The Foundation Connection Winter 2021

Winter 2021

Our New Alumni Faces

OCC welcomed 7 graduates into its class of Alumni Faces during an induction ceremony held in October in the Frederick Marvin and Ernst Schuh Recital Hall. College President Dr. Casey Crabill emceed the event and put the honorees accomplishments in perspective. “We have more than 50,000 alumni, but only 72 Alumni Faces. Congratulations on everything you have done and the difference each of you have made and will continue to make in our community.” Earlier in the day honorees visited classrooms on campus and had conversations with students. They discussed their academic path, career journey, and answered questions. OCC Foundation Board Chair Mary Snyder reminded the inductees of their impact on our students. “To our honorees tonight, these students will read your story and your example will inspire them to also accomplish great things.” The class of 2021 is:

DONOR SPOTLIGHT

Steve Schill

STEVE SCHILL ’78 feels even more strongly today about the benefits of an OCC education than he did when he was a student. Schill was hired at INFICON a year after receiving his associate degree and 42 years later he’s still there, working as the Senior Director of Global Sales Projects for the company. Throughout his career Schill has maintained close ties to his alma mater. He’s served on the OCC Foundation Board, and today is a valued voice in OCC’s Perkins Grant process which helps connect employers needs with what OCC technology students are taught. He also serves as a mentor to students in the Pathways in Technology Early College High Schools (P-TECH) program at the Syracuse Institute for Technology (ITC). “We talk all of the time about getting kids better prepared for college. This P-TECH program is part of getting these kids ready for college, adjusted to what a workforce environment is like, and what kind of careers are out there. The opportunity to give back to OCC, INFICON, and ITC all fits together for me.”

 

 Living The American Dream At OCC

ELLION MAGSINO dreamed of emigrating from the Philippines to the United States so he could pursue a better life. That’s exactly what he’s doing at OCC. “I love it here. There are so many opportunities for success compared to back home.” Magsino is enrolled in OCC’s Lillian

Slutzker Honors College which gives high-achieving students the ability to attend tuition-free and receive assistance with the cost of textbooks and school supplies. While working toward his Mathematics & Science degree he’s earned a perfect 4.0 grade point average and is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society. He is also one of two student representatives who serves on the OCC Foundation Board and Finance Committee. “Being part of the OCC Foundation is very interesting and rewarding for me. It makes me feel very happy and very secure to know there are people who care for the students.”

 

A Gift of Writing

DIANA ROBERTSON ’77 fondly remembers her experience at OCC. Like many others, she recalls that OCC gave her a place to start when she didn’t even think college was for her. During her time at the college, though, there was one teacher who changed her life. Candace (Oglesby) Rhea taught her how to put her thoughts on paper. She helped remove a barrier for Diana that allowed her to conquer her fear of writing and opened doors in her career. Diana’s dream is to help and inspire others, just as Candace had done for her.

Diana, and her husband Andrew (Drew), made a transformational $100,000 gift to the OCC Foundation to establish The Endowment for Student Success in Writing. The endowment is dedicated to developing and preparing students with strong foundational writing and communications skills to use for life across mediums. Their philosophy, “if they can think it, they can write it,” is something the Robertsons hold in high regard. As professionals themselves, Diana and Drew know first-hand that communicating proficiently is a necessary skill that spans all disciplines and exists in every career.

The first offering of their initiative occurred in October with an event titled “Writing Beyond the Classroom: The Importance
of Writing Throughout Your Career.” The event featured OCC students across disciplines who engaged in conversation with Nick Cerro, Senior Marketing and Business Development Principal with C&S Companies.

Car Show On Campus

When Professor Ryan Beckley dreamed up a plan to host a classic car show on the OCC campus, his goal was to increase awareness about the College’s Automotive Technology degree program. His dream came true on the first Saturday of fall. Hundreds of classic cars and spectators came to campus on a spectacular, sunny day for OCC’s inaugural Cruise & Views Classic Car Show presented by Bank of America and raised over $14,000 for OCC students.

Spectators who came into the Automotive Technology lab saw a 1957 Chevy pickup truck students are restoring for raffle next year. The car is being restored thanks in part to a grant from the RPM Foundation. The ’57 Chevy and the opportunity to purchase a chance at winning it will be the centerpiece of the second edition of the Cruise & Views Classic Car Show in 2022. Mark your calendars! Next year’s date is Saturday, September 24. For more information on getting involved with the event call (315) 498-6060.

Special thanks to all of our sponsors for supporting this year’s event: Bank of America, Terry’s Transmission, The Maguire Family of Dealerships, Ted Carley, Bottar Law, Driver’s Village, Big 4 Tire, Geddes Federal Savings & Loan, ISCONY, East Syracuse Chevrolet, United Radio, Mary & David Snyder, Sun Chevrolet, Scotty’s Automotive, Rudy Schmid Total Car Care, Davidson Auto Group, Terry’s Transmission, Snap-On Tools, Heid’s of Liverpool, Summit Racing, Meguiar’s Inc. and Valvoline.

 

High Honors For Class Of ’69 Alumnae

Classmates DR. DONNA DESIATO ’69 and KARIN FRANKLIN-KING ’69, who were good friends while they were students at OCC, were recently recognized with statewide awards. DeSiato, who leads the East Syracuse Minoa School District, was named New York State Superintendent of the Year. Franklin-King was named the New York Community College Trustees’ winner of the Distinguished Alumni Award for Professional Achievement. DeSiato is a member of OCC’s Board of Trustees and both are distinguished Alumni Faces honorees. “We’re so proud of both of them and fortunate they are still active members of the OCC community. Their accomplishments and continuing contributions to the College and all of Central New York inspire all of us,” said OCC President Dr. Casey Crabill.

He Shoots, He Scores!

In the middle of a deep sleep on a hot summer night, David Bosak had a vision. “I had a dream in June that I would ask her to marry me on the soccer field. I knew I wanted to do something special and I wanted it to be in front of everyone else.”

Bosak chose to pop the question
to his girlfriend, Marta Tatarin, on “Sophomore Night” when a pre-game ceremony is held to pay tribute to student-athletes playing in their final regular season home game. When she said “yes” the answer was exactly what he expected.

Bosak and Tatarin plan to be married in the summer of 2022, then they’ll return to pursuing their degrees as they start their new lives together.