Hall of Fame Class of 2025

An Albany High School Class of 2016 graduate, Taofeek Abijako has leveraged his entrepreneurial drive to emerge as a fashion designer known for artistry infused with social and political commentary.

Growing up spending time in his father’s studio in Nigeria, Abijako’s interest in fashion design began at an early age. After immigrating to the United States at the age of 11 and enrolling at William S. Hackett Middle School, he sought out opportunities to engage his budding art skills for profit, such as drawing portraits of classmates for a dollar. 

During his years at Albany High, Abijako embraced art with fervor, incubating his creativity in Albany High’s art scene and curating custom-painted sneakers for peers. As his handiwork gained popularity, an influential fashion blog caught wind of his ingenuity and featured Abijako’s exceptional work. 

Now visible to a broad network of fashion design professionals and enthusiasts, Abijako soon connected with the major Japanese fashion retailer United Arrows. Less than a year after earning his diploma, Abijako’s clothing line, Head of State, debuted with United Arrows, igniting a career path that would carry forward his father’s legacy of fashion design.

Abijako continued to garner global attention, becoming the youngest designer to present at New York Fashion Week: Men’s, when he debuted his Head of State Spring/Summer ’19 collection.

Shortly thereafter, he was recognized as part of Forbes' "30 Under 30" list for his remarkable achievements.

Today, Abijako continues to produce eye-catching collections, remaining committed to his craft and its broader implications for humanity.

A 2022 Council of Fashion Designers of America article by Melquan Ganzy highlighted Abijako’s driving purpose in a piece titled “Then vs Now: Taofeek Abijako Finds Peace of Mind in Fashion.”

“It is my biggest duty and responsibility to make sure I humanize every story as much as possible," he said. "I can humanize stories more by understanding people, emotions and relationships, and in a way, that is my number one foundation for everything I do with my brand.”

Carlton Kippins’ leadership skills date back to his days as an Albany High School student.

When he was a junior, Kippins lobbied for and helped establish the school’s Junior ROTC program – an effort requiring numerous and ongoing presentations and meetings with school and district administrators. Thanks to his efforts, the Sgt. Henry Johnson Battalion of today is a thriving program that provides more than 100 students with valuable leadership and character development opportunities each year.

Also at Albany High, he played football for the Falcons and competed in indoor track and field, earning one of the best shotput records in school history.

After his 2014 graduation, Kippins continued to distinguish himself through humanitarian efforts and his unwavering dedication to public safety. He participated in multiple humanitarian projects in the Philippines and around Southeast Asia, focusing on rebuilding schools in impoverished communities. 

Kippins’ service extends to his current role with the Department of Homeland Security, where he combats the distribution of illicit narcotics. His tireless work involves preventing and prohibiting fentanyl and other dangerous drugs from reaching the streets. His efforts play a crucial role in safeguarding our children and our community, and are a testament to his character and dedication to public service.

Kippins has an unwavering commitment to making a positive impact on the world. His exemplary leadership, humanitarian work and dedication to public safety embody the highest ideals of Albany High. He serves as an inspiration to current and future generations.

Tune in to the weekend edition of “Good Morning America,” and you might feel a familiar pull.

Ariel Miller -- Albany High School Class of 2007 -- makes the show happen each Saturday and Sunday. She serves as the showrunner for the weekend GMA editions, meaning she oversees all aspects of those broadcasts. She leads a team of producers, writers and production staff, guiding the editorial vision and ensuring the show runs smoothly from concept to air.

As showrunner, Miller manages breaking news coverage, crafts compelling feature segments, coordinates live studio production and makes critical decisions in the control room. Additionally, she contributes to the weekday GMA broadcasts, collaborating with the executive producer to shape content and optimize show operations. It’s a fast-paced, dynamic role that requires strong editorial judgment, leadership and the ability to navigate live television under pressure.

You may have spotted Miller on TV before she made the jump to GMA.

After graduating from the State University of New York at Plattsburgh, she returned to Albany to be a senior morning producer and fill-in sports reporter at WTEN/WXXA. She said it was incredible and rewarding to be back in her hometown, serving the community that helped shape her.

Before her 2007 graduation from Albany High, she attended William S. Hackett Middle School and Albany School of Humanities (ASH).

CJay Philip is a dynamic performer, creator and educator who brings theater to life for students of all ages, using performance as a pathway to cultivate belonging, confidence and intergenerational connectedness.

An Albany High graduate of 1987, Philip struggled with disengagement as a student until a pivotal moment when late Albany High theater teacher John Veile approached her with an invitation to read a Shakespeare monologue. With Veile’s coaching, Philip began to pursue a future in theater through Shakespeare competitions and performing in community productions. 

