Frater Featured on Today Show Christmas Special

CARBONDALE, Ill. - Frater Alejandro Figueroa (Beta-Chi, Southern Illinois University) has made a remarkable accomplishment by graduating college and he was recently featured on the The Today Show Christmas Special. Frater Alex, as he is known by his fellow Fraters, has a remarkable story of perseverance and character.

It is such a great story, 7AM on Christmas Day Frater Alex was featured as an inspirational story. See the story by clicking here. The article below was written in The Southern, Southern Illinois University Student Newspaper, and edited for content.

At first glance, Frater Alex looks no different from the mass of Southern Illinois University Carbondale students walking through the Student Center on a recent fall morning.

His story is anything but typical. He's a remarkable young man who has battled overwhelming odds to arrive at where he's at today - an SIUC graduate with a degree in marketing from the College of Business and Administration that he received during the Dec. 15 fall commencement.

"It was a slow process, painful at times. Here I am now," Figueroa said.

The Aurora native opted for a career with the U.S. Marines after graduating from high school in 1997. About two and a half years later on a wintry night with snow falling at Camp Lejeune, N.C., Figueroa responded to a call from his roommate who was inebriated and needed a lift home.

As he drove through a wooded area to go get his friend, Figueroa swerved to avoid hitting a deer and lost control of the vehicle that went off the side of the road.

"It was cold. There was blood all over. I remembered trying to get out of the car, but I couldn't get out the door. I remember rescuers using the Jaws of Life. The rest is, I can't remember," said Figueroa as he gestured with his hands, spreading them apart and slowly smiling.

Figueroa can't remember because he slipped into a coma.

He suffered massive brain injuries in the accident. When he found he had lost major motor skills such as speaking, writing and walking after regaining consciousness six weeks later, Figueroa said he saw a long road ahead.

"I told myself that I didn't want to see myself in a wheelchair or using a walker and crutches the rest of my life," Figueroa said.

Credit his parents, Joe and Ernestina Figueroa, who were literally at his side the entire time and the rehabilitation specialists at Pitt County Memorial Hospital of Greenville, N.C., and Marionjoy Rehabilitation Hospital of Wheaton, Ill.

"Rehab was intense. My mom was always pushing me," Figueroa said.

Slowly he regained his speech. He became more mobile from someone who could barely lift his arms to someone who walks without a hitch today.

"Most of his recovery and rehabilitation was his own will power," said Joe Figueroa about his son.

"Figueroa arrived here three and a half years earlier with a desire to study something related to business. He didn't know anyone in Carbondale. Interacting with people had been a huge element to the success of his rehabilitation. The loneliness he now experienced nearly overcame him. He was on his way home before Joe Figueroa talked to his son by way of cell phone as Alejandro neared Effingham.

"My dad told me, 'You turn around and get back there. You'll never get anywhere in life without that degree,' he told me," Alejandro said.

Figueroa returned immediately, joined the Beta-Chi Chapter and got busy with his studies.

Associate Professor John Summey of SIUC's Department of Marketing teaches a marketing research class that is considered by students as one of the toughest on the curriculum.

Figueroa enrolled in Summey's class last year. He never asked for special favors. Summey knew the story about his accident and was amazed how Figueroa performed.

"He was really quite committed. He was good team player and a hard worker. He was fun to have in class," Summey said.

What does he think of Figueroa's chances to succeed beyond the classroom?

"He is very industrious. He is going to be a successful graduate," Summey said.

He is the first college graduate in his family.

The Offices of the Grand Chapter extends a heartfelt congratulations to Frater Alex on his graduation.

If you would like to see your chapter news here, contact Communications Coordinator Tom McAninch.