Skip to main content

Miguel Anthony “Tony” Raya graduated with an Associate Degree in Architectural Drafting in May 1991

Miguel Anthony “Tony” Raya graduated with an Associate Degree in Architectural Drafting in May 1991. He worked as an architectural technologist for The Korte Company following graduation. In August 2000, Tony joined HOK Architects’ St. Louis Studio as a Senior Project Architect. HOK is a global design, architecture, engineering, and planning firm. In 2020, the Saint Louis Business Journal named HOK both the area’s largest architecture firm and largest interior design firm. HOK announced July 19, 2021, that Tony Raya had been promoted to Technical Principal.

Dennis Nieweg, former Ranken architecture instructor, recollects "Tony was an outstanding student who set a great example for his fellow students. He handled adversity well and worked with and encouraged his classmates to work hard and do their best as well. It is very helpful for a teacher to have a student like Tony who sets their standards high and promotes great work ethics that classmates can look up to and follow."


Tony tells us, “[Ranken] provided me with the skills to begin my career and journey.” His most notable memory is graduation.

#rankentech #interiordesign #decor

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Matthew Mays graduated with a Certificate in Fabrication and Welding Technology in May 2018

Matthew Mays graduated with a Certificate in Fabrication and Welding Technology in May 2018. He acknowledges, “I was able to change careers while attending Ranken’s welding program, which put me in a position for a more hands-on approach in my trade with more upward mobility. I believe going through the welding program gave me an advantage over others when I applied for a position at Airgas.” Airgas is an Air Liquide company, a leading single-source supplier of gases, welding equipment and supplies, and safety products. Matt was hired as an Inside Sales Associate at Airgas (Pacific location) in October 2017. His prior welding experience and being enrolled at Ranken made him top pick. January 2021, he was asked to join a new Airgas team as an Outside Sales Support Specialist. Matt oversees sales operations at five locations, “from soup to nuts.” Debra Alexander, Outside Sales Support Manager for Airgas, tells us “I refer to Matt as a rock star! He’s always on time, fully loaded and read...
Post a Comment
Read more

Ranken helps most students obtain a sense of a scheduled, orderly life with rules you must follow no matter how ridiculous students may think they are

 “Ranken helps most students obtain a sense of a scheduled, orderly life with rules you must follow no matter how ridiculous students may think they are,” says Colton Knowles. “The classes were very balanced in ratio of students-to-instructors, which alleviated the challenge of receiving instructive, one-on-one clarity when you simply asked for it.” Students in the St. Louis campus Construction Division programs use their skills to build houses in the neighborhood through our nonprofit Ranken Community Development Corporation (RCDC). They receive construction training in a “learn by doing” style, supervised by our faculty in every facet of construction. Colton enjoyed plumbing those houses with his class during the winter of 2019. Most of his classmates had never been a part of a “build” before and he enjoyed seeing everybody’s reaction to the physical demands and know-how required when piping a house together. He says, “You learn a lot about the people you thought you knew when yo...
Post a Comment
Read more

Ermin Velagic graduated in 2020 with an Associate Degree in Network and Database Administration

Ermin Velagic graduated in 2020 with an Associate Degree in Network and Database Administration. He immediately took a position with TekSystems. Last winter, Ermin joined IMPACT Strategies, a full-service commercial builder as a Computer Support Specialist. Ermin tells us his parents emigrated to the United States “seeking a better life,” making him a first-generation college graduate. His academic journey faced serious challenges. Ermin and his fiancé both worked full-time while he attended classes at Ranken to build a more secure future. While juggling this schedule, he distinctly remembers the support he received from Ranken IT faculty member Ashley Reddick, who spent many hours before and after class mentoring and motivating him to pass demanding certification exams. In a personal letter to Mr. Reddick, Ermin’s emotions were clear, “[You] created a never-forgetting impact I will carry with my heart and soul heavily for as long as I will be able to remember it.” Mr. Reddick says, ...
Post a Comment
Read more