At age 42, Tom Hawley knows a thing or two about answering the call. For more than 16 years, he's served the City of Syracuse as a firefighter, responding to emergencies, protecting lives, and helping his community. But recently, another kind of call came through. It didn't come from a dispatcher. Instead, it came from inside. It was the call to return to college through the SUNY Reconnect program.
Katharine Rumrill-Teece, Ed.D., an award-winning Professor of Communication Studies and professional Trainer/Facilitator, is extending her expertise beyond the classroom and into the community. Over the past year, through OCC Industry Partnerships, she has led three cohorts of leaders at Onondaga County's Department of Children & Family Services through a Leadership Training Workshop Series.
For hundreds of veterans transitioning from military service to college life, Onondaga Community College has become more than a campus - it's a community. That commitment was just recognized nationally as Military Times named OCC and its Office of Veterans and Military Services "Best for Vets."
Jada McQuarrie loves grunge music - she wears her Nirvana sweatshirt around campus, has a Pearl Jam ringtone on her phone, and plays bass in a grunge-sounding local band. She's also hitting all of the right notes in class. She earned a perfect 4.0 grade point average in her first semester, and is a new member of Onondaga Community College's chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society. "It's not something everybody gets. I'm proud of it."
Jonathan Lorber didn't think he'd return to college in his 40s. But when his wife told him about SUNY Reconnect, he suddenly saw a path back to the classroom and forward into a new future. "I think this is an opportunity to get peace of mind, to get that education, that leg up. To have the opportunity to get a degree and owe nothing is unbelievable. I just have to put the time in. I have to do this. This is my priority."
In whiteout conditions and subfreezing wind in the heartland of Iowa, Paul Clark got his revenge. The Onondaga Community College sophomore pushed through the snow and into school history. The Baldwinsville native won the NJCAA Division III National Championship in the 8,000 meter race (just under 5 miles), finishing in 26 minutes, 50 seconds. He was a full 8 seconds ahead of Nathan Ciarlette of Joliet Junior College, the runner who had beaten him twice before in national championship races.
When Onondaga Community College student Irielle Mwija opened an email, and read that she had been selected for a scholarship, she wasn't sure of its authenticity. "My first question was whether it was real. I asked my husband, then came to OCC and went to the C-STEP (Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program) office where I showed them the email. They said, 'Yes, this is real. Congratulations!"
Eight years after immigrating from Ukraine to the United States, Maksym Cherevatyi is about to earn his first college degree. Cherevatyi is a 2024 graduate of Baldwinsville High School who chose Onondaga Community College after being influenced by both practical advice and personal connections. "Several of my teachers recommended OCC as a first step because I would save money," he said. "Also, a lot of my Ukrainian friends went to school here, and we have a pretty big community here."
When Yamen El Ahmed first heard about SUNY Reconnect, he was sure it was too good to be true. "I thought, 'This is not real.' I'm so grateful to New York State for making this happen for people like me. I'm here today, willing to do everything possible to reach my goal."
SUNY Reconnect is a new, tuition-free community college program for students between the ages of 25 and 55 who have not yet earned a college degree. SUNY Reconnect covers the cost of tuition, fees, books, and supplies after all other financial aid is applied.
The latest artwork taking shape on Onondaga Community College's campus doesn't look like typical college decor. Bold, twisted letters spell out "LAZERS" in vivid shades of blue and black in pure graffiti style. It's the work of Brandon Lazore, a 2014 OCC graduate who's been blending traditional graffiti with his Onondaga Nation heritage for years. "My style is traditional graffiti, traditional Haudenosaunee art, plus all the graffiti stuff I've learned," he explained while adding details to the mural.
