Spring 2018 Graduation: Remembering Joseph Michael Albany, Jr.

The College’s spring 2018 graduation marked a five-year high and saw the College graduate 462 undergraduates and graduates.  The Department of Technology systems had the most graduate and undergraduates with 22 and 184 respectively.

Spirits were high. Smiles were aplenty, but one part of the ceremony spotlighted how life, sometimes, has other intentions beyond our control.

Joseph Michael Albany, Jr.

The College awarded a posthumous engineering degree to the family of Joseph Michael Albany, Jr. who was from High Point, North Carolina. Joseph was a rising senior in the College when he was killed in a car crash August 10, 2017.

The Department of Engineering’s Dr. Teresa Ryan spoke about Joseph during the graduation ceremony. She said, “In crafting these remarks, we asked for input from the students. (There were) so many wonderful testimonies, but if I had to boil all that down to one word, that word would be selfless. That description fits how he approached his work in the research lab.”

Said engineering professor Dr. Ricky Castles, who also spoke at the ceremony, “He (Joseph) was described as a good friend, a hard worker, dedicated to a job well done, someone who could lighten the mood, witty and charismatic.  He was someone who cared deeply about his work and about the people around him.”

Pictured, left to right, Andrew Harris Albany and Lissa Albany.

Pictured, left to right, Isabella Albany, Andrew Harris Albany, Joe Albany, Sr., and Diana Albany.

To keep Joseph’s spirit alive, the Albany family set up the Joseph Michael Albany, Jr. Memorial Fund. For more information about the fund, please visit www.thumbsupjoe.com. After visiting the site, you will understand why the term “thumbs up” is used. It truly represented Joseph’s outlook on life.

The college wishes each graduate continued success and please stay in touch with us via our social media channels: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.