Schools

Catholic colleges announce commencement speakers

Mary Higgins Clark, author of 42 books, many of which have become bestsellers, will deliver the commencement address at Catholic University in Washington May 16.

A devout Catholic, Clark is a Dame of the Order of St. Gregory the Great, the highest honor the pope can offer a layperson.

“Her personal story of faith, perseverance and creativity in the face of great challenge is a fitting one for our graduates to ponder as they set out to pursue their vocations,” said Catholic U. President John Garvey.

Christendom College in Front Royal will welcome Alice Von Hildebrand as commencement speaker May 16.

Von Hildebrand, who was married to European exile philosopher and anti-Nazi activist Dietrich von Hildebrand until his death in 1977, is a Catholic philosopher and theologian. She was the first woman to teach philosophy at Hunter College in New York.

During the commencement ceremony at Christendom, Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde will receive an honorary doctorate. Bishop Loverde will celebrate the Baccalaureate Mass May 15.

Former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Agencies for Food and Agriculture Tony P. Hall will speak and receive an honorary doctorate at the May 17 commencement for Marymount University in Arlington. The commencement will take place at D.A.R. Constitution Hall in Washington.

Hall is currently executive director emeritus of the Alliance to End Hunger. Prior to diplomatic service, he represented the Third District of Ohio in Congress for almost 24 years. Hall was chairman of the House Select Committee on Hunger and founded the Congressional Hunger Center, a nongovernmental organization committed to ending hunger through training and educational programs.

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