Matthew Hassenfratz
Firstly, it is an honor and a privilege to be nominated for the Mr. Canisius award. Having my name next to Ryan, Henry, Petros, Patrick, and Evan – people who I consider to be role models for our class – is such an astounding recognition.
When I came to Canisius, I was not sure what I wanted to be or who I was going to become. All I knew was that I wanted to change the lives of the people around me. However, as my time at Canisius comes to a close, I know that there were countless other people at Canisius who had an invaluable impact on my life.
One of the most valuable things that I learned at Canisius is that you should ground your day in gratitude. In this light, I want to say thank you. I want to thank all of the staff who have taught me both academically, but also how to be a Man for Others. I want to thank my coaches who pushed me at each practice, workout, and game to be better than I was the last shift, frame, or point. I want to thank my classmates and underclassmen for welcoming me into the community that Canisius fosters every day we walk through the Blue Doors.
Without my peers, teachers, coaches and family, I would not be the man I am today.
Forever thankful,
Matthew Hassenfratz
AMDG