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closeWilkens offers words of wisdom to Bonney Lake students, athletes
NBA Hall of Famer Lenny Wilkens makes appearance as keynote speaker at the third annual Heart of the Panther extravaganza at Bonney Lake High School
Shaun Scott
Bonney Lake High School boys basketball coach Brett McDaniel was constantly in motion with a smile on his face the size of Pierce County at the third annual “Heart of the Panther” event in the Bonney Lake High School commons on June 12.
McDaniel, who started the event three years ago, envisioned it becoming a tradition when the school held its first “Heart of the Panther” in the spring of 2006. McDaniel’s vision has become a reality.
The “Heart of the Panther” honors students involved in extracurricular activities and recognizes the importance of their commitments to their high school beyond the classroom.
“I realized before that when you have end of the year awards only a handful of students get recognized through scholarships. Typically the same kids win multiple scholarships,” McDaniel said. “This event gives the school a chance to honor those who have done well outside the classroom as well. I got the idea from a coaching a clinic and thought instead of applying it just to the teams that I coach that we could do it for the entire school.”
This year, the BLHS community welcomed NBA Hall of Fame coach and player Lenny Wilkens as the keynote speaker for the event. Wilkens received a standing ovation as he made his way up to the podium.
McDaniel was glad they were able to land one of the most legendary basketball icons of the 20th century. Wilkens has won more games than any other coach, recording 1,332 victories during his storybook career pacing the sidelines of the hardwood. The Seattle SuperSonics captured an NBA title under Wilkens’ guidance in 1979.
“Through our connections we were able to get Lenny Wilkens to come here,” McDaniel said. “Lenny embodies what the “Heart of the Panther” is all about.”
Wilkens encouraged the Panthers Class of 2008 to go after what they want in their future endeavors.
“There’s no such thing as a time-out in life,” Wilkens said to the audience. “Knowledge is power. Education and life experiences is what will shape your lives. As long as you have the right attitude in life, there’s nothing that can get in your way. Education is forever.”
Wilkens especially stressed the importance of making the right choices in life.
“The choices you make will dictate the kind of life you will lead and the kind of friends you will have,” he said. “You can be as good as you want to be. Yesterday was, today is and tomorrow will be. The possibilities are numerous.”
Bonney Lake junior Alex Waldroop was glad to be in attendance for the third “Heart of the Panther” event.
“It’s a chance for a lot of people to be recognized. There’s been a lot of success at this school,” Waldroop said. “I came last year in my sophomore year. It’s a lot of fun.”
Sumner School District Superintendent Gil Mendoza said the “Heart of the Panther” has become an event the community flocks to in droves.
“This event shows how much the community cares about its students,” Mendoza said. “It’s a nice way to compliment students who are involved in extracurricular activities. This is just fantastic.”