Graduation...

Hill and Shaia: Sharing an experience

... was an experience more for some than others. It was a warm, sunny day, something that everyone, especially the families of graduates, hope for, but for those wearing black and in direct sunlight- our graduates, well, a cloudy day might not be so bad. Again, graduation was an experience. Still, the constant welcomes, speeches, reflections, doctorate conferrals, and other verbosity made the entire exercise, well, you guessed it, an experience. But what better way to share an experience than with a friend? And that's what Harry Shaia '26, Steds senior, RA, and resident Virginian did as he joined NOT his own college, Mendoza College of Business, but rather the college of his good friend, Kyle Hill '26, Steds senior, RA and resident New Jerseyan. Sitting with the College of Science, Shaia took in graduation. On graduation, Shaia shared, "There was a lot to take in!"

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Graduation...

Don't forget the sunscreen

... Day at Notre Dame. Today marked the 181th Commencement ceremonies at Notre Dame. It was a perfect day to have graduation outside and that’s exactly what happened in the Notre Dame Stadium this morning. A warm day, with an occasional cool breeze, and just the right amount of sunshine made for everyone’s dream graduation day. After commence ceremonies were concluded, it was time for photos. And everywhere you looked, it was perfect for a graduation photo or two. 

Congratulations to our Stedsmen of the Class of 2026!

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They're...

Jenn and Jake Miller with Fr. Ralph...

... married! With Fr. Ralph witnessing and the Steds family present, Jennifer "Jenn" DiMarco and Jacob "Jake" Miller ’18 of Steds were married at St. Matthew's Church in Toronto, Canada. It was a beautiful and a very cool day, with showers always threatening, but nothing could put a damper on this special day nor the radiance of this bride and the beaming pride of the groom. On Jenn joining the Steds family, Eddy Brady '18, fellow Stedsman and best man, as was Chris Rho '18 too, shared, "Jake is now 2 for 2 on perfect matches, landing in St. Edward’s and marrying his wonderful wife, Jenn! It was a great weekend celebrating them. Congratulations to the happy couple!”

Best wishes and congratulations to Jenn and Jake!

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... and the Stedsmen with their fiancées...

... and Fr. Ralph with the Steds moms...

... and Brady and Rho gave a great speech!

Move out...

Where's Oscar the Grouch?

... continues. While the students may have moved out, the trash they left behind is now moving out. On the third floor, trash got a bit out of control and spilled out into the hallway. With the help of Hall Staff and a small army of housekeepers the trash made an exit from the Hall. On the overflow of trash, Fr. Ralph Haag, CSC, said, "I have never seen anything like this before. Still, many hands make light work... thank you housekeepers!"

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Time for...

Steds: Shifting into neutral

... a break. Even though graduation is later this week, everything is slowing down. Yes, the summer is starting and starting early.  During the summer, everyone's favorite blog, The Gentleman's Monthly, will be every other day, and everyone's favorite podcast, In the Red Room, is on hiatus. But don't be sad, for every now and then, there just might be an episode when on the road! 

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And then...

Silence

... there was silence. With the vast majority of the Hall packed up and moved out, a silence has descended upon the Hall and campus. Once bustling sidewalks and parking lots are now empty. Gone is the music wafting out of residents' windows. Empty are the quads of sun worshippers. All that remain are plies of donated items for the local Goodwill. Still, enjoy the silence by imagining it and enjoy your Sunday wherever you may be!

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Get out...

He's free!

... and go! Yesterday was the last day of finals and today is the last day for all undergraduates to move out of the Hall. As you can imagine, the hallways were full of activity, moving this or that thing out, throwing out a year's worth of trash, donating items to Goodwill, washing things that have never been washed, returning room keys and saying good bye.  Finished with everything, finals and now preparing for moving out, Robert Myler decided to take a break, walking out of the Hall and flashing the victory wave. On giving the sign of victory, Myler, Steds freshman and resident Michigander, declared, "Thank God for a great year. Now it’s summer!"

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Finals are...

The food arrives...

... continuing and so are the study breaks. Yes! Again, by executive order, following the precedent set by former President Tommy Kelly, President Michael Heffernan directed that everything been done throughout the week to provide the Gentlemen a break from their studying. So, again, at 9PM, there was a study break held in the Flounge, where the Gentlemen took a break, enjoying food and camaraderie... and certainly a buoying of spirits. From the first day of finals to the fourth, the Gentlemen were treated to Chipotle burritos, Rocco's pizza, Mission BBQ, and a breakfast by Chick Fil A. On the study breaks, Fr. Ralph said, "After ALL these study breaks, I think the 'freshman fifteen' is finally going to make an appearance!"

