Famed Notre Dame University alumnus and motivational speaker Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger will appear in Glendale for an inspirational speaking engagement.

Midwestern University's West Valley campus will be the site of "An Evening of Inspiration" in November with Ruettiger presenting on resiliency, beating the odds, and achieving goals.

The event starts at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 1 at the Midwestern campus auditorium at 19555 N. 59th Ave. Admission is free for the public but pre-event registration is required.

Ruettiger's story was popularized in the 1993 film “Rudy” starring Sean Astin. The son of an oil refinery worker and the third of 14 children, Ruettiger tenaciously pursued his dream of playing college football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, working his way through junior college to improve his academic record and eventually making the Notre Dame football team as a walk-on despite his height.

At the end of his senior year, he was allowed to dress for the final game of the season and got onto the field for a single play with 27 seconds to go. He sacked the quarterback and was carried off the field on the shoulders of his teammates.

Today, Ruettiger is an Emmy Award-winning motivational speaker, author, and producer, and the co-founder of the Rudy Foundation, whose mission is to strengthen communities by offering scholarships in education, sports, and the performing arts.

Visit https://www.midwestern.edu/about/mwu-now/events/an-evening-of-inspiration-with-rudy-ruettiger to register for the Glendale event.