Hesburgh's legacy includes service program
By HELENA PAYNE
News Writer
WASHINGTON
President Clinton is the latest addition to the list of people who have given praise to Father Theodore Hesburgh, University president emeritus.
"We hope now that you got one more award, you can still be nice to all your friends and people who admire you very much," said President Clinton during the July 13 Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony for Hesburgh.
Hesburgh, clad in his priestly collar, cracked a smile while several others chuckled at the President's friendly quip. Clinton's comment appropriately captured a prominent aspect of Hesburgh's personality: his humility. Hesburgh, a man of great prestige, has managed to remain unassuming for "the little people" amidst his success, something recognized even by the President.
The Rotunda room of the Capitol Building was full of supportive members of Congress and the Notre Dame community. All were on hand to observe Hesburgh receive his award for work in the area of Catholic education, civil rights, and global peace.
Hesburgh's service to both Notre Dame and the nation has been an example and source of inspiration for young adult Domers.
"I'm very proud of Notre Dame," Hesburgh said. "We're turning out people who are alert to the things that are wrong in the world and change them."
According to Hesburgh, student activism has progressed significantly at Notre Dame in past years.
Hesburgh also encourages Notre Dame students in a program named for him, the Hesburgh Program for Public Service. Through this program, students obtain a concentration in public service after taking relevant courses and completing a public service internship. Hesburgh lectures the program's students each year and hands out diplomas at their graduation ceremony.
The program's namesake still greatly influences students, director Peri Arnold said.
"He's a model of involvement in public issues," said Arnold. "He becomes a kind of icon for them and a hero."
Students of the Hesburgh Program who interned in the Washington, D.C. area were invited to attend the ceremony.
"I felt proud that Father Hesburgh worked so hard for Notre Dame," said Hesburgh Program member Melissa Jackson.
On a campus where a "Hesburgh Mass" can fill every pew, the 83-year-old priest continues to conduct Masses almost daily.
Hesburgh also is the honorary chairman of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees. Last summer he visited ten countries, including Kosovo, for the Commission.
"The beauty of retirement is you don't have a given job and you can do any job,"Hesburgh said
All News Stories for Wednesday, August 23, 2000
