Arineyshca Munoz never pictured herself continuing her education after high school. Then the Nottingham senior-to-be came to summer school on the Onondaga Community College campus and everything changed. "I wasn't going to college after I graduated high school next year. But once I took a tour I knew I wanted to come here."
Munoz is one of 60 Syracuse City School District (SCSD) students attending summer school at OCC. The teachers working with them in Science, Math, Social Studies, English Language Arts, and Physical Education are all from the SCSD. Classes began July 6 and will conclude August 12.
As part of the summer school program, each Wednesday students were divided up into four groups so they could attend college-related enrichment sessions. Topics included Career Exploration, Onboarding & Financial Aid, College 101, and the Campus Tour which convinced Munoz she would become an OCC student in the fall of 2022.
Another SCSD student, Dejonnay Price will receive her diploma from the Syracuse Institute of Technology next June. She's seen her grades skyrocket during her month-and-a-half on the OCC campus. "Usually in class I have a hard time focusing but here it's been much different. I have a 97 in Social Studies and an 88 in Statistics. The smaller classrooms and the fact I'm at a college makes me want to show I can be mature so people will take me seriously."
The student success stories are music to the ears of Michele Zappala, one of the leaders of the summer school program and a Vice Principal at Nottingham High School. "Once they settled in here you could see them acting like college students. To see their faces, the way they act, the way they carry themselves, and the success they are experiencing is amazing."
Throughout the summer session students have told Zappala being on the OCC campus has given them something to look forward to after high school. "One girl was planning to go into the military after graduation, but after realizing what was here she wants to come to OCC next, then join the military. Another student who really struggled during the pandemic loved the enrichment classes and realized she had so many opportunities here. This has really been life changing for students."
If the SCSD summer school returns to the OCC campus next summer, Munoz plans to let fellow students at Nottingham know how coming here can impact their futures. "I felt so comfortable here. Students should definitely take the opportunity to do this. Summer school here is a once in a lifetime opportunity."
