PhotocourtesyKen Abbott/The Carillion

Kevin Corke tells May graduates how he almost traded sportscasting for a military career.

By Sean Kelly

Kevin Corke ('88) was almost in the air instead of on the air. Corke, a sportscaster at KUSA-TV 9News in Denver, delivered the School's commencement address on May 15.

In his speech, Corke told the crowd how he almost became an Air Force pilot instead of one of Denver's most popular television personalities.

"The name of my speech was, 'Don't Panic or You'll End up Fighting Saddam Hussein,'" Corke said, adding that he kept his speech lighthearted and short for a reason.

"I know at my graduation I was thinking, 'Enough with the speeches. Just give me my paper. Let's go eat. Give me my graduation money, and let's be done with this thing.'"

Associate Dean Meg Moritz said Corke's speech was well-received.

"Kevin was very, very entertaining," she said. "I thought he was an excellent choice."

The speech, Corke said, "was a snapshot of my first six months out of college, beginning with graduation day.

"After about three months, I had decided that maybe I should just go and enroll in the officer candidate program."

Following graduation, Corke tried for months to find a job in broadcasting. Failing in his attempts, he turned to his ROTC background and was ready to enlist.

"I was convinced that I couldn't find a job. I was literally looking every day and getting rejection letter after rejection letter," Corke said.

But luckily, the day before he was to enlist, a Colorado Springs television station hired him to be a reporter. And just a little over a year later, he had his dream job with Channel 9.

Corke almost gave up on his goal of becoming a broadcaster. He hoped his speech would encourage new graduates to pursue their goals.

"What I just wanted to encourage the students to do was not to panic, to stay focused on their dream," he said.

"I think that's what they really needed to hear on graduation day. It's going to be all right. Don't panic. Things will be fine. Just keep that in mind."

Faculty sitting behind Corke on the stage that day saw an audience beaming back at Corke.

"It was as if he was just pouring warmth and enthusiasm all over the new graduates and they were projecting it right back," said Beth Gaeddert, the School's placement director. "It was a memorable sight from the stage."

Corke's dream began at Montbello High School in Denver. Initially hoping to be an astronaut or architect, he was turned on to journalism as a senior.

At CU, he wanted to be a writer, but he found his interests really lay in television. He switched to broadcasting and the rest, to hear Corke tell it, is history.

"One thing led to another, and here I am. This job has been a dream for me, for sure."

Nine years into his dream job at Channel 9, Corke credited his initial success to equal parts patience and good fortune.

"I've been blessed. There's no question about it," he said. "Just don't panic. If you hang in there for awhile you will most certainly reach your goal."

"Not everyone is going to get their dream job. But those who are patient tend to be more fulfilled in their careers than those who take the first thing that comes down the pike and find themselves 20 years later saying, 'Wow, I never really pursued my dream.' "

Corke's enthusiastic speech has raised the bar for future speakers, Moritz said.

"Kevin has a good time at what he does. He'll be hard to top."