In 1990, Philip landed a role in Park Playhouse’s production of “The Wiz." After this thrilling experience performing alongside professionals, she had the courage to move to New York City with her sights set on Broadway.

Six years later, she made her Broadway debut in “Big The Musical,” an accomplishment that brought immense pride to friends and family back home in Albany.

During her time in New York City, Philip branched into theater education, helping transform the lives of her students through theater workshops. With this experience in hand, she moved to Baltimore in 2010 and founded Dance & BMore, a company focused on building human connections through various creative platforms.

On June 20, 2024, Philip graced yet another stage to receive the 2024 Excellence in Theatre Education award at the 77th Annual Tony Awards. 

In her acceptance speech, Philip reminisced on her experience as a student of Veile at Albany High.

“He saw a light in me, and he was my first mentor and acting coach,” she said.

Philip continues to shine bright in the community of Baltimore and beyond, igniting a passion for theater in students of all ages and strengthening intergenerational ties through creative expression.

Dr. Arlene Reed-Delaney (1940-2021) decided to become a medical doctor during her sophomore year at Albany High School.

Even at that young age – and at a time when few women, and even fewer Black women – were able to accomplish this goal, her deep belief in the power and responsibility to help others is what guided and inspired both her career and her life.

A 1958 Albany High graduate, Dr. Reed-Delaney was the first in her family to attend college. She graduated from the former College of St. Rose in 1962. She went on to graduate from Howard University College of Medicine and became a board-certified psychiatrist. She returned to Albany and put her training to work at LaSalle School for Boys and Samaritan Shelters, all while maintaining a thriving private practice.

Additionally, Dr. Reed-Delaney served on the Board of Trustees at St. Rose, and also at the University of Notre Dame. In 1978, she became the first Black woman appointed to the New York State Board of Regents, District IV. She prioritized mentoring young female physicians, supported career development options in underserved communities and worked tirelessly to assist incarcerated and re-entering citizens, even in her retirement.

Dr. Delaney-Reed could not rest unless she was helping and would often wake up at night, driven by the urgency to do more.

Prior to her passing, Dr. Delaney-Reed wrote a collection of essays dedicated to her five grandchildren. The inscription, and the words she lived by her entire life, read: “Perhaps the best advice I have is to do your best and when uncertain or in trouble ask God to help you. This works for me.”

A 2012 Albany High School graduate, Gina Torres’ inspiration and purpose grew out of tragedy. At the age of 15, she lost her father to murder and transformed that grief into a powerful force for change.

In addition to earning the Distinguished Marine Athletic Award following her four years as a varsity softball player at Albany High, Torres also served as president of the school's Best Buddies club - a program that remains today to create an inclusive and welcoming space for students with developmental disabilities. She dedicated lunch breaks, study halls and many after-school hours to organize events to ensure her peers felt valued, and WNYT/13 recognized her as one of their 13 Kids Who Care during her senior year for that work.

After high school, Torres’ path of service continued as a police officer in the City of Albany, later becoming director of community engagement for the Coeymans Police Department. There, she spearheaded the community ride-along program. Her work for restorative justice and community policing reinforced her professional and personal commitment to uplifting and protecting community.

A career change led Torres to bridge-the-gap for small businesses that faced barriers to success like funding, capital and resources. She founded Get Local, an organization dedicated to mentorship, training and business support that currently serves more than 175 entrepreneurs throughout the Capital Region.

The City of Albany awarded Torres the Worksite of the Year Award in 2023 for taking Albany High students under her wing and providing them with access to professional experiences to help shape their futures. She implemented the first hybrid model for the city's Summer Youth Employment Program. This experience grew, and Torres currently mentors six University at Albany students.

She also created UAlbany's first SUNY Program for Experiential and Entrepreneurial Development (SPEED) internship cohort in 2024, mentoring eight students who led various departments in her company, including branding, marketing, operations, and research and development. This is now implemented into the university's internship curriculum for students in experiential learning during her internship. Students leave that program with a career map, direct pipelines for networking and career opportunities with local partners. 

Currently, she is involved in a new business venture, Feeling Called. The organization helps entrepreneurs, creatives and conscious leaders align their work with a deeper sense of purpose. Through consulting, coaching and brand development, Feeling Called provides the tools, strategies and guidance to turn vision into action.

Whether it was as a student, in law enforcement or professional/business coach, Gina Torres’ priority has always been to help the underserved and that calling has had a lasting impact in Albany and the surrounding communities.