April 30, 2022 marked commencement ceremony milestones for Athens State students who had been hard at work completing their degrees. Ross Leonard was scheduled to cross the stage at 9 a.m.
Early on the morning of April 30, 2022, Leonard and his wife, Jessica, were eagerly expecting the day ahead of them to be full of graduation celebrations. Clothes were ironed, cake was ordered, and his cap and gown were hanging at the front door. However, another milestone of life was on its way.
Jessica was pregnant and they were expecting their first baby to arrive any day. To their surprise, Jessica went into labor and instead of heading to Carter Gymnasium, the couple grabbed their bags and headed to the hospital.
“We were so excited to welcome our baby into the world,” shared Leonard. “April 30, 2022 is a day that holds meaning to me in more ways than one.”
Ross and Jessica welcomed Raya Cole Leonard to the world at 5:11 a.m. She was a healthy and happy baby girl. They were elated; and amidst the excitement, Leonard almost forgot about his commencement ceremony altogether.
Athens State did not forget about Ross Leonard. The University took the celebration to him when faculty and staff learned of his exciting news and absence from commencement. Dr. Catherine Wehlburg, who was serving as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at the time, along with other University administrators made a special trip to the hospital to present Leonard with his diploma and celebrate his graduation.
“We couldn’t believe the school would come to the hospital,” commented Leonard. “Everything came full circle the day Raya was born.”
Leonard had been working toward degree completion for nearly a decade and finished in the Spring of 2022. He obtained a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with a minor in Digital Forensics and Mathematics. He was working full-time while pursuing his degree from Athens State.
“We understand that our students are balancing many responsibilities in their lives,” said Dr. Catherine Wehlburg, interim-president at Athens State University. “Ross is an example of why the mission of Athens State is so important and why we go to great lengths to help our students complete their degrees. We are very proud of him and look forward to future successes for him and his family!”
Though Leonard was working full-time while in school, completing his degree was a necessary step in his career field to be eligible for promotions. With a diploma and cutting-edge experience in his repertoire, he was able to secure a prosperous future for his family.
Leonard described his occupation in computer science as “endless”. There are endless problems to solve, endless endeavors to pursue, and endless strategies to implement. He says that Athens State prepared him with the “knowledge and mindset to face any problem and figure out how to solve it”. The computer science degree concentrations at Athens State provide graduates a strong foundation in programming, business analysis, problem-solving, and software engineering with practical experience in contemporary computer laboratories.
“Athens State opened doors for me in my career and personal life,” Leonard said. “It gave me the tools to effectively fulfill the duties of my job at the time and improve the skills I already had.”
Leonard is a native of Athens, Alabama, and said attending Athens State was a “no brainer”. He shared that it just made sense to choose the school that was in his hometown, has a great reputation, and is ABET accredited.
One professor that was instrumental during Leonard’s time at Athens State was Dr. Brady Rimes. Leonard shared that the knowledge, experience, and attention to detail that Dr. Rimes instilled in students was key in developing him into the employee and person that he is today. Leonard was already working in the computer science field and said it was an “ace up his sleeve” to be able to ask any of his professors about the problems he was facing at work.
Today, Raya Leonard is two years old and has the opportunity to watch her dad fulfill his dream of working in the technology field. Leonard holds the Analyst – Business Management III position at Blue Origin. He works each day to conduct analyses from data collection which informs strategies for Blue Origin business partners. He also collaborates with other departments in Blue Origin to model outcomes of implementing certain business strategies. His insight helps lead the company to make informed business decisions through his keen understanding of cause-and-effect relationships in business strategy. This work is important to Leonard because he has the opportunity to contribute to the success of not only his department, but the whole company.
Ross Leonard was successful at Athens State and we know he will continue to see a bright road ahead in his career, with his wife and daughter by his side. He commented that the selfless and thoughtful gesture of the University bringing commencement to him at the hospital is what sets Athens State apart from other institutions. At Athens State, we champion our students from enrollment through graduation, no matter where that may be.
Computer Science Degrees at Athens State
For many, Computer Science is an ideal pathway to a successful career. At Athens State, there are three ways to get there: Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science with Concentrations in Software and Systems, Cybersecurity, or Intelligent Systems. In our region and in Alabama computing jobs are in high demand. Since 2017, Huntsville has had a 306% tech job growth – and is projected to continue this growth over the next few years. To meet this demand, Athens State is preparing students through top-tier internship experiences, access to student resources like the Mathematical, Computer, and Natural Sciences Learning Lab and Center for Cybersecurity Education, and opportunities to connect with peers at professional conferences. Our graduates are prepared for roles such as web developer, information security analyst, software developer, IT project manager, and Database Administrator.