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... the President is happy...

... and everyone is patient...

... and frenzy commences...

... again with Chipotle...

... again with Mission BBQ...

... and they ate their fill.

Finals...

Bored genius: Robby Sommer

… Week is well underway, and the Stedsmen are pulling out all of the stops, redoubling their efforts, burning the midnight oil, etc., etc., etc. to make this Finals Week successful. So, all study spaces have been made quiet study spaces and hall quiet hours are in effect so that all can study. But some, well, don't need to study, and that's certainly the case with Robby Sommer. Spotted in the Flounge, Sommer was not studying but rather messing about with his phone. Playing a game? Updating his social media? Who knows, but what we do know is that Sommer was not studying. On Finals Week, Sommer, Steds freshman, rising member of the ND Cheer team, and resident Illinoisan, stated, "As my teacher, Sensei Wu, never said ‘always put off to tomorrow what could be done today!’”

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Something special...

We know what's fueling the A's this week

... for Finals Week. Yes, the Gentlemen have something very special to fuel their studying this Finals Week. This week, just in time for finals, Starbucks coffee is being served up in the Hall coffee machine in the Gregorian Lounge. From Sumatran to 1971 to sun-dried Ethiopian, Starbucks premium coffee is fueling premium results and grades of the Stedsmen. Another cup? Yes, please! On the premium beans fueling the late night studying, Brady Barrett, Steds sophomore and resident Connecticuter (yes, I had to look that up), said, "They say Voltaire drank 40 cups of coffee a day. This week, I may have come close, but instead of any philosophical breakthroughs, I only discovered how much I’d been procrastinating. Still, the Starbucks in Greg coffee machine got me through finals week, which might be the modern equivalent of enlightenment."

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The life of...

Shaia (left) with Klug, DeNooyer, and Thorn...

... our Seniors! While our Steds Seniors take their Study Days seriously, many Steds seniors decided to take a jaunt downstate and head to Churchill Downs before their studying started in earnest. Yes, to find motivation for their Finals Week, Steds seniors took in all the pageantry, charm and hospitality, and local fare and beverage that is the Kentucky Derby which, not doubt, inspired them into their final Finals Week. Still, the visit allowed some of our seniors to practice and/or brush up on their probability and statistics skills! Suffice it to say, it was the proverbial win win. On attending the 152nd Run for the Roses, Harry Shaia, Steds senior, RA, and resident Virginian, shared, "Suits, sun, and horses- the Gentlemen of St Edward’s Hall showed up and out at the Kentucky Derby.”

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... and his girlfriend Tess...

... with Kelly...

... Cook, Laufenburg, and Kurowski...

... and Kelly again, Davey, and Donovan...

... with Casey, Laufenburg, Cook, Robinett, and Cappuci...

... all enjoying a local beverages...

THANK YOU!

THANK YOU!

Thank you to ALL Stedsmen, moms and dads, brothers and sisters, grand and godparents, friends, people of goodwill, Saturday’s squirrels, pets of all species… and anyone else who we are forgetting...THANK YOU for rallying to our cause this ND Day!

It's true! Because of you, we rallied, and now, are once again the #1 residence hall and 3rd overall out of over 500 causes this ND Day... for the twelfth year in a row!

On the historic and decisive ND Day win, President Michael Heffernan stated, "On this ND Day, just as on any day, the men of St. Edward’s Hall made the collective decision to pursue excellence. And, as in all things, the men of St. Edward’s Hall emerged victorious. We thank our friends and family for their indefatigable generosity. We are endlessly grateful for everything you’ve given us."

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Your Sunday picture...

Pretty in pink

... from Notre Dame! Here's a view of Fr. Sorin amid a sea of spring color. In autumn, ND Grounds keepers decided pink tulips would be planted so that in spring there would be a sea a pink. Enjoy, and enjoy wherever you may be!

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Saturday squirrel.

Staying warm

Our furry friends have stepped aside so that another campus neighbor can have some attention. Walking around St. Mary's Lake, catching some rays, were not one but two turtles! As ectotherms, turtles, and all cold blooded animals, depend on external heat sources like the sun or warm surfaces to regulate their body temperature. And that's what these two turtles were doing on a sunny and warm day at ND. On being spotted soaking up the sun, the red headed turtle non-verbaled, "I forgot my shades!"

To hear this week's installment of In the Red Room, on:

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