FROM THE PRESIDENT & VICE PRESIDENTS
Hey Roos,
Gavin Doehrmann (left), Gavin Hodge (middle), and Tommy Stecz (right)
To start off, congratulations on being accepted to—and choosing to attend—one of the top universities in the country. It is truly a remarkable accomplishment, and you should be proud of it. Most importantly, you are among the luckiest group, as you’ve 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.
My name’s Gavin Hodge, and I’ll be the president of Keough Hall this year. I’m studying Global Affairs and am from Columbus, OH. Outside of the dorm, I’m involved in research at the Kellogg Institute and am part of Student International Business Council (SIBC). I’m also a big fan of lake walks, SDH, and Cafe J.
What's up fellas, I'm Tommy Stecz and I'll be your fall vice president. I'm from Chicago, IL studying Physics and Economics. On campus, I am involved in Camp Kesem, and do research in the Nuclear Physics Lab. I also enjoy running on campus, playing section football, and hanging around Keough 2A.
I’m Gavin Doehrmann, and I’m your spring vice president this year! I am from Williamsburg, IA, and am a Neuroscience & Behavior and Theology double major on the pre-med track. On campus, I like to play interhall sports (especially basketball), tutor at Slice of Life, and perform in the Music is Medicine club.
This year, we 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,
Gavin Hodge, Tommy Stecz, & Gavin Doehrmann (President & VPs)
FROM THE RECTOR
Rector Fr. 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. In the fall of last year, I professed perpetual vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience in the Congregation of Holy Cross. I spent most of the last academic year as a transitional deacon, and was ordained a Roman Catholic priest on April 26 of this spring. 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,
Fr. David Murray, csc