Nick Hay is making the most of his final semester at Onondaga Community College, thanks to the new SUNY Reconnect program. Now 25, Hay is taking 18 credits as he works toward completing his Electromechanical Technology degree by December, without the added pressure of a job. "SUNY Reconnect is providing me the opportunity to not have a job this semester, fully focus on school, and put all of my energy into what I need to do."
SUNY Reconnect is a new, free community college program for students between the ages of 25 and 55 who have not yet earned a college degree. SUNY Reconnect covers the cost of tuition, fees, books, and supplies after all other financial aid is applied. When New York State Governor Kathy Hochul was rallying support for the program, she came to the Onondaga Community College campus in January 2025. OCC student Josh Barr shared his story, and how much such a program would help him. The program was approved by the New York State Legislature a few months later.
Hay just qualifies for SUNY Reconnect in its first semester, and his last at OCC. A 2018 graduate of nearby Onondaga Junior-Senior High School, Hay first enrolled at OCC seven years ago to study Automotive Technology program. During his only semester on campus, he learned a lot, including that he liked working on cars as a hobby rather than a career.
He spent the next five years working at United Radio, where he specialized in electronics repair. He also earned industry certifications in both soldering and electrical work.
Two years ago, a visit to a Micron-related exhibit at the New York State Fair sparked a new interest. "I asked what I would need to do to get a job there. They told me they were looking for people who were either in school or already had degrees. I decided I would go to OCC, get my degree, and put myself in a position to better myself and my career."
That fall, OCC welcomed its first group of students in the new, Micron-related, Electromechanical Technology degree program. It was too late in the enrollment cycle for Hay, so he waited for the beginning of the spring 2024 semester to return to campus. "It felt good to come back. I was motivated, I was determined, and I had a lot of energy to come to classes every day. I was working full-time and taking classes full-time. This program was a match made in heaven for me."
Hay quickly excelled and eventually earned a competitive, paid internship at Micron Technology in Manassas, Virginia. He spent two months there in the summer 2025, working 12-hour shifts in a cleanroom "bunny suit" as an Equipment Technician. "I loved it. Everyone I worked with was helpful and encouraging. For certain projects, my mentor made me take the reins and said, 'This is your problem.' It was motivating knowing they had that much faith in me to do it by myself and figure it out."
Now on track to graduate in December, Hay plans to begin working at Micron a short time later. He says OCC's Electromechanical Technology program has given him the foundation for a rewarding career. "It prepares you to go out in the technical field, learn different ways of problem solving and troubleshooting, learn about the tools you'll be using, and the basics of mechanical and electrical. It gives you experience in the technical field. It is a great program for someone who wants to be a tech."
