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Onondaga Community College's affordability and wide range of academic options provided Jenny Nguyen, RN, with the opportunity to find her passion. When she came to OCC from Cicero-North Syracuse High School six years ago, she couldn't decide on a specific major - so she went in several directions. "In my first semester, I took classes I liked. I needed to explore what I wanted to do for the rest of my life, and I knew I wouldn't go into debt at OCC doing that." 

Chuck Wilbur rarely talks about his own achievements, but they speak loudly for him. In 17 seasons as Head Coach of Onondaga Community College's Men's Lacrosse team, Wilbur led the Lazers to 11 National Championships, posted an overall record of 266 wins and just 15 losses, and from 2010 to 2016 oversaw a 107-game win streak, the longest in college lacrosse history.

Onondaga Community College's Pre-College Summer Semiconductor Program provided students with a valuable glimpse into their futures. While they learned about career options in in-demand fields and earned college credits, they also lived in the residence halls for 5 weeks and gained a better understanding of what the college experience would be like. "The work was demanding, but it got you ready for college, as did living in the dorms," said Frank Guzman, a high school student from New York City who will be a senior this fall. "Everyone was very helpful and kind.

Nine years after arriving in the U.S. from Kenya, twin brothers Hasani and Huseni Musa are turning their college dreams into a mission to serve their new home country. This fall, they will be enrolled in Onondaga Community College's Human Services degree program. "We love the community and we want to help people in need," said Hasani Musa. "Our parents told us, if you go to school, you're not just helping us, you're helping the people around you," added Huseni Musa.

When Dr. Reginald T. Braggs visited Onondaga Community College students interning at Micron this summer, he was impressed with what he learned. "What I found is that not only are our students flourishing, their supervisors are thrilled with the level of competency our students have on the job and their potential for future growth and employment."

Crystal DeStefano '04 has a never-ending desire to not only achieve, but overachieve. The proof is in her performance: she graduated from Onondaga Community College in less than a calendar year, became the youngest person to be accredited in Public Relations by the Universal Accreditation Board at age 26, bought the business she was working for in 2014 while simultaneously planning her wedding, and was married 11 days after the purchase was completed.

Being engaged both inside and outside the classroom at Onondaga Community College helped Ruby Ramseyer discover her passion and chart a clear path forward. "I had a really good experience here. I was nervous coming from a small high school, but everyone here had their arms open. If you wanted to participate in something, everyone was very accepting."

When Isabella Shenandoah-Kurtz was awarded the Robert H. Edson Memorial Scholarship during her first semester on the Onondaga Community College campus, she never imagined how far it would take her. "It was about more than the money. It was a major deal in my life. It connected me with Sue Edson and her whole family. They're very good people. They showed me what it looks like when you love what you do, and how happy you will be."