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London Ladd '95 is making the most of his high-profile opportunities. He's a nationally-known illustrator who came to Onondaga Community College three decades ago from Corcoran High School and earned his Art degree here. His amazing talents were on display recently in the New York Times when they asked him to create the art work which would accompany their book review of "Yonder," a novel which explores love and friendship among a group of enslaved people living on a plantation in the mid-19th century. "Doing an illustration for the New York Times is a big deal.

Onondaga Community College today received a gift of $1 million dollars from Eric Allyn in honor of his wife, Meg O'Connell, who is OCC's former Interim President and Chair of the Board of Trustees. The money will be used for the creation of the "Meg O'Connell Center for Social Justice and Community Impact" which will provide support for students in volunteer and service-learning opportunities. Through these opportunities, students will use their undergraduate experience to support local efforts, gain work experience, and use their expertise to improve our community.

The COVID-19 pandemic inspired Caitlin Wiltsey to pursue a career in the health care industry. "I knew I always wanted to do something in the medical field but didn't know exactly what. Covid solidified it. So many nurses are needed and I'm someone who wants to help people."

Two years ago at this time Anne Pandian was a stay-at-home mom, anchoring life at home while her husband was gone 12 hours a day due to his lengthy commute to work and long shifts. Then the COVID-19 pandemic arrived and everything changed. When her husband's employer gave him the option to work from home, she decided to come to Onondaga Community College and begin working toward her college degree. "When I first registered I thought I wasn't going to be able to relate to anyone or be able to do the work, but within the first week I felt like I fit in.

When Renee Starowicz was a senior at Liverpool High School and considering where she might begin her higher education journey, she was a strong enough student to go to nearly any college or university. But life circumstances led her to conclude Onondaga Community College was the best place for her. “I was working. I had family responsibilities. Staying and going to OCC was the perfect step to build my own self-determination. The accessibility and the culture of the campus was the best for me at that point.”

As a student at Bellport High School on Long Island, Kyle Goff barely survived academically. "I didn't know what I wanted to do with my life and I didn't have the motivation to work hard in high school."

After receiving his diploma in 2017 Goff spent three years working a carpentry job and painting houses. Lessons learned during that period changed his life. "Getting that real world experience helped me find what was lost and become who I am today. I'm a totally different person now."

Onondaga Community College students Kierstin Lorraine and Jadrien Jones are spending part of their semester break figuring out what they'll be studying in the future. They're participating in a two week internship at the Heroy Geology Lab at Syracuse University where they are working with and learning from Professor Melissa L. Chipman Ph.D. "Kiersten is extremely meticulous and very excited about everything we are doing and Jadrien is a quick learner. He works in the lab like he's been there for ages," said Chipman.

Kiersten Spears has vivid memories of when she started working with with Dennis Burgos. It was the fall of 2014, her first semester at Onondaga Community College in the Fire Protection Technology degree program. She was a new member of Student Patrol and Burgos, who was a retired State Trooper, was a Security Guard with Campus Safety and Security. "We would walk around campus together and he would say hello to literally everyone. I asked him if he knew everyone and he would say 'yes. You can never have a bad day if someone walks up to you and says hello first.'"

Two years ago when Katie Sullivan was a senior at Jamesville-Dewitt High School, she wasn't sure where she wanted to go to college or what she wanted to study. Sullivan discussed her predicament with her Guidance Counselor who recommended she consider Onondaga Community College's Lillian Slutzker Honors College. "I looked into it and thought it was a good option. I'm so glad I came here. Being part of the Honors College has helped me meet people and feel comfortable without going into debt."