Public

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.

When RJ Tinsley '25 returned to Onondaga Community College earlier this semester, he was struck by how much the campus - and his life - had changed. "Walking into Whitney and seeing the new CNC Machining Lab, the new stairs, and the glass railings, I was blown away. Up on the second floor, I was looking into the cleanroom and seeing those machines like in the fab in Boise. It was a lot to take in. It's really beautiful what they've done here!"

When Aya Altaleb enrolled at Onondaga Community College, she carried more than books and ambition. She also carried years of discouragement, disbelief, and doubt from people around her. She's a native of Syria who graduated high school in Lebanon, and was told repeatedly her diploma would be "worthless in the United States." She would need to "throw it in the trash and start over." And that "you will never succeed simply because you are a mother." 

But Altaleb didn't listen. "I proved them wrong," she said, with a quiet sense of pride.

At age 37, Chris Conklin is proving it's never too late to restart, recharge, and rebuild your future - especially when it involves taking advantage of a program aimed at helping adult learners.

Onondaga Community College was presented the Community Visionary Award at CenterState CEO's Economic Champions luncheon. The award was given in recognition of OCC's efforts to create a significant positive impact on economic opportunity and community prosperity. While presenting the award, CenterState CEO said:

Michelle Malinovsky is helping lead the conversation about Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the Onondaga Community College campus and across the wider State University of New York (SUNY) system.

Malinovsky, who is an English Professor and Librarian, is one of 20 faculty and staff members from across the state selected for the first class of SUNY AI for the Public Good Fellows. Their mission is to help SUNY campuses integrate AI literacy into the classroom, with a focus on ethics, critical thinking, and responsible use.