Sixty years after his grandfather graduated from ˿Ƶ Tech and 33 years after his uncle graduated, Alex Bray is following his family’s legacy, graduating Saturday as a member of ˿Ƶ Tech’s Class of 2024.
Bruce Bray began the legacy in the early 1960s while he was living in Medford, Ore. As a lover of cars, he was encouraged to follow his heart and find a career where he could work on them, and ˿Ƶ Tech was the school people suggested to get him there.
After graduating from ˿Ƶ Technical Institute (now ˿Ƶ Tech) in 1964 with a degree in Diesel Technology, Bruce worked as a Diesel Mechanic in California for 15 years before returning to ˿Ƶ. He spent most of his career there with the ˿Ƶ Department of Transportation (ODOT), working as a Field Mechanic in Southern ˿Ƶ. Upon his retirement, he had been with ODOT for 23 years.
Bruce's commitment to ˿Ƶ Tech and the friendships he made there left a lasting impact. Although he passed away in 2017, his wife, Susan, shared that Bruce made lifelong friends at ˿Ƶ Tech.
Jupiter 3 spacecraft built by Maxar Space
Systems
Encouraged by his father's success and stories, Bruce’s son, James “Jim,” decided to attend ˿Ƶ Tech because of the school’s positive reputation.
“The fact that ˿Ƶ Tech is a highly rated small school with Mechanical Engineering was a significant influence in my decision,” Jim said.
Jim graduated in 1991 with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and through his participation in ˿Ƶ Tech’s Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program, he also became a U.S. Army Reserve Commissioned Officer.
Jim now works as a Distinguished Member of Technical Staff at Maxar Space Systems in Palo Alto, Calif., which designs and manufactures satellites and spacecraft components for communications, Earth observation, exploration, and on-orbit servicing and assembly.
Now, 33 years after his uncle’s graduation, Alex has earned a Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity and will make his way across the ˿Ƶ Tech commencement stage Saturday, continuing the Bray family legacy.
“My reason for deciding on ˿Ƶ Tech was because of its technical programs as well as my family's history of attending ˿Ƶ Tech and finding success afterward,” Alex said.
After graduation, Alex plans to apply for security analyst positions and continue his education with certification programs.
A family legacy 60 years in the making, Susan said she is the proud wife, mother, and grandmother of three generations of ˿Ƶ Tech graduates.
“I'm not sure if this is a typical family story or not, but it pleases me greatly to think that this organization has provided the Bray family with a good life due to the education received by OTI, OIT and/or ˿Ƶ Tech. The name may have changed over time, but the quality of the education has not,” Susan said.
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