When Jonathan Yard was 18 years old, he swore he wouldn't wind up with a desk job one day. At age 25, after serving our country in the United States Navy, he's ready for a controlled environment. "I always saw both my parents come home from their office jobs. I said, 'I would never want to sit at a desk. I would do anything but that.' And now after 6 years, I'd love to just sit at a desk and relax in the AC."
As a student at Liverpool High School, Yard was intelligent but rarely proved it in the classroom. "I didn't try at all. At that point, I didn't have any interest in going to college. I was a mediocre C student."
After graduating in 2018, he joined the military to become a Navy Seal. When it didn't work out, he became a Military Policeman and ultimately a K-9 Handler, training dogs to find explosives.
Yard returned to Central New York after his Honorable Discharge in March of 2024 and enrolled at Onondaga Community College that fall. "I had a lot of friends from high school who had come here. I lived just 15 minutes away, and this is a great campus. Staying close to home really influenced my decision."
In the fall of 2024, he began taking classes at Onondaga Community College in the Computer Science degree program. "All of my friends who got out of the military told me, 'do computer science. It's the future. It's the way!' I started doing it, and I didn't like computers at all. But I knew how to create things and come up with solutions."
His skill set led him into the Engineering Science degree program, and it turned out to be a perfect fit. He excelled in the classroom and earned membership in the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.
Outside class, he found a home in OCC's Office of Veterans and Military Services. He became President of the Veterans and Military Services Club for the 2024-2025 academic year. "It's nice to have a relaxed place where everyone can share their experiences. The services provided here are absolutely integral to a Veteran seeking education."
The Office of Veterans and Military Services is a direct link between Student Veterans and the regional VA Office, assisting with VA benefit certification and payment inquiries. OCC's office also assists Student Veterans with traditional college processes such as academic planning. OCC's degree and certificate programs are approved for VA education benefits in accordance with the student's chapter eligibility. The office is recognized nationally annually as "Military Friendly," "Military Spouse Friendly," and "Best for Vets." It's located on the second floor of Coulter Hall at the top of the main stairway in room C217.
Yard plans to complete his OCC degree in the spring of 2026, then continue his education at a four-year school. "The cool thing about Engineering Science is that I can transfer into any engineering program I want. It's a pretty versatile degree to have."
