Ryan Scholes has gone from a college dropout to an honor student, and in just a few weeks, he'll receive his first college degree. "The first time around at OCC, I wasn't quite ready for college. I left after one semester." The LaFayette High School graduate needed time to mature, and 5 years in the United States Navy where he learned neurodiagnostics, helped give him a clear vision for the future.
When Scholes returned to Onondaga Community College following his service, everything was different. While excelling in his coursework, he also worked full-time at the VA Hospital, rooming patients, taking EKG's, checking vital signs, and helping them feel at ease. "I had a nice 5 to 10 minute window to talk to patients, ask them about their service, and make them comfortable."
Those conversations changed everything. Although his Onondaga Community College degree will be in Business Administration, he found himself drawn to something else. "I realized how much I enjoyed the patient interaction and the one-on-one conversing, and I realized asking them about their service is even more impactful than saying 'thank you for your service.'"
Helping Veterans has become a passion for Scholes, as it is for OCC's nationally recognized Office of Veterans and Military Services, which is led by Steve White. "The help that Steve gives—it would be an understatement to say how consequential it is. He makes the insurmountable mountain a molehill. Any time you have a question, he's getting back to you in a half hour to an hour with an answer."
With that support on campus, Scholes was able to earn a 3.85 grade point average, and membership in the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society. He plans to transfer to Le Moyne College for a Biology degree, then apply to their Physician Assistant program. He wants to become a Physician Assistant at the VA Hospital, where he currently works. "My goal at the end of the day is to make veterans feel seen, feel recognized, and give them the best care possible."
