Grace Plewak walked the halls of Onondaga Community College’s Whitney Applied Technology Center long before she ever called herself a student here. As a student at Living Word Academy, she competed in the annual Scholastic Art Show, where award-winning pieces were displayed inside OCC’s Whitney building. For three consecutive years, Plewak made the trip to campus to see her artwork hanging on the walls. “I never thought I would end up here,” she said, smiling. “It’s crazy looking back and realizing this is where I go to school now.”
Art has always been part of her story. “My parents really encouraged me to be creative,” Plewak said. “Ever since I was young, I loved coloring. I was obsessed with Disney cartoons and would copy the characters and then start making my own images. As I got older, I just kept going and got more serious about it.”
By the time she reached her final years of high school, Plewak knew she wanted to continue pursuing art. Staying local and choosing OCC gave her space to explore her passion without feeling overwhelmed by pressure. “I wanted a place where I could discover the art world in a safe way, without committing too much too fast,” she said. “It’s smart to feel out your surroundings before staking your whole life on something. OCC was the perfect place to figure out if this was realistic for me as a career. It’s been everything I hoped it would be.”
In her art classes, Plewak found both mentorship and motivation. Studying Art History broadened her perspective, exposing her to movements, techniques, and cultural shifts she had never considered before. “I was able to learn from professors who have real experience in the field,” she said. “And being surrounded by other students who want to be artists - I had never experienced that before. I’m really pushing myself now. This is my career.”
Her academic success earned her membership in the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, but Plewak’s college experience extended far beyond the classroom. She has played violin since first grade and joined OCC’s string ensemble, which she described as one of her favorite activities outside of drawing. During her sophomore year, she decided to take another leap when she joined the college’s volleyball team. The decision paid off. She earned First Team All-Region honors. “I like to take chances,” she said. “When an opportunity comes up, I get involved. I love being busy. If there’s a chance to gain a new skill or build a relationship, I don’t want to miss it.”
She admits her freshman year was quieter. “I kept to myself at first. But I realized there were so many great things happening on campus that I wanted to be part of. Once I stepped out and got involved, I learned so much.”
This May, Plewak will graduate, leaving behind more than memories. One of her most recent watercolor paintings hangs on the third floor of the Whitney building - the same building where her award-winning high school work once appeared. The painting, featuring OCC’s campus, was used for the college’s holiday cards and seasonal messaging last December. “I knew I wanted the bridge in it because it’s such an iconic part of campus,” she said. “I love the architecture of the Whitney building, too. And winter can feel kind of bland, so I added a sunset to bring warmth and color.”
Years ago, she walked those halls as a visiting high school artist, proud to see her work displayed. Now, she leaves as a graduate - an artist who not only found her place on campus, but helped define its image.
