Onondaga Community College welcomed 174 students into the P-TECH program during a signing ceremony held June 4 in the Gordon Student Center Great Room. P-TECH stands for Pathways in Technology Early College High School. The program provides high school students the opportunity to work toward their high school diploma and an associate degree simultaneously, and ultimately, a pathway to an in-demand job.
The keynote speaker was Shew Way, a recent P-TECH success story. She began taking classes at OCC in 2022 as part of the P-TECH program. She graduated from the Institute of Technology at Syracuse Central in 2024, and completed her Mechanical Technology degree at OCC in December 2025. During the fall 2025 semester, she interned at DL Manufacturing in North Syracuse. After completing her degree, her internship became a full-time job.
Way shared her journey with students, and let them know there was enough support on campus to help them follow in her footsteps. "One of the greatest strengths P-TECH has is the support system around you - whether it be great teachers, professors, counselors, mentors, or even your classmates. They are all invested in your success. The students who get most from this program are the ones who ask for help, seek guidance, and build meaningful relationships."
Participating Syracuse City School District High Schools and their P-TECH degree programs are:
- Corcoran High School - Electromechanical Technology at OCC.
- Henninger High School - Health Sciences at OCC, Health Information Technology at OCC, Clinical Laboratory at SUNY Broome.
- Institute of Technology at Syracuse Central - Electrical Technology at OCC, Mechanical Technology at OCC.
- Public Service Leadership Academy - Computer Information Systems at OCC, Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems at Mohawk Valley Community College.
