Decades To A Degree

Jeff Detor has big plans related to the Business Administration degree he's going to receive next week, but it doesn't have anything to do with changing jobs or asking his supervisor for a pay raise. "My mom doesn't know I went back to school. My plan is to gift wrap my degree and give it to her!"

Detor is one of those students who makes Onondaga Community College so unique. There are traditional-aged students who go directly from high school to OCC, and there are students like Detor who come to school later in life. In fact, Detor has the distinction of being both types of students.

Nearly forty years ago he came to OCC right after graduating from Westhill High School. He lacked focus in the classroom but enjoyed his job at Fay's Drugs. When he was offered a manager position, he took the money and left OCC after two semesters. He would also eventually attend Le Moyne College for a semester, but in the end wound up back at Fay's as a manager.

At age 26 Detor decided to return to OCC. He worked hard and made the honor roll three times. But before completing his degree, he chose sunshine and sand and followed a friend to San Diego. He took classes at the University of San Diego for almost three years but decided to return to the Syracuse area one class short of his degree.

Detor carved out a successful career for himself in sales, but there was always that one thing which he hadn't completed. He had a friend who worked at another community college who told him how easy it would be to finish his degree. His wife, Meg, worked at OCC as a Student Navigator and shared a similar message with him. And earlier this year he read about a former colleague, Tom Soccocio, Jr., completing his degree later in life. "I saw that and thought 'I'm at least as smart as Tommy for crying out loud!'"

So at age 55 and with three children, Detor decided to finish what he started. He gathered up all of his college transcripts, met with OCC Onboarding Director Ryan Nellenback, and learned he would need just two classes to complete his Business Administration degree. This fall he took a Human Resources class and a History class and loved the experience. "I did great in both and it was fun to be up here all these years later. I received compliments from my Human Resources professor and I was bursting with pride."

Completing his degree later in life carries with it a much different but still significant meaning. "I know this won't change my career path, my ability to earn money or support my family, or my status in the community. However, it will let me know I finished, and it will let my kids know I finished. I take a lot of pride in that."

That's similar to the pride his father felt when he was a student at OCC in the early 1970s. "My dad couldn't go to college out of high school. His father was disabled and he had to work to help support his family. He came here when I was growing up and he had three young kids. He'd eat dinner, play ball with us, and then he'd go study. It took him a few years but he was so proud of it. It was a badge of honor for him and I think he was always disappointed I didn't get my degree. He passed away five years ago but my mom is still around and she's going to be surprised!"

OCC will celebrate the accomplishments of Detor and all of its graduating students next Wednesday, December 13 at 5 p.m. in the SRC Arena. Congratulations to all!