When Shania Guzman started taking college classes she was pretty sure she didn’t belong. “I didn’t think OCC or any school was for me. I was eager to go home but that wasn’t an option. That’s when I made the…
Shannon Smithson plans to turn her passion for athletics into a career helping others recover from injuries. That's why she's working hard to succeed in Onondaga Community College's Physical Therapist Assistant degree program. "It's really demanding. You have to maintain a certain GPA. I'm…
Think about where you were exactly two years ago and what you were doing.
Then consider Sharif Jafari's story.
In August of 2021 he was in his home country of Afghanistan. The United States military was suddenly withdrawing, leaving the country in chaos.…
It's been just about a year since Shelly Dunham had to make one of the biggest decisions of her life. For 33 years she had worked at Natur-Tyme, a health and wellness store on Erie Boulevard in DeWitt, where she served as Store Manager. In the spring of 2023 the owners informed their employees…
Shyann Shaw is determined to be the change in her community. Her biggest fan is also her favorite Onondaga Community College Professor, Pete Patnode. "He motivates me. He says 'my money's on you. I have a lot of faith in you!'"
Professor Patnode teaches in the Criminal Justice degree…
Siobhan (pronounced shi-VON) Young's success is all the more remarkable when you consider what it's taken her to get to this point. Today she is a high-achieving student who is a semester away from earning her Business Administration degree, a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, a math…
Sunday Joshua has had a remarkable journey around the world. He's a refugee from Lagos, Nigeria who arrived in the United States in 2017 as winter was beginning. "I remember being so cold. I had never been so cold in my life. I…
T Nguyen has traveled halfway around the world to earn the first of what she hopes will be three college degrees. She'll complete the first leg of her journey in May when she receives her Mathematics & Science degree from Onondaga Community College. "I feel lucky to be here. So many people…
Tevin Martin is a 30-year-old student who is pursuing two degrees and is extremely active in clubs and organizations. "I have a long way to go and OCC is a great place for me to become the student I need to be. I have a much clearer sense of who I am, what I'm doing here, and what it takes. I…
You think 2020 has been an interesting year for you? Consider what Thanh Nguyen has experienced. In January she left her home in Ho Chi Min City, Vietnam to come to Onondaga Community College. By mid-March, all classes became virtual due to COVID-19. "When I was in Vietnam I was involved in many…
Thanh Nguyen's final semester at Onondaga Community College is going much better than her first. "Everything is good. My professors, my success coach, and my advisor have all been very helpful. And there are a lot of resources here for students we are trying to promote in Student Government."…
Farah, Mohamad, and Yasmine Chatila are used to doing things together. They are 19-year-old triplets who share life events like birthdays and graduation ceremonies. On the night of October 25 they celebrated another milestone together when they were sworn into Onondaga Community College's…