By Marcela Berrios, Hannah Storm Journalism Intern
A soldier, a congressman, a family man and an NFL player. At a glance, these four men may not have much in common, but in reality they’re all distinguished Notre Dame graduates. And they’re all being honored by the Alumni Association in November for their pursuit of excellence and their contributions to their respective fields of work.
U.S. Army Brigadier General Philip Volpe ’77 received the Rev. William Corby, C.S.C., Award honoring distinguished military service at a halftime ceremony at the Notre Dame-Navy football game Nov. 3. The Commanding General of the Army’s 44th Medical Command, Volpe’s decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star and Purple Heart. He was the Task Force Ranger Surgeon in Somalia in 1993, during the “Black Hawk Down” battle against Somalia militia fighters.
U.S. Representative Daniel Lungren ’68, a Republican from California’s 3rd Congressional District, received the Rev. John Cavanaugh, C.S.C., Award for outstanding civic service on Nov. 8. He was first elected to office at age 32, and became known as a leader in criminal justice and immigration issues. Lungren is also a former California Attorney General. A 30 percent drop in criminal rates during his terms is widely attributed to his tough stances on delinquency. He returned to Congress after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks to serve on House Judiciary and Homeland Security Committees.
Barry Ryan ’62 and wife, Jacquelyn, received the Family Exemplar Award Nov. 8 for their inspirational upholding of family values in Dauphin, Pa. As active members of their local community, the Ryans have been involved in numerous volunteer projects that promote strong family and community relationships. Some of these projects including food drives for the homeless, counseling services for women with unplanned pregnancies, and the Catholic Family Movement, which encourages spiritual growth through families, among other activities.
Aaron Taylor ’94, a former Irish and Green Bay Packers player, received the Harvey Foster Award for outstanding athletic accomplishments Nov. 9. The recipient of a 1997 Super Bowl ring, Taylor also worked as an ABC college football analyst before committing full-time to philanthropy. His non-profit organization, the Aaron Taylor IMPACT Fund, benefits school programs for children in San Diego. Taylor has also extended his social work to Kosgoda, in Sri Lanka, where he founded a project that built a community center and temporary houses for tsunami victims.
For more information about the Alumni Association’s four distinguished graduates, read the official press release available here.
