Oswego Families Celebrate Laker Heritage at Alumni Legacy Reception

 

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The green and gold runs deep in the Drake family, and on Oct. 21, three generations of Drakes gathered at the Alumni Legacy Reception at King Alumni Hall to flip through old yearbooks and swap stories of their Oswego days.

The youngest in the Oswego line of Drakes, Bo Drake-Deese ’21, a broadcasting and mass communication major from Keene, N.H., is just beginning to create his Oswego memories, like attending the Dr. Lewis B. O’Donnell Media Summit and getting involved in campus organizations.

“I chose SUNY Oswego because I knew I wanted a school with a good broadcasting program,” Drake-Deese said. “I also chose it because of how beautiful the campus is. My family heritage here was a big factor in me deciding to go here. I am very proud to keep this family tradition alive and well.”

He follows his mother, Jennifer Drake-Deese ’90 of Keene, N.H., who now works as an academic and career advisor at Keene State, and his grandfather, Glen Drake ’57 of New Hartford, N.Y., who served in the U.S. Army and as a technology education teacher. Bo’s great-grandfather, the late James Drake ’48 of Ilion, N.Y., studied education at Oswego and went on to become a school psychologist.

The Drake family was just one of several dozen families who attended the reception and were welcomed by Laura Pavlus Kelly ’09, director of alumni relations. She encouraged them to get their family photo taken at the event by college photographer, Jim Russell ’83.

“I was thrilled on two levels when Bo decided to attend Oswego,” Jennifer Drake-Deese said. “First, as a graduate, I knew he would be getting a great education, the opportunity for significant out-of-class experiences, and the chance to make friendships that will last a lifetime.

“On the second level, I was thrilled as a higher education professional,” she said. “My husband and I have worked in higher education our entire professional careers. We were hypercritical on every campus we visited. Since the first day Bo set foot on the Oswego campus, we have been impressed at every turn – the people, the facilities, the opportunities. From a professional standpoint we both feel that Oswego is doing it right.”

—Margaret Spillett

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