Each year during the Curriculum Honors ceremony, special awards are handed out to students who have made significant contributions both in the classroom and in the community. Because we could not hold the ceremony this year due to complications related to COVID-19, we are recognizing students’ achievements on our website and social media.
Civic Engagement Recognition Award - Sara Benjunas
Devlin Babcock was nowhere near the top of his class when he graduated from Oswego High School in 2013. But look at him now! He's about to earn his Engineering Science degree from Onondaga Community College, then transfer to Cornell University where he will major in Electrical and Computer Engineering. "Getting into Cornell means a lot to me. I wasn't a very good student in high school. It feels nice to be able to turn that around."
Onondaga Community College professors will teach students using both a “Real-Time Remote” method and traditional online classes during the summer 2020 session. There will be no in-person instruction due to the impact of COVID-19.
Real-Time Remote classes will happen during set times and days just as in-person classes would. Professors will teach and interact with students live using web-based technologies. Traditional online classes will be available for students to access at a time that works with their busy schedule.
The schedule for summer classes is as follows:
Every April, OCC holds a ceremony called Curriculum Honors during which we recognize the top student in each of the College’s majors. It’s one of the highlights of the year. During the ceremony a faculty member introduces each student and details his or her accomplishments, the student receives a certificate and a light blue stole to be worn at commencement, and the student is photographed with OCC President Dr. Casey Crabill. Due to the coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, we were unable to hold our ceremony this year.
Spring 2020 will forever be remembered as the semester interrupted by a pandemic. But for Mathematics Professor Patty Zabel it will also be the semester when she introduced a group-based, problem-solving class to students. Their focus was a recurring issue within Onondaga County’s Department of Social Services. “These students did really well. They all worked hard, worked well together, and did a great job,” said Zabel.
Bill Bonnell, ‘83 has had a lot of time on his hands. He’s a Coordinating Producer at ESPN who spends a large chunk of the year on the road planning and executing coverage of major sporting events. Due to COVID-19 and the resulting lack of live sporting events, he’s been home with his family. Like many, he’s found himself working around the house more than normal and going through old things which had been put to the side.
Every April, OCC holds a ceremony called Curriculum Honors during which we recognize the top student in each of the College’s majors. It’s one of the highlights of the year. During the ceremony a faculty member introduces each student and details his or her accomplishments, the student receives a certificate and a light blue stole to be worn at commencement, and the student is photographed with OCC President Dr. Casey Crabill. Due to the coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, we were unable to hold our ceremony this year.
Onondaga Community College’s Pinnacle program honors students who have shown excellence in one or more of the following fields: leadership, civic engagement, and scholarly research. The students selected clearly demonstrate not only an exemplary academic performance, but a strong connection with the campus or community.
Each year we recognize these students during a ceremony on campus. Unfortunately due to COVID-19, we were unable to do so this year. We salute our nine Pinnacle Award honorees.
Dawn Penson, Office of Accessibility Resources
Tatiana Sheppard was looking for summer research opportunities when her Biology professor, Maryann Page, recommended she explore possibilities with Cornell University’s program designed specifically for community college students. “I wasn’t sure the program would happen due to COVID-19 but I was surprised to find out it would be,” said Sheppard.
