Carla Harris, a celebrated gospel singer and a leading U.S. financial executive, will receive the University of Notre Dame's 2021 Laetare Medal, one of the most prestigious prizes in the American Catholic Church. (Courtesy of the University of Notre Dame) Carla Harris, a celebrated gospel singer and a leading U.S. financial executive, will receive the University of Notre Dame's 2021 Laetare Medal, one of the most prestigious prizes in the American Catholic Church. Now, on March 14, Notre Dame announced that she will soon join the ranks of President John F. Kennedy, Catholic Worker founder Dorothy Day, novelist Walker Percy and former Vice President Joe Biden in receiving the oldest honor bestowed upon Catholics in the United States.