Tarmac Online

By Ryan Manno ’27

The second annual Chaminade Leadership Summit recently gathered a diverse community of thinkers and changemakers to explore the profound impact of “Connected Leadership.” This year’s event centered on the idea that true influence isn’t found in isolation, but through the strength of our relationships and a commitment to a shared vision. Through a series of immersive workshops and high-level panels from speakers with unique stories and backgrounds, attendees explored how empathy and interdependence serve as the foundation for meaningful change in an increasingly complex world. It was an environment designed to ignite transformation by offering a space where students, alumni, and educators could unite under the Marianist spirit of community and mentorship.

Austin Hatch’s path to helping others overcome adversity started with a devastating twist of fate. In his early years, he always had the dream of playing college basketball at the University of Michigan. Then, at the age of 8, a tragic plane crash claimed the lives of his mother, sister, and brother. Austin and his father survived; however, the emotional pain of losing his family was devastating. He understood the importance of continuing to live a life fueled by positivity in their honor, and the bond with his father grew stronger as they became each other’s reason to keep going. Eventually, his father remarried. Austin pushed forward and worked tirelessly on his basketball skills, and on June 15, 2011, he was offered a full scholarship to the University of Michigan, advancing one step closer to his lifelong dream.

Tragedy struck again just nine days later when a second plane crash claimed the lives of his father and stepmother, putting Austin in a medically induced coma. About two months later, he began the grueling road to recovery, relearning how to walk, talk, and eat. Against all odds, he achieved his goal of attending Michigan, where Coach Beilein honored his scholarship. He spent four years with the program, taking immense pride in his role and finding ways to make a positive impact. After graduation, he worked at Domino’s corporate office and developed the G.R.I.T. Framework to pursue his passion for inspiring others to overcome adversity.

During his moving address at the summit, Austin challenged the audience to go big or go home, while reminding us that any great feat is accomplished one step at a time. He emphasized that leadership is about increasing the probability of success by focusing on controlling what you can actually control. A central theme of his message was the necessity of movement. He noted that while you might have the potential to get better, nothing will happen if you don’t take action. He urged those in attendance to always choose the harder right instead of the easiest wrong and to approach every task by doing common things in an uncommon way. By maintaining a team-first mentality and striving to leave things better than they were found, leaders can create a lasting legacy.

When asked what he would say to the younger generation if he could only share one piece of advice, his answer was profound: “It’s not if, it’s when.” This perspective shifts the focus from avoiding struggle to preparing for it with character. Austin defined true success not by your achievements or accolades, but by being loved by your family, being looked up to by your peers, and using your God-given talent to the fullest. He concluded by reminding us that there is always room for growth, no matter how much we have already achieved.

It is impossible not to be inspired by a man who has faced the darkest depths of loss and emerged with a heart dedicated to service. Austin Hatch serves as a living testament to the human spirit’s ability to endure and thrive through connection and faith. His story encourages us all to look at our own challenges as opportunities to exercise the very grit he describes. By following his example of choosing the “harder right,” we can all become the “Connected Leaders” the world deeply needs.