Laetare Medal
Notre Dame’s Laetare Medal is presented annually to an American Catholic in recognition of outstanding service to the Church and society. It is considered the oldest and most prestigious award for American Catholics.
The University did not award the Laetare Medal for 2009. Judge John T. Noonan Jr., the 1984 recipient of the Laetare Medal, reflected on the spirit of the Laetare during the May, 2009 University Commencement Ceremony. In 2020 there was not an Acceptance Speech from Kathleen McChesney, due to Covid-19 and the 2020 in-person ceremony being cancelled.