Behind Hawa Giannetto's radiant smile lies a past shaped by loss, upheval, and extraordinary resilience. When she was just three years old, her mother was killed during a civil war in the African nation of Sierra Leone. As the decade-long conflict intensified, her father made the painful decision to place her in an orphange, hoping she would be in a better place.
Throughout the spring semester, we are introducing you to several of our Student Success Navigators. For Onondaga Community College students, they are the dedicated point of contact for support. Student Success Navigators assist with class registration, help students stay on track academically, and connect students with campus resources to support their success.
Rich Goodell
On the eve of National Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Day, the North Central SBDC unveiled Strategic Growth Services - a plan to help established small businesses grow properly and successfully. The announcement was made at Eagle Metalcraft in East Syracuse. The Veteran-owned business specializes in sheet metal fabrication services, CNC machining services, and complete fabrication and assembly. Eagle Metalcraft plans to take advantage of Strategic Growth Services.
Heather Johnson first saw her future at a family wedding. She was in seventh grade, watching the servers move through the room, carefully setting tables and coordinating the flow of the event. In that moment, something clicked. “I remember watching the servers, seeing them set everything up, and thinking, ‘I love this,’” Johnson said. “Ever since that moment, it’s what I wanted to do. I wanted to be an event coordinator.”
Most high school seniors are just beginning to think about college. At 17, Samara Hurtado is about to graduate from one.
In the coming months, Hurtado will graduate from the Syracuse Academy of Science while also completing her Engineering Science degree at Onondaga Community College. “I’ve always known I wanted to go to college,” Hurtado said. “I thought it would be a cool experience to get a head start. Ever since I entered high school, I’ve been working toward this.”
Valeriya Weeks brings a world of experience into her Architectural Design classes - but she's also starting over.
She's a native of the Soviet Union who immigrated to Turkey and spent 18 years working in architecture before moving to the United States with her family. Now she's relearning her craft in Onondaga Community College's Architectural Design degree program. "I'm so happy studying here. Even though I have experience, it's a plus for my memory."
Dr. Héctor Rodríguez has been appointed as the next Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs at Onondaga Community College.
Three students from Onondaga Community College have been named to the prestigious Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) All-New York State Academic Team! They were selected for their outstanding academic excellence and demonstrated leadership. These students represent the very best of Onondaga Community College, and their achievements reflect a deep commitment to scholarship, service, and academic distinction. The 2026 honorees are:
Throughout the spring semester, we are introducing you to several of our Student Success Navigators. For Onondaga Community College students, they are the dedicated point of contact for support. Student Success Navigators assist with class registration, help students stay on track academically, and connect students with campus resources to support their success.
Megan Detor
