Troy University’s Albany site holds graduation exercise

ALBANY — Troy University’s Albany site held its Spring Commencement exercise Thursday at Mt. Zion Baptist church, where 22 of the more than 40 graduates walked across the stage to pick up their diplomas.

Vice-Chancellor of Troy’s Global Campus, Don Jeffrey, noted the university’s first Albany location in 2000 was at the Marine Corps Logistics Base and acknowledged that 10 percent of the local graduating class were veterans.

“To all the veterans and active duty military in the class of 2015 nationwide, we’d like to say ‘thank you’ from the bottom of our hearts,” he said.

Jeffrey then urged the graduates to remember those who assisted them in reaching Thursday’s milestone.

“Never forget that you did not make this journey alone,” Jeffrey said. “So don’t forget the family and friends who helped you get here. Some of you might think this is the end of the path, but I would disagree; this is just the beginning.”

Jeffery then evoked the experience of Walt Disney.

“Walt Disney had a vision of a cartoon mouse and was rejected more than 300 times,” Jeffrey said. “But Mickey Mouse became his legacy and now that legacy is a household name. Walt Disney was the epitome of perseverance and believing in yourself.”

He then recounted a story from his own past.

I was working at Fort Rucker near Dothan in the early 1970s and one day after getting home from work I mentioned to my wife (Betty) that I might be interested in going to college,” Jeffrey said. “She woke me up early the next morning and I said I didn’t have to be at work until three that afternoon. She told me we were going to Wallace Community College and I was going to school.”

Jeffrey said he began his journey in 1972 at Wallace College, then earned a BS at Troy, his masters at the University of Tennessee, an educational certificate at Troy and finally a Ph.D in philosophy at Florida State in 1986.

“Had it not been for my wife getting me up and me taking that first step at a community college I would not be standing here in front of you today,” he said. “Strive each day to persevere and to help others … and when you dream, dream big.”

Troy Albany Area Coordinator Keith Gaines said that over the past 15 years, the university has made a concerted effort to make an impact in southwest Georgia.

“These graduates will join over 1,000 Troy alumni who make the Albany area their home and have a significant influence on our lives in Albany and the surrounding area,” Gaines said, “Just this year alone, four of the eight finalists for the Dougherty County School System’s Teacher of the Year Award were Troy alums as is Teacher of the Year 2015, Sherrie Hubbard.

“We believe having a physical Troy presence in Albany for the past 15 years has provided much for the area’s adult students and these graduates and they will continue to spread Troy’s influence as they perform their life’s work.”