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Dr. David Lee '84 is one of the "top dogs" at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. The school is a world-renowned leader in veterinary medical education, biomedical research, animal medicine, and public health. He credits Onondaga Community College with helping him get where he is today. "OCC gave me a foundation of how to be a good student along with a sense of direction and purpose. It drove me to not only graduate with a bachelor's degree from Cornell, but to go beyond."

Amazon's Career Choice program gave Kay Cee a second chance at a college education, and she's taking advantage of the opportunity. "I knew right away I wanted to do this. When I left school before, it was a time of distress and it was hard. This was another chance. This removed a barrier for me."

At different times during the academic year students have the opportunity to draw or write on the windows that make up the fishbowl in Mawhinney Hall. Darian Barber always writes the phrase 'one day at a time.' "It speaks to me. It helped me get through what I was going through. When you are in that state where you need to hear it, it works."

Kiersten Coates' journey through higher education is a little longer than a "traditional one," and that's okay with her. Even though she's already earned her bachelor's degree, she's taking valuable classes at Onondaga Community College before she heads to graduate school in the fall. "I really like it here. The professors are so genuine. They really want you to learn and they'll do anything to help you succeed. They really support me."

Onondaga Community College's Nursing students are feeling appreciated... again!

Last month each Nursing student received a check for $320 from the OCC Foundation and the Mary Porcari Brady Fund so they could purchase industry necessities such as a stethoscope, scrubs, and shoes. On April 11, Visions Federal Credit Union donated $5,000 to the Mary Porcari Brady Fund during a ceremony hosted by the OCC Foundation.

When Anton Prusakov graduated from Onondaga Community College's Automotive Technology program in 2018, he headed to the Albany-area for a full-time job as an auto technician. He worked at a car dealership for a year, then a family-owned garage, Tesman's Auto Service. "Thanks to their guidance I learned the proper way to run an automotive repair business, how to write invoices, and how to deal with customers. It's amazing how important good customer service is."

When Amazon announced Onondaga Community College was its new education partner in the Career Choice program, the timing was perfect for Ivan Kamdem. He'd come to the United States five years earlier and tried to attend college while working, but with a family to support in another country it was cost prohibitive to do so. "I knew I wanted to do this, and this was a way I could afford college. This is a really good opportunity for me."

Glenna Jackson is a superhero. She's been knocked down by just about any type of tragedy you can think of, gotten back up, and been stronger for it. Next month, at the age of 53, she'll earn her first college degree. "I couldn't do this without God. And I love OCC. It's my safe place. I'm so glad to get up in the morning and come here. I have happy tears when I think about OCC."

Ahmed Fakhr is a 17-year-old high school senior who never actually took a class in high school. And now he's about to make the jump from Onondaga Community College to an Ivy League School. "I like to say I went from middle school to college. My first two years of high school were remote because of Covid, and then I came here."