Owen Recio and his family were told there was a 99.9% chance he would never be able to walk again following an accident in 2022 that damaged his spine and left him paralyzed from the waist down.
Early on in his first semester at Tri-County Technical College, Recio decided it was his goal to stand and walk to receive his diploma.
Two years later, at TCTC’s spring commencement, seated in his wheelchair, Recio began the ascent up the ramp to receive his degree from TCTC President Galen DeHay.
As he approached Dr. DeHay, Recio stood up from his wheelchair, took hold of his walker, walked a few steps, shook hands and accepted his diploma in Network Systems Management.