Established in 1982, the Distinguished Student Award is conferred on a senior student who has rendered outstanding service to Notre Dame and the community. For a nomination form, please click here.
The 2009 Distinguished Student Award winner is:
Matthew Gelchion '09
With this award, Matthew Gelchion ’09 is honored for his outstanding academic performance and commitment to the University’s mission of faith and service. A political science and sociology double major, Matthew was named a Notre Dame Presidential Scholar in 2007, and is a member of Alpha Kappa Delta, the International Honor Society in Sociology, Pi Sigma Alpha, the Political Science Honor Society, and Phi Beta Kappa a National Honor Society.
Matthew’s consistent placement on the Dean’s List in the College of Arts and Letters, as well as his cumulative 3.95 GPA, is a testament to his dedication to academics during his four years at Notre Dame.
Matthew’s exemplary commitment to service began during his freshman year at Notre Dame. Immediately, he reached out to the community outside the Notre Dame campus, joining the Freshman Peer Leaders program. Here, Matthew helped to plan and lead a confirmation retreat for high school students in South Bend. Also during his freshman year, Matthew became a Mass lector in the Basilica and he joined the Notre Dame Boxing Club so he could actively raise money for the Holy Cross missions in Bangladesh.
During his junior year, Matthew served as the chair of the Spiritual Committee on the Junior Class Council where he helped plan a junior class retreat. Since 2007, Matthew has donated his time coaching a Lyons Hall football team. Also, he participated on a co-recreational flag football team comprised of residents from Fisher Hall, on which he served as captain.
Throughout his senior year, Matt has served as a resident assistant in Fisher—a role that enables him to extend his advice and friendship to underclassmen. Currently, he is a senior mentor for Freshmen in Discipleship, Evangelization, and Service (FIDES) through campus ministry. In this role, Matthew leads a group of seven first-year students in weekly discussions of faith, and he was heavily involved in planning the Class of 2009 retreat in January. Matthew also acts as a mentor on the Lifeworks Dream Team, a group that goes to a fourth grade class at a local school to instill confidence and inspiration in each student.
Past Distinguished Student Award winners:
2008 Patrick Reidy
2007 Maryann M. Erigha
2006 Peter Quaranto
2005 Daniel Richter
2004 Kevin Conley
2003 Tona Boyd
2002 Robert LeBlanc
2001 Brett J. Perkins
2000 Michael Downs and Kerrie Johnson
1999 Rhianna Saunders
1998 Paul R. Brenner
1997 Erin Hoffmann
1996 Alejandro Montoya
1995 Katherine Ann VanRooy
1994 Ireneo B. Miquiabas
1993 Edwin Harwell
1992 Gabrielle M. Clark
1991 Lisa Ann Mackett
1990 David. W. Kinkopf
1989 Reginald T. Ho
1988 Adam A. Milani
1987 Jennifer Crawford
1986 Mark J. Herkert
1985 Angela Hooten
1984 Elizabeth Ellery
1983 Martha Jimenez
1982 Joseph A. Regotti
