After four years of hard work studying and playing volleyball away from her family in Puerto Rico, Roxana Vazquez was finally graduating with her degree in chemical engineering and looking forward to celebrating with her family and friends in Beckley. She has landed a job with Smurfit Westrock in Greenbrier County and is preparing to start her next chapter of life. Unfortunately, her father suffered a heart attack the day before graduation. Rushed to Raleigh General Hospital, Vazquez walked across the stage without her father in the crowd.
When WVU Tech President T. Ramon Stuart, Ph.D., heard what happened, administrators immediately devised a plan to bring graduation to Raleigh General.
“The notion that we needed to take commencement to the hospital was not a second thought. It was what we needed to do. Thanks to Raleigh General Hospital, under the leadership of David Brash, a proud Tech alum, Justin LaMoine, the nursing staff, as well as the faculty and staff members at Tech, who have worked with Roxana for four years. Our aim was to bring a little bit of sunshine on a dark day for Roxana’s father, from our Golden Bear family to theirs.”
Dressed in their regalia, Stuart and Vazquez, along with the chemical engineering faculty, other faculty and staff members, and Vazquez’s family, held a small ceremony for her dad. Stuart conferred her degree and had her move her tassel.
“At Raleigh General Hospital, being part of this community means showing up for people during life’s most important moments, not just medically, but personally. Hosting this graduation ceremony at the hospital was a powerful example of compassion and the personal connections that make healthcare so meaningful. This collaboration reflects what makes our community special: neighbors, organizations, and local leaders working together to create meaningful experiences and ensure families feel connected, even when they are far from home. We are honored to have played a small part in making such a special milestone possible for this family,” said David Brash, CEO of Raleigh General Hospital.
"Being part of this graduation ceremony is something that will stay with me for the rest of my life,” said Justin LeMoine, COO of Raleigh General Hospital. “To witness the pride, emotion, and strength of this student and family in such a personal setting was incredibly powerful. Moments like this remind us that hospitals are more than places of care; they are part of the community, part of people’s lives, and part of their most meaningful milestones,”