Most high school graduates receive one diploma. This spring, 46 Central New York students received two. Through Onondaga Community College's early college programs, students earned associate degrees from OCC while simultaneously completing their high school diplomas, giving them a significant head start on their academic and career goals.
Among them were Kyuana Williams and Samara Hurtado, graduates of the Syracuse Academy of Science who completed their OCC degrees while finishing high school. Williams earned an associate degree in Mathematics & Science and will study Forensic Pathology this fall at Duke University. Hurtado earned an associate degree in Engineering Science and will pursue a degree in Electrical Engineering at the University at Buffalo. Their accomplishments were recently featured in a Spectrum News story by reporter Krystal Cole. You can view the story here.
Williams and Hurtado's success reflects the growing impact of OCC's early college initiatives, which provide students with the opportunity to earn college credits - and in some cases entire degrees - before graduating from high school.
This academic year:
- Approximately 444 high school students participated in on-campus programs, including P-TECH, Early OCC, Spartan Academy, and SMART Scholars.
- More than 3,900 high school students enrolled in at least one college-level course through OCC.
- College courses were offered at 41 high schools and BOCES locations across Central New York.
- More than 200 credentialed high school teachers delivered OCC coursework through the College Credit Now program.
By providing students with access to rigorous college coursework while they are still in high school, OCC is helping them save time, reduce future college costs, and build momentum toward their educational goals. For students like Williams and Hurtado, that journey culminates in a remarkable achievement: earning a college degree before they receive their high school diploma.
