FROM THE PRESIDENT & VICE PRESIDENT
Hey Roos,
Jimmy McHugh (left) & Justin Aguiar (right)
To start off, congratulations on being accepted to, and coming to one of the best universities. It is truly a remarkable accomplishment you should be proud of. Most importantly, you are amongst the luckiest group to have been placed in Keough Hall. Congratulations on embarking on this exciting journey, filled with endless opportunities for growth, friendship, and unforgettable experiences.
As you step into Keough, you're joining a close-knit brotherhood that values camaraderie, academic excellence, and success. Our hall is known for its rich traditions, from the lively Chariot Race to the spirited Toga Dance, creating memories that will last a lifetime.
I'm Justin Aguiar, your President for the year. I am originally from Miami, FL, and am a Marketing and Political Science Major. On campus, I work at the CSLC on their media team. I’ve been a member of student government, serving as Keough’s Senator last year, and have been involved in a variety of organizations. I have always lived in 2A (hands down the best section in Keough) and I'm always eager to meet new faces and build lasting connections.
I am Jimmy McHugh, and I will be your Vice President! I am from Verona, New Jersey, and I live in 2A. I study Economics with a concentration in Financial Economics and Econometrics with a minor in the Hesburgh Program in Public Service. Other than being your Vice President, I am on the board for the Notre Dame Gaelic Athletic Association, and we just competed in the National Tournament and brought home our third straight Gaelic Football title!
This year, Jimmy and I are here to support you as you navigate your college journey. Keough is your home away from home, and we're excited to welcome you into our incredible community!
Get ready for an incredible four years filled with growth, laughter, and friendship. Go Irish! Go Roos!
Looking forward to it,
Justin Aguiar & Jimmy McHugh (President & VP)
FROM THE RECTOR
Rector David Murray C.S.C.
Dear First Years,
Congratulations on your acceptance to the University of Notre Dame and a hearty welcome as you join the men of Keough Hall!
You are joining a community that is part of a nearly two centuries old tradition of residential life here at Our Lady’s University – one which has impacted the lives of so many alums past, present, and future. Guided by Notre Dame’s founding religious order, the Congregation of Holy Cross, our residence halls ensure that the education of the mind is never separated from the education of the heart. This is why we live in community. The intellectual education you receive in the classroom will be supported and integrated through the emotional, social, and spiritual education you can expect to receive in the dorms across campus.
In Keough Hall, we go by the motto, “Brothers. Scholars. Champions.” As brothers, we learn how to live side by side with one another as we grow to understand how we have been called, personally and communally, to best live in this world. As scholars, we strive to cultivate our intellects and passions so as to make the world a better place. As champions, we support, encourage, and challenge one another to live up to the fullness of who we have been created to be. In Keough Hall, you will be invited to join the life of the hall – assisting with dorm liturgies in the Chapel of Our Lady of Guadalupe, competing on our many intramural and intersection athletic teams, engaging in service opportunities on and off campus, working in hall government, and so much more. We are grateful for your presence among us.
Here are a few things you should know about me. On August 31, a short time after you arrive on campus, I will profess perpetual vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience in the Congregation of Holy Cross. I will spend most of your first academic year as a transitional deacon, and will be ordained a Roman Catholic priest near the end of the spring semester. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve my early years of religious life and priesthood in Keough Hall. You will teach me much about what it means to be a priest. Please know of my prayers for you as you enter into this community. I am eager to get to know you and share life with you and the rest of the dorm. I am always up for a conversation and, as a former teacher, I am eager to answer any questions you might have. Don’t be shy – my room will often be open. I, and many others, are here for you.
You are entering into a major transition period in your life, one that will, hopefully, expand your comfort zones, expose you to new (and old) ways of thinking, challenge and invigorate you to discover who God has called you to be, and find your place in the world beyond the walls of Notre Dame. Some words of advice. Ask questions. Knock on doors. Invite others. Take some time to be by yourself. Learn how to pray. Walk around the lakes. I suspect that great things lie ahead of you. Above all, be patient with yourself and others. Count on my support and prayers.
On behalf of the rest of the hall staff, our priest-in-residence, Fr. Nate Wills, CSC, and the many men who call this place home, I am grateful and excited to welcome you to Keough Hall!
Peace,
David Murray, csc