When Yamen El Ahmed first heard about SUNY Reconnect, he was sure it was too good to be true. "I thought, 'This is not real.' I'm so grateful to New York State for making this happen for people like me. I'm here today, willing to do everything possible to reach my goal."
SUNY Reconnect is a new, tuition-free community college program for students between the ages of 25 and 55 who have not yet earned a college degree. SUNY Reconnect covers the cost of tuition, fees, books, and supplies after all other financial aid is applied.
When New York State Governor Kathy Hochul was rallying support for the program, she came to the Onondaga Community College campus in January 2025. OCC student Josh Barr shared his story, and how much such a program would help him. The program was approved by the New York State Legislature a few months later.
At age 45, El Ahmed is in his first semester in OCC's Automotive Technology program. He immigrated to the United States from Lebanon in 2018 with a strong technical background, having spent 20 years working with computers. "I know software, I know hardware, I know how to fix things, I know how to put things together. I had always been fascinated by cars and science, so I chose Automotive Technology."
Before enrolling at OCC, El Ahmed worked as an interpreter and translator. He's tri-lingual and is fluent in Arabic, English, and French. His diverse skill set reflects his passion for learning and adaptability.
In the spring, El Ahmed plans to add a second major, Electromechanical Technology, which is also one of the degree programs included in SUNY Reconnect. "I enjoy being a student after all of these years away from school. I call myself ambitious. Opportunities like this don't happen every day. I'm going to use it to the last drop - I'm going to drain it out!"
