While growing up in Cuba, Milka Arencibia and her family always dreamed about what it would be like to live in the United States. "The situation in Cuba was very bad. We were looking for a place with freedom and knew we could find it here."
Cicero-North Syracuse High School graduating senior Connor Fry received an unexpected surprise this week. He was greeted at his school by Steffani Williams, Director of Development & Annual Giving with the OCC Foundation. She presented Fry with the the Nicholas Todisco Scholarship. It's value is $500. Full-time tuition for one semester at OCC is $2,545. OCC Foundation Board member and alumna Karin Franklin-King, '69 was also in attendance for the presentation.
OCC continued to reinforce its role as "The Community's College" by giving back during the pandemic. OCC's Council on Diversity & Inclusion delivered much-needed supplies to community-based organizations including face masks, hand sanitizer, and gloves. The project was led by Spanish Professor Dr. Gerardo Cummings. Nursing Professor Dianna Lewis-Brewster spent countless hours sewing face masks. Diversity Services' Student Assistant William Ramroop was also a leading force during the project with his inspiration, input, and contributions.
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 Luther King and Frederick Douglass. He would spend a month-and-a-half working underneath the bridge at the corner of Salina and Taylor Streets, creating his tribute to two men who had accomplished so much for others.
OCC Baseball Team player and first-year student Kyler Majka has been selected as this year's Rob Edson Scholarship award winner. Majka was selected out of a pool of over 90 applicants. For Tracey Edson, Majka's application stood out because "Kyler demonstrates what it means to be a student-athlete. He works hard in the classroom and on the baseball field. In addition, he is active in the community and willing to help others at all times."
Last month, OCC announced a new major called Geospatial Science & Technology. But what does that mean? We caught up with program coordinator Buffy Quinn to ask her about the exciting new program.
Q: In one sentence, how would you describe the Geospatial Science & Technology Program?
Students who want to earn a bachelor's degree in Addiction Studies at SUNY Empire State College (ESC) can now begin their academic journey at OCC. The two SUNY institutions signed a Pathways Transfer Articulation Agreement which gives students a new, seamless route to the four-year degree.
As presidents of the 30 SUNY community colleges we have been shaken by the recent and abhorrent, race-related tragedies throughout our nation. Together we stand with those harmed by racism, discrimination and hatred that has plagued our communities for far too long and our resolve and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion have never been greater.
Reggie Manuel has vivid memories of the day when his life changed forever. "The whole thing is like a frozen moment in time for me." It was June 7, 2007. He was a member of the United States Army on patrol in Baghdad, Iraq. The temperature was a sweltering 114 degrees. It was 4:35 in the afternoon. Manuel was in an area called the "Green Zone," which was the center of the military's international presence in the city. His assignment was to monitor all activity on a road.
When I was about to graduate from High School, I had put some thought into attending college, but not as much as others (maybe) had done. At the time, in the mid-seventies, the United States had just ended the Viet Nam war and, even so, most of my friends, and myself, were concerned about the draft and how it could affect the rest of our lives.
