4/26/2001
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- When Joe Locricchio of Troy graduates from Michigan State University this spring he will leave not his stereo or household furniture, but rather a family tradition on campus, in the capable hands of his three good friends and siblings - Peter, Anthony and Paula.
Joe, one of four Locricchio siblings currently enrolled at MSU, will graduate with a degree in supply chain management from The Eli Broad College of Business. The 1996 graduate of Troy Athens High School and his brothers and sisters, also Troy Athens High School graduates, are the children of Justine and the late Joseph Locricchio.
His brother and roommate Peter, a senior electrical engineering major, will take over as "big brother" of the family for twins Anthony, a freshman business major, and Paula, a freshman no-preference major, next year. They all find time to keep in touch with other family members at MSU - two first cousins and three second cousins.
"I've lived with Pete since we were freshmen, in either the halls or apartments, which is always nice - you can always say what you think or feel and express your opinions - just like at home," Joe said. "It's really the first time all four of us have been in the same school at the same time, so in that way it's different, but we've always been so close. With other members of the family here, it's kind of nice."
It took the undergraduate degree candidate, the first in his family to go away to school, several months for him to feel like "MSU was my home away from home," he said. "I missed the fights. But when Pete got here, I was able to help him with his schedule, show him where the buildings are and talk to him about teachers and such."
"MSU was the first school I visited, and as soon as I came here I knew this was where I wanted to be, at a Big Ten school," Joe said. "I like being at MSU. There's this sense of pride, and my major is one of the top in the United States, this is one of the top schools in the state, and it has a world-wide brand name."
His siblings also decided to attend MSU, in part, because Joe was here, but also because "it was close to home and there was family here," noted Anthony. "Also, I felt that here I had more going for me personally and academically."
Paula added that coming to MSU and having her family here made the transition to college life a lot easier.
"I like having family on campus. MSU is like a family in many ways. I have my friends, my family's friends, my cousin's friends and we all are going here to a good school with a nice campus," she said. "I'm interested in a career and being on my own, and getting ready for the real world."
Peter, who plans to graduate in a year and half, says, "College is important when you are seeking a good career, and I want to look back on my college days and realize it was all worth working for."
Joe, who will be working for the Budd Co. in Troy following graduation, won't leave behind his personal belongings, but he will leave campus with some final words of advice for his family, as well as the Locricchio name in the MSU directory.
"I would say work hard at college but also enjoy the MSU life," Joe said. "It's important to find balance, the balance between academics and outside life. I found mine and it's important they find that balance for each of them."