Onondaga Community College marked a milestone moment on December 16 as graduates crossed the SRC Arena stage in a commencement ceremony filled with pride, reflection, and celebration. More than 300 students were eligible to participate, each recognized for their determination and perseverance that brought them to this long-awaited achievement.
Student speaker Abigail Webster, a 2013 graduate of West Genesee High School, addressed her classmates after earning her degree in Communication Studies. "One of the most important lessons I learned here at OCC is that growth is boundless when nurtured. With this in mind, I'd like to thank the faculty, family, and friends here today for creating an environment that helped us to thrive. You've inspired us to believe that we are capable and worth being here. Your support means the world," she said. Webster plans to continue her academic journey by pursuing both bachelor's and master's degrees.
The ceremony also celebrated the accomplishments of two familiar community leaders who also received their degrees. Jeffrey Passino, the Onondaga County Sheriff's Department Undersherrif, completed his Criminal Justice degree nearly 30 years after he began attending OCC. And entrepreneur Chedy Hampson, who founded TCGplayer and eventually sold it to eBay, received his General Studies degree. He has since started the South Side Community Growth Foundation with a focus on rebuilding the neighborhood systems - community centers, walkable shops, safe streets - that once shaped his own life.
Prior to the event in the SRC Arena, OCC honored its newest nursing graduates during a Nurse Pinning Ceremony held in Storer Auditorium. Thirty-six students were individually recognized as they received pins symbolizing their commitment, compassion, and hard-earned success. Each pin was placed by a professor, family member, or friend in the medical profession, marking not just the completion of a degree, but the beginning of a calling.
