee, Notre Dame!” Starting at 4 p.m., Fr. Pete McCormick, assistant vice president of Campus Ministry, served as DJ while guests arrived.
Issac Schmitz, an admitted student from Indiana who hopes to major in mathematics and actuarial science, said his thoughts about the event with The Observer.
“I definitely loved it. It’s something different here,” he said. “My favorite part of being here is watching everybody else love it so much, honestly.”
At 4:15 p.m., the last members of the class of 2030 made their way to South Quad, led by bagpipers, as McCormick introduced the dorms that were present at the event. These included Cavanaugh Hall, Coyle Hall, Duncan Hall, Pasquerilla East Hall, Ryan Hall, Walsh Hall and Welsh Family Hall.
Concluding his time as DJ, McCormick played Neil Diamond’s ‘Sweet Caroline,’ which he described as “the most singable, sing-alongable song.”
Notre Dame Leprechaun sophomore Louis DelFra took to the stage next, dancing with McCormick and leading the students in a call-and-response chant of “We Are,” followed by the response of “ND!”
Hall Presidents Council co-chairs, seniors Megan Klein and Joe Tunney, were the next to speak to the crowd. As they took the stage, Klein thanked all previous speakers, and Tunney called out the various quads on campus, asking students to cheer for their own.
Klein told all students that regardless of whether or not their family had attended the University, or wherever they came from, they would be welcomed and will find their place there. Tunney then continued, saying that dorm life would be more than a place for these students to live but rather the place for students to meet their closest friends.
Gabriela Chiguil, an admitted student to the Keough School of Global Affairs, similarly noted the inclusive nature of the community, specifically describing upperclassmen teaching her the words to Notre Dame songs and including her in activities.
Vice president for undergraduate enrollment Micki Kidder returned to the stage following their speeches, mentioning each event that admitted students participated in over the weekend. “You have felt the love, the investment, in each of you,” she said.
Kidder continued, saying, “Regardless of your path to Notre Dame, please know that there is home here in South Bend for every single one of you.”
Before leaving the stage, Kidder introduced a surprise guest for the incoming class, Irish head football coach Marcus Freeman. He recalled when he first arrived at the University six years ago and that throughout his time since, there have been highs and lows he has experienced.
Freeman continued that these moments are what make one’s experience and “Life is more like a quilt” because it has one solid back with various pieces sewn together on the front. He continued that the back of his quilt was the University, which has always been there for him and will also be there for admitted students.
“I always say Notre Dame will change your life if you let it, but you have to let this place change your life,” Freeman said, before inviting up the Notre Dame Glee Club to sing the alma mater.
Following the alma mater, the Notre Dame Band of the Fighting Irish played the University’s fight song before Kidder returned to the podium to officially conclude The Rally.
“Everyone was super welcoming. You could go to anyone and say ‘hi.’ It was super nice,” Julian McFarlane said, who plans to study mechanical engineering when he arrives on campus later this year.
Ricky Ecklord, a committed student from New Jersey, said, “I came in kind of unsure. Although I was already committed, I was a little nervous about meeting new people, but I think I left having found a family that I’m excited to see going into August.”
Paige McAleer, a committed student studying neuroscience and behavior, noted that at the “Love Thee, Notre Dame!” event specifically, she had the opportunity to continue to meet and interact with new people and spend time with them.
“I thought The Rally was a great experience overall. I got to meet a ton of people that I’m going to be spending the next four years with, and it was really cool to see new aspects of Notre Dame that I hadn’t gotten to see before,” McAleer said.
Speaking with The Observer following the event, Kidder said, “The Rally has been incredibly successful in terms of making every admitted student and their families feel welcomed at Notre Dame. The energy has been high.”
She also expressed gratitude for current students and departments in creating an inviting atmosphere for incoming students.
“We’re so grateful for all the collaboration across campus, and the ‘Love Thee, Notre Dame!’ event at the very end was magical. I think people appreciated the intentionality and the authentic hospitality this weekend, and us celebrating all of the components of a Notre Dame education: academics, faith and community, and this event highlighted all of those in a beautiful way, so we are super excited,” Kidder said.
