Nick Todisco was a beloved and demanding Art professor who was well-known throughout Central New York. He taught at Onondaga Community College for nearly 30 years. He also taught in the Westhill and LaFayette School Districts, along with his alma mater, Syracuse's Vocational High School.
…Kenny Ulrich, '20 knows the dangers of COVID-19. He's seen it up close while working as an Emergency Medical Technician and Field Training Officer for American Medical Response (AMR) of Central New York. "I've had a couple of calls where I thought to myself 'I have a bad feeling about that one…
When Jamaal Reid walked across the SRC Arena stage May 18 and received his college degree, he became the first person in his family to do so. "It felt good. I'm proud of myself and how far I've come. I'm accomplishing something."
Reid grew up in the Bronx, surrounded by challenging…
Two years ago acclaimed children's book illustrator and OCC Alumni Faces honoree London Ladd, '95 was asked to be part of a project to revitalize the gateway to the Southside of Syracuse. He jumped at the opportunity to paint two murals honoring Martin…
Ted Mathews never knew growing up he would be a tutor coordinator. His journey to his current position hasn’t been a straight line. It resembles that of a man who learned to fly a plane before he drove a car.Mathews grew up in the Syracuse area and decided to go to college at OCC. One of his…
Bryan Sart’s plan for the future came into focus during a summer night on his back deck. It was 2010 and he was hanging out with his best friend Mike Hutchins, reminiscing about their time working together at Empire Vision in the 1990s. “We were both frustrated with the lack of common sense in the…
It's been a spectacular fall for students in OCC's Chess Club. The outstanding weather has allowed them to take their mind games outdoors throughout the semester. "We started playing outside and we've really enjoyed it," said Chess Club President Connor Burkhart. "As long as it's not raining we…
Chris looks back on photos of herself from ten years ago and sees a stranger. When Chris Kukenberger first came to OCC in 2005, she tried to identify as female. Now, almost 10 years later, Chris identifies as transgender and androgynous. Her journey in the world of gender fluidity has changed OCC…
Michelle Morley remembers a time when she didn’t fully appreciate what higher education could do for her. She had graduated from the Academy of Mt. St. Ursula in the Bronx in 1975. That fall she went to college to study accounting. She quit after one semester and entered the working world. “I…
When Jillann Neely first came to OCC in 1979, the hospitality program didn’t exist. As a budding professional, she was tasked with creating the program from the ground up. Thirty-eight years later, she has accomplished that and so much more, leaving a lasting mark on OCC.
Growing up, Neely was…
Professor Emeritus Ramesh Gaonkar received a pleasant surprise in the mail recently. Gaonkar had retired from OCC in 2010 after spending nearly 40 years teaching Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology. Earlier this year he had applied for a Fulbright Specialist Award. "I wasn't expecting…
The new exhibit in Onondaga Community College's Gallery is the work of an artist and instructor who was raised in a rural and majestic Malaysian village steeped in a colorful traditional culture. Rashidah Salam grew up surrounded by the rich art and craft of her community as well as the…