vice president pence: thank you all. father jenkins, board of trustees, distinguished members of the faculty, my fellow honorees, guests, grandparents, parents, family and friends gathered here, all who have come from near and far to share a special moment, and congratulations to a generation of promise, the university of notre dame class of 2017. we are proud of you all. [applause] you know, for this son of indiana, it is great to be back home again. [applause] but i have to tell you, it s deeply humbling for me to participate in the 172nd commencement here at the university of notre dame in her 175th year. my first-generation irish-american mother is actually with us today, 83 years young, nancy pence fritsch. and you know, i m pretty sure my mother never thought she d see me at a graduation at notre dame. [laughter] the notre dame class of 2017 is a class of extraordinary accomplishment. you came from every corner of america and from all across the world, representing all
Just up the road from the House that Rockne Built, a farmhouse that Notre Dame founder Father Edward Sorin used to own was recently taken apart and rebuilt on a new foundation.