Charles Frederick says his life "experienced an incredible revolution" at the University at Albany. As a child, he grew up in what he describes as "at or below the poverty line," with his two younger brothers, two younger sisters, and mother. The family was evicted several times.

When he was a 10th grader, his family barely survived a fire that destroyed their home. They moved to a motel room with no cooking facilities. He slept on the floor. At the low point of his life, Frederick sought escape through a high school class in conversational Japanese. "I loved it and I wanted to learn everything I could about Japanese culture."

His high school Japanese teacher recommended him to UAlbany, where he received a scholarship in East Asian Studies. Here, he won another scholarship for a summer seminar in Japan, and he returned there his third year in college to study at Kansai University of Foreign Languages.

"The best experience was the interaction with my professors," said Frederick, who graduates with a bachelor's degree in East Asian Studies and heads to Pace University Law School to study international law. "Professors like Jim Hargett and Susanna Fessler have been a huge inspiration to me. You can tell they love what they do so much."

Fessler, in turn, calls Frederick "the most optimistic student I know." Frederick's wife Elizabeth graduated UAlbany this year as well, and will also be attending Pace University Law School.