Public

• Major at OCC: Electrical Technology
• High School: Syracuse Institute of Technology, class of 2019

The P-TECH program has given Eliza Velazquez an accelerated pathway to a career. She's a first generation college student who began thinking about her future several years ago. "I went to a P-TECH meeting in 7th grade and it interested me. I needed to go to college without having any expenses and this was a way to do so. It was a big part of my decision."

Leaders of Onondaga Community College’s award-winning chapter of international honor society Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) are doing their best to keep students connected and engaged during the coronavirus crisis. Between regular emails from PTK Coordinator Jackie Barstow and meetings conducted over the internet, students are continuing to get the most out of their PTK membership. “Our PTK Leadership Team Members have held several trainings over Zoom. They’ve also found creative ways for our College Project to continue in an online environment,” said Dr.

Onondaga Community College will celebrate the accomplishments of its class of 2020 during an outdoor commencement ceremony on campus Sunday, August 9 at 2 p.m. The event was originally scheduled to be held inside during the month of May. The schedule change is due to the impact of coronavirus, also known as COVID-19.

Professor Buffy Quinn's love of map making changed her life by setting her on an unexpected career path. Now she's preparing to bring that same opportunity to Onondaga Community College students. Quinn and Professor Justin Fiene recently learned they have been awarded a National Science Foundation Advanced Technology Education grant totaling $300,000. The title of their project is "Integrating Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Data Analysis Credentials into a Geospatial Science and Technology Degree Program." They'll be creating a new career path for students.

Four Onondaga Community College students have been named 2020 recipients of the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence. This is the highest honor which can be bestowed upon any SUNY student.

The Chancellor's Awards are handed out annually to students who have best demonstrated the integration of academic excellence with other aspects of their lives which may include leadership, campus involvement, athletics, career achievement, community service, or creative and performing arts.

Our students need your help. Coronavirus or COVID-19 has impacted their lives in ways we can't begin to imagine. Before recent events students were already stretched to the limit. They are now pushed to the breaking point with lost jobs, gaping technology holes, and kids and families to juggle. That's why the OCC Foundation has created the Lazer Response Fund. It will support our students who face tremendous challenges in this unprecedented time. The fundraising goal is $100,000. It's a big goal and we know our students are worth it.

Professor David Furney's home office looks like some sort of "command center." It's fully equipped with two computers, four monitors, and a mini recording studio. During spring break, he spent nearly every waking hour there learning new software applications and creating instructional videos for colleagues. He felt the need to help faculty prepare for the transition to distance learning due to the coronavirus pandemic. "The timeline of shutting down face-to-face instruction before spring break was a gift. It gave us an entire week to plan and prepare for our distance learning lessons.