Biris’ mother died a few months later in December 2017.
Biris graduates Saturday with a mechanical engineering degree with honors and has already secured a job in GE Aviation’s Operations Management Leadership Program.
Wright State, UD to graduate more than 2,045 students Saturday
“I’ve been thinking about it a lot,” said Biris, the youngest of seven children. “I have a feeling I’m going to break down after I walk off that stage and see my family. After everything I went through, and them seeing me through everything, just to see them — I don’t know how to put it into words.”
Despite dealing with the loss of both parents in a short amount of time, Biris said graduating college was what his parents always wanted for him. He did it for them.
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“They would always talk to me about, ‘Hey you’re going to go to college. You’re going to be great. You’re going to do something,’” Biris said. “And not only to finish college, but having a job coming out of college. After I walk off that stage on Saturday I’m going to feel whole again because both of those two were the two pieces of me that were missing. Me finishing this for them and what they wanted for me put part of those pieces back.”
At UD, Biris said he found several rocks in the Minority Engineering Program and Multi-Ethnic Education and Engagement Center.
“The people that work there and the people in that school were amazing,” Biris said. “Especially with my mom dying my junior year, they just were there to support me. Anything I needed I could ask them. If I just wanted to vent or just talk, I could just go sit in there. Or even if I didn’t want to talk at all. They would let me sit in a quiet space. Which really helped a lot because I didn’t talk about any of this much. I don’t think a lot of people even knew. … It definitely helped because I know everyone copes differently.”
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Among others, Biris mentioned several important people that helped get him through the tragedy and to graduation included Minority Engineering Program Director Laura Bistrek, current program Director Gerica Brown, Maceo Cofield in the School of Engineering dean’s office and Cynthia Payne, assistant director of academic success in the Multi-Ethnic Education and Engagement Center.
After graduation, Biris has three months before starting his first of three rotations in the GE leadership program. Relaxing at home in Cleveland, basketball and video games are things the grad said he is looking forward to in the meantime. But most of all, enjoying some planned trips with his UD roommates.
“When I first got the call about my mom, my roommates were actually home and they saw the stress in my face and they were just there to comfort me,” Biris said. “Anything I needed. They said if I wanted to drive home right now, they would take me or whatever I need. I owe a lot to them as well.”
“I’ll never be completely whole again, but it helps knowing that I made them proud,” Biris said. “I’ll never know, but I think I made them proud.”
Commencements quick facts:
-Wright State University ceremony begins today at 10 a.m. at Nutter Center
-UD ceremony begins today at 9:45 a.m. at UD Arena
-More than 2,045 total grads from WSU and UD
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