Onondaga Community College's Pre-College Summer Semiconductor Program provided students with a valuable glimpse into their futures. While they learned about career options in in-demand fields and earned college credits, they also lived in the residence halls for 5 weeks and gained a better understanding of what the college experience would be like. "The work was demanding, but it got you ready for college, as did living in the dorms," said Frank Guzman, a high school student from New York City who will be a senior this fall. "Everyone was very helpful and kind. If you needed assistance with anything, from math to doing laundry, there was someone there to help."
Building on this immersive experience, OCC's first-ever Pre-College Summer Semiconductor Program began on July 7, and concluded August 12. Thirty-six students from across New York State were selected from a pool of more than 200 applicants. Students selected were rising high school juniors, seniors, and recent graduates. While earning 8 college credits in challenging academic programs such as Engineering Science and Electromechanical Technology, they also participated in enrichment activities that included field trips to related businesses and higher education institutions.
Industry visits included INFICON in East Syracuse, which is a leading provider of innovative instrumentation, critical sensor technologies, and advanced process control software that enhances productivity and quality in sophisticated industrial vacuum processes. College visits included the Rochester Institute of Technology, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, and Drexel University.
In the program's final days, several of the students shared their thoughts on the Pre-College Summer Semiconductor Program:
- "The people and the professors were really good. I really enjoyed my problem-solving class. This reinforced my career goals and helped me figure out what I'm going to do." - Tony Tran, a recent high school graduate from New York City who studied Electromechanical Technology here. In the fall he will attend the Rochester Institute of Technology and major in Computer Engineering.
- "We were busy every day and would get back to our dorm room tired. It gave us a good idea of what the college experience would be like. I enjoyed making friends here." - Jackson Austin, who studied Engineering Science here. He will be a senior at West Genesee High School this fall, and plans to study Mechanical Technology in college.
- "The program was more challenging that I expected, but I learned I could do the work. I made a lot of great friends and became much more social than I used to be." - Esther Reader, a student from New York City who studied Engineering Science here. She will be a high school junior in the fall.
- "I had a great experience here. I enjoyed all of the classes and all of the friends I made this summer." - Rachel Mahan who studied Engineering Science here. This fall she will be a senior at Cicero-North Syracuse High School. She plans to attend OCC and study Computer Science.
- "I learned a lot about myself, the career I want to pursue, and the college experience. It's something I want to be a part of in the future. The community here was like one big family. The trips we took were fun. The classes were manageable and taught us how to take on a bigger workload," - Reilly Joseph, a student from Long Island, who studied Engineering Science here. He will be a high school senior this fall and is interested in studying Mechanical Technology in college.
- "This was a really good program. It prepared you for college life. I enjoyed the people and the friends I made." - Sarah Shi, a high school graduate from New York City who studied Engineering Science here. She will attend the New York Institute of Technology this fall.
- I had some great experiences here. The program got me on track for college and helped me think about a career in the engineering field." - Frank Guzman, a student from New York City who studied Engineering Science here. He will be a high school senior in the fall.
Based on student comments, OCC's inaugural program signaled a promising model for preparing students for both college life and future careers in STEM fields.
The Pre-College Summer Semiconductor Program was funded by SUNY.
