JWU Family Connection | Providence Campus, Commencement 2019

E

R

P

VIDEN

C

O

FA M I LY C ON N E C T ION COMMENCEMENT 2019

N ORT H M I A MI

D ENVER

CH AR LOT T E

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.”

J W U F A M I LY C O N N E C T I O N

|

COMMENCEMENT 2019

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,

J W U F A M I LY C O N N E C T I O N

|

COMMENCEMENT 2019

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

|

COMMENCEMENT 2019

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

|

COMMENCEMENT 2019

PROVIDENCE

A F T E R NO ON C E R E MON Y

AFTERNOON CEREMONY

J W U F A M I LY C O N N E C T I O N

|

COMMENCEMENT 2019

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

J W U F A M I LY C O N N E C T I O N

Includes fall 2018, winter 2019 and expected spring 2019 graduates; does not include summer 2019 graduates.

|

COMMENCEMENT 2019

329 153 176

I

N

M

O

TH MIA R

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.

|

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

J W U F A M I LY C O N N E C T I O N

|

COMMENCEMENT 2019

C

LOT

T

E

H

AR

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.

|

COMMENCEMENT 2019