March 5, 2001

South Bend, IN - The Irish rowing team christened two racing shells during halftime of Notre Dame's March 4 men's basketball game versus Georgetown. The two Vespoli Millennium shells were named for-and christened by-Notre Dame president emeritus Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C. (above), and Rev. Edmund P. Joyce, C.S.C., executive president emeritus (below), in front of a sold-out Joyce Center crowd.

In what is a long-standing tradition within the collegiate rowing community, boats are christened and named to honor individuals who have been influential within the University or the sport of rowing. Rev. Hesburgh and Rev. Joyce have been trailblazers at Notre Dame. Hesburgh was influential in allowing women to enroll and study at the University in 1972 and Joyce was instrumental in bringing women's athletics to campus that same year and helping Notre Dame in its drive toward achieving gender equity.