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This is a publication of Johnson & Wales University specifically created for families and designated contacts of JWU students.
M O R N I N G C E R E M O N Y:
‘DE F IN E C OM M I T M E N T F OR YOU R SE L F ’ Aspirations became reality at the morning
He also found inspiration in his peers, who stayed
commencement ceremony, where undergraduate
their educational course while juggling academic
students from the colleges of Arts & Sciences,
and extracurricular responsibilities — often while
Business, Engineering &
working multiple jobs.
Design, Health & Wellness,
Pezza concluded his speech
and Hospitality Management
by urging the Class of
were the first to receive their
2019 to persevere: “My
degrees.
fellow graduates, define commitment for yourself,
Student speaker Nicholas
and use it to tackle everything
Pezza, an accomplished
you do in life.”
student-athlete and member of the Wildcat Investment
Nigel Travis ’19 Hon.,
Value Fund (WIVF), JWU
chairman of Dunkin’
Providence’s student-managed
Brands Inc., encouraged
portfolio fund, traced how his
new graduates to embrace
time at JWU helped transform
technology. He also
his definition of commitment. Prior to JWU, he said, “my
emphasized the importance Nicholas Pezza ’19 student speaker
of remaining passionate about
understanding of the word was
what you do: “Stay true to the
rudimentary; it simply meant
path you want and follow
hard work.”
it hard.”
Joining JWU’s hockey team marked the first shift.
Sometimes, however, there are unexpected bumps in
“No matter what adversity we faced, the men I
that road. “The world is not tidy and will never be,”
played with showed up with the same intensity each
he told graduates. “My advice is to bend with the
day because of a commitment to something greater
road, and to see every challenge as beneficial in your
than themselves.” Pezza also took inspiration from
development. ... Do not always plan the next step or
JWU’s faculty, who “expanded our understanding of
next job but focus simply on being successful today.
the word through their unwavering dedication to our
Success will follow those who do a great job.”
development as students and individuals. Through them, I learned that commitment means selflessness and dependability.”
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A F T E R N O O N C E R E M O N Y:
BE INST IGAT OR S OF CH A NGE At JWU’s afternoon ceremony, undergraduates from
and Derek Joseph Wagner ’99, ’19 Hon., chef and
the College of Culinary Arts and from the College of
owner of nicks on broadway, were each awarded a
Hospitality Management’s Food Service Management
Doctor of Culinary Arts.
program received their
Both chefs are staunch
diplomas.
believers in the ability of food
For student speaker Diane
to transform lives. Chef Gürs’
Saraceni, a JWU Continuing
keynote speech served as a
Education student graduating
call to action: “Our work is
magna cum laude in Baking &
changing. It is not just about
Pastry Arts, baking started as
pushing out new dishes or
a “passionate hobby.”
serving up the coolest or best-tasting stuff anymore.
During her time at JWU, she
Chef José Andrés has been
juggled a full-time job with
nominated for the Nobel
multiple passion projects,
Peace Prize. And food-related
including serving as president
businesses are more and more
of a local animal shelter. “Many people don’t realize the amount of grit that goes
instigators of change.” Diane Saraceni ’19 student speaker
He urged graduates to be part
into this program,” she noted.
of that change: “Not only can
“We’ve endured excruciatingly
we make life better, but we
long labs in hot kitchens. We have made best friends
can also make it tastier. Filled with pleasure — that
with compression socks and literally gained over one
is, if we choose good over bad.”
million steps on our pedometers. And, when our pizza dough was too sticky or our bread dough was overproofed, we didn’t give up. We simply remembered what Chef Lumi [Cirstea] always told us: ‘Love your dough, and your dough will love you back!’”
In conclusion, he urged the crowd to pause to appreciate the magnitude of their achievements: “Standing where you are today is a privilege. Being a part of this community is a privilege. Let’s be proud of it!”
