Obama at Notre Dame

May 17: President Obama will give the commencement address at the University of Notre Dame and receive an honorary degree, despite the objections of some Fighting Irish students and alumni. The critics say the president's aggressive pro-abortion agenda conflicts with Notre Dame's Catholic identity. A coalition of pro-life students plans a demonstration on campus, and many students said they would boycott commencement activities.

Vick leaves the Big House

May 20: This is the day former Atlanta Falcons star quarterback and convicted felon Michael Vick could leave the federal penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kan., and begin a stint of home confinement in Virginia. Vick, who was convicted under racketeering statutes of running a dog-fighting ring in 2007, is scheduled for release in July but could get out early and serve the rest of his sentence in his home state.

Indy 500

May 24: The Indianapolis Motor Speedway will celebrate its centennial on May 24 when hundreds of thousands of race fans pack into the complex for what's known as The Greatest Spectacle in Racing. The track opened in 1909-two years before the running of the first 500 mile race-and sported an uneven gravel surface that was blamed for several deadly crashes. New Zealand racer Scott Dixon won last year's event.

Scripps Spelling Bee Finals

May 28: It's where junior high awkwardness meets Scrabble: On the big stage in Washington, D.C., spelling wizards will duke it out in the King of all Bees. ABC will televise the final round of the Scripps National Spelling Bee in prime time while the young spellers compete for a $30,000 prize. Last year's champion, Sameer Mishra, took home the prize after spelling "guerdon"-an apropos noun meaning a reward.

Jaywalking away

May 29: After years of monologues, Jaywalking segments, and his ritual walk through the headlines, Jay Leno's days as the Tonight Show's host will end on May 29 after 17 years. NBC's Late Night host Conan O'Brien will take over the show's reins on June 1 while NBC has said Leno will return with a prime time talk show by the fall.