At 31 years old, Caterina Morgan is proving that it’s never too late to pursue a dream, and that Onondaga Community College is a great place to take advantage of limitless opportunities.
Morgan is a 2012 graduate of Cicero-North Syracuse High School who is completing her first year of college. She's studying Mathematics & Science with a specialization in Biology, and plans to graduate one year from now.
Less than a year into her college journey, she has already distinguished herself. Morgan is one of just 25 students statewide selected for the highly competitive SUNY Pre-Medical Opportunity Program. It is an honor typically reserved for students from four-year schools. “I was overjoyed when I found out,” Morgan said. “Upstate is my dream medical school for their pathology program and how they work directly with the Onondaga County Medical Examiner’s Office.”
This summer, for four weeks, Morgan will participate in the Pre-Medical Opportunity Program at SUNY Upstate Medical University. There, she will gain clinical and laboratory experience, connect with physicians and mentors, and receive preparation for the Medical College Admission Test, all while building a network within SUNY’s community of pre-med scholars.
The Pre-Medical Opportunity Program was created to expand access to medical education for students in SUNY’s Educational Opportunity Program (EOP). It provides academic support, mentorship, research opportunities, and hands-on clinical exposure - resources designed to help talented students succeed in the path to becoming physicians.
Morgan’s began her college experience in summer 2025 through OCC’s EOP Pre-Freshman Institute, where she took classes, earned college credit, and lived on campus. “At first, I was really nervous. Because of my age difference, I wasn’t expecting to make many friends. By the end, I had really incredible, amazing friends despite the 10-year age gap. In a multicultural friend group, we learned so much from each other, and I felt incredibly supported.”
Her drive has been evident from the start. In her first semester last fall, she earned a perfect 4.0 grade point average while working full-time at a nursing home and serving as a caregiver for her mother.
Her passion for medicine is deeply personal. After losing her father to cancer at a young age and growing up alongside her mother, a Certified Nursing Assistant who faced her own health challenges, Morgan found herself drawn to the medical field early in life.
Today, she aspires to become a forensic pathologist. “As I learned about forensic pathology, I felt I could help people in different ways. I can give justice and peace not only to the dead, but also to family members.”
Beyond the classroom, Morgan has quickly become a leader on campus. She was recently elected Chair of Opportunity Programs in Student Government, a role that reflects her commitment to supporting other students. “I’m very passionate about the opportunity programs,” she said. “I would not be where I am today without their help. I like to give back.”
She is actively involved in both OCC’s Educational Opportunity Program and Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program, and she is a member of the Empire State Service Corps, where she is completing 300 hours of paid community service this semester.
Inspired by the structured study time she experienced during last summer's EOP program, Morgan created “Study Power Hour” during the academic year, a twice-weekly session where students gather to study together in the Opportunity Programs Office on the second floor of Coulter Hall.
This summer will mark a full-circle moment for her. After completing her experience at Upstate, Morgan will return to the OCC campus to assist and mentor students in the same EOP Summer Program where her journey began. “I know how important it is to have someone to guide you, and I am looking forward to the opportunity to give back.”