Mehmet Gürs ’93, ’19 Hon., chef and owner of Mikla and partner of the Istanbul Food & Beverage Group,
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C OM M E NC E M E N T V I DE O S
YO U A R E O U R F U T U R E
#JWU19
J W U F A M I LY C O N N E C T I O N
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PROVIDENCE
MOR N I NG C E R E MON Y
MORNING CEREMONY
J W U F A M I LY C O N N E C T I O N
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PROVIDENCE
A F T E R NO ON C E R E MON Y
AFTERNOON CEREMONY
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C
LA
SS O
F
2019 PROV IDE NCE CA MPUS
DE N V E R CA MPUS
Total Undergraduate Degrees Awarded John Hazen White College of Arts & Sciences College of Business College of Culinary Arts College of Engineering & Design College of Health & Wellness College of Hospitality Management
1,508 232 407 253 94 9 513
Total Undergraduate Degrees Awarded John Hazen White College of Arts & Sciences College of Business College of Culinary Arts College of Hospitality Management
222 27 38 108 62
Bachelor’s Degrees Associate Degrees
136 86
Bachelor’s Degrees Associate Degrees
1,384 124
Total Graduate Degrees Awarded (MBA) Honorary Degree Recipient and Commencement Speaker Sean K. McNicholas, president, Service Systems Associates
Honorary Degree Recipient and Commencement Speaker, morning ceremony Nigel Travis, chairman, Dunkin’ Brands Inc. Honorary Degree Recipients and Commencement Speaker, afternoon ceremony Mehmet Gürs ’93, chef and partner, Istanbul Food & Beverage Group (speaker) Derek Joseph Wagner ’99, chef and owner, nicks on broadway Total Graduate Degrees Awarded Doctoral Degrees (Ed.D.) Graduate Degrees (MBA, M.A.T., M.S., M.Ed., M.S.P.A.S.)
CH A RLOT TE CA MPUS
334 14 320
Total Degrees Awarded John Hazen White College of Arts & Sciences College of Business College of Culinary Arts College of Hospitality Management
340 2 106 94 138
Bachelor’s Degrees Associate Degrees
246 94
Honorary Degree Recipient and Commencement Speaker, graduate ceremony Cynthia R. Bigelow, president and chief executive officer, Bigelow Tea
Honorary Degree Recipient and Commencement Speaker Gary Ward Guittard, president and chief executive officer, Guittard Chocolate Company
NOR TH MI A MI CA MPUS
J W U ONLINE
Total Undergraduate Degrees Awarded John Hazen White College of Arts & Sciences College of Business College of Culinary Arts College of Hospitality Management
266 21 84 67 116
Bachelor’s Degrees Associate Degrees
206 60
Total Graduate Degrees Awarded (MBA)
13
Total Degrees Awarded Bachelor’s Degrees Graduate Degrees (MBA, M.S.)
TOTA L DEGREES AWA RDED: 3,034
22
Honorary Degree Recipient and Commencement Speaker William David Wilkinson, president and chief executive officer, Atlanta Police Foundation
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Includes fall 2018, winter 2019 and expected spring 2019 graduates; does not include summer 2019 graduates.
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329 153 176
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A N D T H AT ’ S T H E W IL D CAT WAY When students arrive at the North Miami
Wilkinson’s words of wisdom resonated with the
Campus, the four tenets of the Wildcat Way —
graduates, including U.S. Army veteran Enrique
pride, courage, character and community — set
Lesende. A sergeant with JWU North Miami
the tone for what it’s like to be a Wildcat. During
Campus Safety & Security, Lesende decided to
the 2019 commencement ceremony, that theme
set an example for his family by pursuing his
could not have been more
MBA. In exchange for his
apparent.
hard work, Lesende got
Honorary degree recipient
to share this special day with his son, Matheus
Dave Wilkinson, who
S. Cravalho, who also
served 22 years with the
graduated with his
United States Secret Service, recounted
bachelor’s degree.
moments when those
“It meant the world to
four tenets helped guide
me to graduate with my
his decisions as assistant
son,” Lesende says. “I
special agent in charge
had to move at a fast
of presidential protection
pace to be sure we would
under Presidents Clinton
graduate together. So, in
and George W. Bush. He
the summer I took three
recalled advising the
classes to be able to make
president as he decided to “leave Flight 93 in the air
Matheus S. Cravalho ’19 (L) and Enrique Lesende ’19, father and son graduates
or bring it down to prevent
that during difficult situations, making the right decision requires sound judgment.
