Every April, OCC holds a ceremony called Curriculum Honors during which we recognize the top student in each of the College’s majors. It’s one of the highlights of the year. During the ceremony a faculty member introduces each student and details his or her accomplishments, the student receives a certificate and a blue stole to be worn at commencement, and the student is photographed with OCC President Dr. Casey Crabill.
Due to the coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, we were unable to hold our ceremony this year. Nonetheless, we are proud to recognize the achievements of our 2019-2020 honorees. We are announcing each of them in conjunction with the reorganization of our majors into 8 schools. Following are the recipients for the School of Math, Science & Engineering:
Engineering Science - Rashedul Alam
- Faculty testimonial: “Rashedul Alam is an exceptional student! He has a 3.9 grade point average in a very demanding curriculum. A great job! Well done!“
- Faculty testimonial from Professor Eugene Camarota: "Rashedul came to the USA in 2016 from Bangladesh where he was a high school Physics teacher. He ultimately wants to become a professor after he completes his education here in the U.S. Initially struggling in school in his early years, he began to apply himself whereas his grades started to improve. This is why he wants to become a teacher, to help other students reach their potential. Rashedul has certainly applied his potential here at OCC. He has achieved exemplary grades in a very demanding curriculum. I applaud his hard work ethic and his wanting to transfer his experience to other students so they can achieve their goals. I cannot think of a better recipient of the Curriculum Honor award in Engineering Science. Well done!"
Mathematics & Science - Bridget Varner
- Pen Argyl Area High School in Pennsylvania, Class of 2010
- Faculty testimonial from Professor Maryann Page: “I had the pleasure of teaching Bridget in Fall 2019 for General Biology-2 (BIO 152). She would always say ‘good morning’ as she entered lecture with a smile, no matter how frustrated or burned out she felt inside. Even coming in for an 8:30 a.m. lab having worked the night before, there was always a smile from Bridget and a willingness to give it her all. She accepted challenges, had a natural curiosity for learning, was collegial to all her classmates, and it was obvious she truly loved science! When I learned that Bridget came to OCC not intending to be a science major, I was all the more impressed with her success! Bridget began her academics at OCC taking MAT-088 and ‘caught the science bug’ in a non-major’s Biology course, BIO-105. Just a few semesters later she has completed and excelled in courses such as Calculus, Honor’s Math, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Microbiology, and Genetics. The energy she brings to a course is infectious. She is a model student, an individual that does not give up, and is such a delight to teach! When the call for nominating recipients went out, Bridget’s name immediately came to mind. It was so intuitive to nominate her for this award because she embodies the spirit of OCC success. Words of support poured in from her current and former teachers describing Bridget as thoughtful, insightful, remarkable, dedicated, and enthusiastic. Most important she was described as ‘capable of making significant contributions in any area of biology she chooses to study.’ Bridget recently learned she was accepted at Syracuse University where she will pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry. We are all SO excited for Bridget’s success! Bridget has clearly touched the lives of her instructors and fellow students! We are so very proud of her accomplishments and know this is just the beginning of a long road of continued success for her. Congratulations Bridget for being named the Mathematics & Science (with a concentration in Biology) Curriculum Award winner!”
