By Lindsay Morgan Tracy

On the windy Saturday morning of Denver’s 10th Commencement, student speaker Madison Tenaglia ’10 enthusiastically encouraged her peers to “dissolve the word impossible from whatever language we go on to speak … Challenge doesn’t just help you to grow your skills and knowledge; it helps to grow your belief that you can,” the College of Business entrepreneurship major continued. “With the strength of our spirit, we can choose to be powerful warriors for all that we believe in a world of endless possibilities.”

Quoting the insight of Albert Einstein who observed, “We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them,” Tenaglia challenged her classmates. “Be open to new ideas and to new philosophy. Let go of old paradigms to receive new information. Be disciplined to always ask questions, contemplate actions and analyze decisions.”

Outdoor ceremonies on Coors Family Common for the campus’ 237 graduates were the culmination of a weeklong string of commencement activities that included presentation of student awards, a reception for new graduates and their families and Baccalaureate Celebration in the Chapel.

Honorary doctorate recipient Bill Hanzlik ’10 Hon., chief executive officer of the Gold Crown Foundation and retired coach and National Basketball Association (NBA) star, told his audience that he was overjoyed to be attending his first formal commencement exercise. The retired Denver Nuggets forward recalled he’d missed all previous graduation ceremonies because of Olympic tryouts and pressing basketball events.

Hanzlik assured graduates he learned more from his failures than his successes, speaking proudly about his life’s detours. At one point fired from a high-profile job, Hanzlik took inspiration from Martin Luther King’s admonition, “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.”

“Change is challenging — good but challenging,” he added.

Highlighting the effects of his personal philosophy and motivation that include shaping a foundation to educate young people through sports and enrichment programs, Hanzlik advised classmates to use passion to guide their future paths.

“Find a way to give back and help others,” he said. “Keep your path in mind … Build your team with good committed people. They are winners. Make your community a better place. Give back through time, talent and treasure. Start today,” he urged. “Carry that torch for JWU. Help others is my one message I want you to remember.”

Hanzlik ended with a shout, “Go Wildcats!”

Denver Campus 10th Undergraduate Commencement
Coors Family Commons

Total Degrees Awarded 237
College of Business 44
College of Culinary Arts 94
The Hospitality College 99

BS Degrees 175
AS Degrees 62

Honorary Degree Recipients
Doctor of Business Administration in Sports/Entertainment/Event Management (Commencement Speaker)
William H. Hanzlik, CEO, Gold Crown Foundation, Greenwood Village, Colo.

Doctor of Business Administration in Financial Services Management
Linda S. Childears, President and CEO, Daniels Fund, Denver, Colo.