Every Friday during the fall semester, our "Start Here, Anytime" series will spotlight an adult learner who chose to come to Onondaga Community College to pursue new opportunities, new goals, and a new chapter in life. Today, meet Shelton Feller.
When Shelton Feller left the United States Army, he knew he wanted to go to college. What he didn't necessarily know was how to become a college student.
Feller, 23, had spent the previous three-and-a-half years serving his country. The New Iberia, Louisiana, native was stationed at Fort Drum, about an hour-and-a-half north of the Onondaga Community College campus.
Feller enrolled at OCC in spring 2024 on the recommendation of a fellow soldier who had left the Army a few months earlier. “I was freshly out of the military, adjusting to college life, and working until 10 o'clock at night.”
What made the difference, he says, was finding a place at OCC where he didn't have to navigate that transition alone. For Feller, that place was OCC's Office of Veterans and Military Services. “That office is the only reason I'm here.”
Feller credits Assistant Director of Veterans' Affairs Steve White and Coordinator of Veterans and Military Services Lisa Mooney with helping him find his footing as a student. “They help me tremendously. That office is the most important resource veterans have here.”
The Office of Veterans and Military Services supports service members, veterans and their dependents as they pursue their educational goals. OCC's degree and certificate programs are approved for VA education benefits, and the office serves as a direct link between student veterans and the VA regional office, assisting with benefit certification and payment questions while also helping students navigate the traditional college process and academic planning.
But for Feller, the value of the office goes beyond paperwork and benefits. It is the sense of community. “Student Veterans feel that camaraderie here,” he said. “And having Steve and Lisa in the office makes such a difference.”
Feller says he has friends attending other colleges who don't have the same level of support. “You are on your own at those colleges. Our office with Steve and Lisa in it is 100% why I'm here.”
Feller's own experience has helped shape the way he now serves other veterans. He is president of OCC's Veterans Club, where he wants to help fellow student veterans find the resources and support they need to succeed. He is also a SUNY Veterans Enrollment and Support Intern, giving him another opportunity to help student veterans navigate college and connect with the resources available to them.
Feller is preparing for his next step. After this semester, he plans to transfer to Syracuse University where he will continue working toward a Communications-related degree. Eventually, he is considering a career as a pharmaceutical representative or as a veterans service officer.
