Student from Arlington Heights behind Notre Dame's 'The Shirt'

A University of Notre Dame student from Arlington Heights is heading up the school's 31st annual effort to design, produce, manufacture and distribute its spirit T-shirt, the popular piece of clothing worn by students during football games.

Jennifer Paul, a junior majoring in marketing and economics, is president of the student committee that comes up with the color and design of "The Shirt" and organizes an annual campus pep rally, where head football coach Brian Kelly reveals it.

Because of the coronavirus, this year's shirt will be unveiled virtually on the committee's Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube pages at 5 p.m. Friday, April 17, Chicago time.

"This year's unveiling shows that nothing can dampen the unwavering spirit of Fighting Irish fans and our optimism for another fantastic football season this fall," Paul said in a news release.

"We are looking forward to connecting with the Notre Dame community online this year and continuing the tradition of 'The Shirt'."

It's believed the T-shirt is the single highest selling annual piece of college athletic apparel in the nation, with more than 160,000 sold every year, school officials say. The 2020 shirt, which retails for $18, is available for pre-order and will be sold on the school's bookstore website right after the big reveal.

Half the sales profits go to The Shirt Charity Fund, which helps students who face catastrophic accidents or illnesses, and The Student Experience Fund, which helps students pay for textbooks, football tickets, service trips and other campus life activities.