2026 - Thomaciea Jones

Mrs. Thomaciea Jones wanted to go to college, but she wasn’t sure how to get there. She attended Emerson Commons School of Hospitality and graduated with an Individualized Education Program Diploma (IEP).

Thomaciea enrolled in an adult learner program at the University at Buffalo which supported adults with learning differences. One of her counselors directed her to the Buffalo Educational Opportunity Center and she enrolled in curriculum preparing to sit for the high school equivalency exam.

Thomaciea faced many hurdles and setbacks in her pursuit of this academic credential when at BEOC. Her mother passed while she was enrolled.  She says she then took “a break to find my level ground” as “there was a lot going on in my life.” When she returned, the challenge of earning passing test scores in math, language arts, science and social studies was impacted by a New York state change in the high school equivalency exam. The General Equivalency Diploma (GED) transitioned to the Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC) and it altered instruction and examination procedures. Thomaciea notes that one of her teachers spent personal time helping her meet the new standards. The COVID pandemic then hit, and all classes were formatted into remote instruction. Not having direct face-to-face classroom interaction was a challenging adjustment for Thomaciea but she says her teacher guided her through the computer technology needed to navigate online learning formats. Thomaciea vividly recalls how touched she was when she received a “personal phone call” from her teacher notifying her that she passed and earned her high school equivalency. Thomaciea was not able to walk the commencement stage because COVID required all graduations to be virtual, but she says she was honored at being recognized by name at the virtual graduation.  In 2021, Thomaciea attended SUNY Erie College with guidance from the BEOC College Connections Office, and she earned an Associates in Fine Arts. Being very active in campus affairs, she served as an Event Coordinator in student government for two years and planned and implemented numerous student activities.

Thomaciea’s community service is most notable and is reflected by being a volunteer Youth Leader through her church. For nine years she led activities and facilitated discussions supporting young people with academic and personal problems. She says she empathized with the struggles youth faced and that she modeled positive behavior to help them build their self-confidence and set them on a path to their own achievement.

Thomaciea is a current Buffalo State University Fashion & Textile Program Junior and expects to graduate in 2027.

The Buffalo Educational Opportunity Center, in recognition of Mrs. Thomaciea Jones’ academic success and her dedicated volunteer service, awarded her the 2026 Arthur O. Eve Education and Community Service Award, honoring the legacy the Mr. Eve, former Deputy Speaker of the NYS Assembly and spear header of the Educational Opportunity Centers and Educational Opportunity Programs throughout New York state.