At a glance
Imagine having a new college degree, a new job, along with a new car, and one very happy mom. Buffalo native Joe Geegba exited commencement at Alfred State College (ASC) with a diploma for a building trades: building construction associate degree in one hand, and keys to a 2012 Chevy Cruze in the other.
Imagine having a new college degree, a new job, along with a new car, and one very happy mom. Buffalo native Joe Geegba exited commencement at Alfred State College (ASC) with a diploma for a building trades: building construction associate degree in one hand, and keys to a 2012 Chevy Cruze in the other.
Geegba became the fourth Alfred State graduate to win a car at commencement. The annual giveaway began in 2015 to add to the graduation celebrations at ASC. The car is a gift from the Educational Foundation of Alfred.
Not only was the new graduate excited, his mom was overjoyed. She hugged the car, ran a circle around it, and couldn’t wait to sit behind the wheel.
“It’s always a thrill to see the look on a student’s face right after they are announced as the winner of a free car,” said Dr. Skip Sullivan, Alfred State College president. “In this case, Joe and his mom were both thrilled. In fact, she even did a dance of joy for the new set of wheels.”
To say that Geegba and his family were excited after he won the car is an understatement. Once commencement exercises concluded, Geegba was able to examine his prize, grinning from ear to ear, and high-fiving friends and family members. His mother even got in on the action, borrowing his cap and tassel as she sat behind the wheel, and sang, “God is good.”
Geegba has already secured a job after college where he will begin work in the construction industry this summer. While there is only one winner of the free car, most of his classmates are winners because they are already launching their careers. For the past nine years, a survey of ASC graduates proves that an amazing 99 percent either secured employment after earning their degree from Alfred State or are continuing their education.
As Geegba proudly posed for photos alongside his new vehicle – taking a few bows and at one point even doing “the dab” – an encouraging voice could be heard cheering him on, saying, “Get it, get it!”
With his degree completed, a new job thanks to his education, and keys to a new car, Geegba certainly did get it, and a whole lot more.
See Joe Geegba and his mom celebrate in this video www.tinyurl.com/ASC2018car.