J W U F A M I LY C O N N E C T I O N
Between Wilkinson’s accomplishments and
even more lives from being lost on September 11,” and reminded graduates
that dream come true.”
Lesende’s achievements, our 2019 graduates show that they are prepared to make a difference in their community — and that’s the Wildcat Way.
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COMMENCEMENT 2019
D
ENVER
C OM M U N I T Y OF L IGH T S A N D OPP OR T U N I T Y The Denver Performing Arts Center’s Boettcher
JWU community with his commitment to provide
Concert Hall provided the perfect ‘in the
job and internship opportunities to our students
round’ ambiance to house 3,000 people for the
and graduates each year. He encouraged
Denver Campus commencement ceremony. The
graduates to own their entrepreneurial outreach:
traditional bagpiper led the procession, followed
“It all begins with a handshake.”
by a special performance
Benjamin Garcia ’10,
of the national anthem by
director of special
Kassidy McKevitt ’19.
events for CaterWest at
Student speaker Asianna
the National Western
Harris ’19 said she was
Stock Show, welcomed
honored to be the first
the new graduates into
woman of color, first
JWU’s alumni network.
applied psychology major,
Garcia shared four life
and first honors student to
lessons: be yourself,
deliver the commencement
never stop learning, try
speech for a JWU Denver
differently, and don’t
graduating class.
get comfortable. He
She shared her realization
concluded his speech by requesting that graduates
that big transitions and
close their eyes to reflect
uncomfortable situations are the best opportunities for growth. “This is our
on their journey. As the Asianna Harris ’19 student speaker
eyes, the audience held
moment to account for how much we have grown as students and professionals and take this leap
graduates reopened their their flashlights high to
represent the opportunities and support ahead
into the unknown,” she said.
of them.
Honorary degree recipient Sean McNicholas,
With smiles, cheers and tears, the Class of 2019
president and CEO of Service Systems Associates, delivered the commencement
was sent forth to continue to make an impact on the world and encompass the Wildcat Way.
address. McNicholas truly represents the
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C
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I T WA S L E A DING U P T O T H IS Graduates filed into the Spectrum Center loading
ceremony when she earned an associate degree
dock to don their gowns, take selfies and touch
in applied science from JWU’s College of
up their decorative caps at the JWU Charlotte
Culinary Arts.
2019 Commencement Ceremony on Saturday,
Born with epilepsy, Worth suffered grand mal
May 18. Nearly 550 students were ready to accept their diplomas.
seizures during her younger years. The Culinary Arts and Food Service
Commencement student
Management major was
speaker Rebecca Curtis ’19
seizure-free for six years
addressed her graduating
— until her junior year.
class. “Every decision we
Worth says sometimes
have made and every class
she can feel the seizures
that we have taken has led
coming on. “I get dizzy,
us to this moment,” she
start stuttering a little bit
said. “When you stood in a
and get light headed, but
lab for six hours straight,
normally I have seizures
it was leading up to this.
when I’m sleeping,”
When you felt like you
she says.
gave everything and had
Fortunately, her absence
nothing left to give, it was
this year was not due to
leading up to this. Now, I
health issues. Worth has
am not saying it was easy by any means, but what I
Samantha Worth ’19
am saying is, it was totally
could not attend the ceremony to receive her bachelor’s degree in Food Service Management, she participated in the 2017 commencement
J W U F A M I LY C O N N E C T I O N
family friend who also has epilepsy. She helped plan
worth it.” Samantha Worth ’19 would agree. Although she
formed a tight bond with a
this friend’s wedding and knew it was important to attend — the wedding just happened to be on the same day as commencement.
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COMMENCEMENT 2019