At a glance
“When I got here in my second year, I joined the chorus and for the first time I learned the importance and joy of choral music. Anthony Cappadonia’s passion was unparalleled, and I learned for the first time what it was like to be part of a team. It taught me leadership and teamwork and gave me confidence.”
Jeffrey Keyes
Jeffrey Keyes, ’07, has overcome many challenges in his life and is proud to look back at his time at Alfred State as a bridge to the life he enjoys now.
The amazing story of Jeffrey starts at birth. He was born on January 27, 1986, in Scranton, PA, five months earlier than his due date. “My eyes were still fused shut, my lungs were not fully developed, and the doctors said that I would do nothing. They said I would be completely blind, deaf, unable to walk and talk, and have cerebral palsy.”
Amazingly, Jeffrey overcame the first obstacles of his life and went home on June 26.
Jeffrey, who continues to battle eye issues, has always been drawn to the idea of being a broadcaster. “I always had the gift of gab. I grew up parroting announcers like Mark Elliott from CBS and I remember at my dad’s basketball games doing one of his promos down the hall so everyone could hear me.”
He dreamed of hosting his own show and a project in 10th grade for a computer class led him to find out about Alfred State. “I had to do a report and I did not know what to do it on. My teacher, Mr. Williams, asked me about Court Reporting. I started to do research and one of the first places I found was Alfred State. I looked at nine different schools but for this report I focused on Alfred State.”
When doing the report, Jeffrey learned about faculty member Bob McCormick and learned about the curriculum at Alfred State. “I got a 100 on the paper and he suggested that it might be a great career for me.”
Not totally convinced yet and still having the desire to be on the air, it was his love of music that helped lead him to visit Alfred State. “I was in band and chorus in high school. I looked at those things when applying for colleges.”
Jeffrey has an amazing memory and remembers his first visit to Alfred State on May 9 of his junior year. “They gave us a tour and I met Mr. McCormick. I made him laugh a couple of times. I was really impressed, and he told my mother that Alfred would be very ideal for me. It is challenging and rewarding at the same time.”
Jeffery recalls his Experience Alfred visit during his senior year and laughed about how much earlier his dad arrived on campus to move him into MacKenzie for the first time. He started classes in closed captioning in the fall of 2004.
His connection to Professor McCormick grew during his time at Alfred. “He was brilliant. He has shown a belief in me. He was behind me and wanted to see me succeed.”
Jeffrey experienced highs and lows during his college career. Connections to the Alfred State choir, St. Jude’s Catholic Church, and his residential life staff helped him towards his ultimate goal of graduation.
“When I got here in my second year, I joined the chorus and for the first time I learned the importance and joy of choral music. Anthony Cappadonia’s passion was unparalleled, and I learned for the first time what it was like to be part of a team. It taught me leadership and teamwork and gave me confidence.”
Jeffrey is still active with the alumni choir and was the youngest member of the choir when they performed last spring.
A man of strong faith, Jeffrey connected with St. Jude’s Catholic Church. He was a member for three years at Alfred State. He served as cantor, lector, and an organist.
Jeffrey also recalls the support he received from his residence director Trish Herritt, her husband Rick, and the cleaning staff in MacKenzie. “One time the cleaner in our building noticed that I did something different than normal. She asked me the next day what was wrong. I told her and she told Trish and the next day when talking to my mother she told me you have angels looking out for you, you should be appreciative of them.”
After graduation, Jeffrey continued to work on his skills and spent time interning with Caption Colorado. “I worked with my mentor for a year. He was very demanding. I taped the news every day and I would have a voice recorder with three speeds. I would practice at regular speed and then would practice at slow speed for accuracy and at fast speed for speed.”
For the last twelve years, Jeffrey has helped students who are deaf or have visual deficits while working for Karasch. He has captioned webinars, lectures, and discussions.
“I make such a difference in everyone’s life. I had a student wish she had me on a tablet to carry around.”
Jeffrey spent a couple of days in Alfred this summer to reconnect with the place he called home for three years. He toured campus, visited St. Jude’s, reconnected with choir friends, and probably most important sat down with the marketing communications staff to share his story.
His story of overcoming obstacles, defying odds, and crossing new bridges. Hoping to inspire others to not give up and overcome what challenges each of us might face.
“I have always said that my life has been one miracle after another. Being born early people thought I would never graduate high school, or make it in college, or work, or live on my own and I have.”
Well done, Jeffrey, keep making Alfred State proud!