In the latest edition of our podcast, "Chatting About College," we're joined by Onondaga Community College Class of 2024 Commencement Student Speaker Melissa Duran. She's a native of Ecuador who immigrated to the United States with the dream of becoming a surgeon. She's about to complete her Surgical Technology degree.

During her time at OCC she earned membership in the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, and was also a Meg O'Connell Scholar. She shared her knowledge at the Learning Center where she tutored fellow students in Medical Terminology, Anatomy and Physiology 1, and Spanish 1 and 2. She was also part of the Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP) which connected her with a research opportunity at Syracuse University.

OCC's Commencement ceremony will be held Saturday, May 18 at 11 a.m. in the SRC Arena. And the day after commencement Duran will celebrate her 29th birthday! She plans to return to OCC in the fall to complete a second degree in Mathematics & Science, before transferring to SUNY Upstate Medical University.

Duran joined us for a conversation in our podcast along with Colleen Stevens, Director of CSTEP, who nominated Duran to be commencement speaker.

It's not unusual for students to travel to warm climates during spring break. But for 10 Onondaga Community College students who are also Meg O'Connell Social Justice Scholars, their trip to Puerto Rico last month was all about community service. "While we helped others, we learned so much and bonded through the experience. We lived the lifelong learning of a college," said Dr. Annie Tuttle, PTK Advisor and Assistant Dean of Civic Engagement.

Danielle Lambert, an Early Childhood major, was one of the students who engaged in service-learning in Puerto Rico. "My favorite service activity was tree planting. We planted 486 trees, flagged 2,000 areas for baby trees after measuring spots, and dug 500 extra holes. It was a lot of work but we had a lot of fun. We were knee deep in mud and holding on to each other so we didn't sink in. At the end we were just so filthy and exhausted but it was so rewarding."

Another Meg O'Connell Scholar, Alex Espitia-Casallas, selected a different activity as his most memorable. "My favorite project was spending the day in a rainforest, maintaining the trails. Getting that experience was a gift. Being there, doing that work, was really special. I'll think about that forever."

"We're so appreciative of Meg O'Connell to be able to help us provide this opportunity for the students," said Dr. Tuttle. "She came to all of our meetings this year and was able to create relationships with the students. It was just a really special opportunity to meet such an important community leader who does so much to be able to have that experience."

Dr. Tuttle, Lambert, and Espitia-Casallas joined us for an episode of our podcast, "Chatting About College." All three discussed the trip, along with Lambert and Espitia-Casallas being named SUNY Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence winners, also being named Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) All-State students, and the recent statewide and international awards won by OCC's PTK students.

Enjoy the podcast!

Bella Gutkin hadn't been in a classroom for about a decade when she decided to visit Onondaga Community College and explore her options. "I wanted to come back to school and I took a while to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. I liked the idea of working with electricity. I came in interested with everything the field entails."

Gutkin is in her first semester at OCC in the new Electromechanical Technology Certificate program. It teaches students about electricity, mechanisms, and programming. The Electromechanical Technology certificate and degree programs are in their first academic year at the college, and a re Micron-related but not Micron-exclusive. Students who successfully complete the programs are likely to find employment quickly.

Appled Technology Professor Mike Grieb teaches "Introduction to Problem Solving." He says the Electromechanical Technology students become familiar with each other quickly and collaborate often. "This group takes a lot of classes together. They interact in team-like exercises. That's an aspect of working in manufacturing, the team aspect, and relying on each other and making sure processes are being followed." "It helps with learning a lot," added Gutkin. "It's nice to have people to reach out to. We all have the same questions and concerns for the most part."

All of the classes are held in the Whitney Applied Technology Center which is undergoing a transformation. The Micron Cleanroom Simulation Lab is being built there along with HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning), Welding, and CNC (computer numerical control) Training Centers.

The new Electromechanical Technology program is the subject of this edition of our podcast, "Chatting About College."

"It's like Willy Wonka's Golden Ticket!"

That was Will Appleton's reaction when he learned he had been selected for a paid internship at Micron this summer. Appleton is a senior at Central Square High School and a Electrical Technology major at Onondaga Community College through the Pathways in Technology Early College High School program, which is known as P-TECH. The program provides high school students the opportunity to work toward their high school diploma and associate degree simultaneously, and ultimately a pathway to an in-demand job.

"When I found out I had gotten the position, I ran out of my lab and started calling every one I knew," said Appleton who will spend his summer working at Micron in Manassas, Virginia.

Another P-TECH student, Vincent Hubbard, will be working at Micron in Boise, Idaho this summer. Hubbard is a senior at Fulton High School and is majoring in Mechanical Technology. "When I got the call I immediately told my brother and sister and called my parents. Just like Will, it feels like getting a golden ticket.

Hubbard, Appleton, and OCC's Assistant Director of Early College Pathways, Hailey Warren, joined us for an edition of our podcast, "Chatting About College."

Esports is the fastest growing sport in the world, and Onondaga Community College is proud to be part of that world. The Lazers have an Esports team and a sparkling Esports Arena!

OCC student-athletes began competing on an intramural level during the fall 2022 semester while the Esports Arena was being built. In the spring 2023, the Arena opened as the finishing touches were being put on it. The Arena has 23 gaming stations, each equipped with ergonomically designed chairs. National Grid also supported the Esports Arena with a $20,000 gift through its Project C program. During this academic year Lazers student-athletes are competing at the National Junior College Athletic Association level and doing well! "For the past three semesters we're averaging about 85 kids in the program. It's really kind of cool," said Head Coach Keith Edwards.

The new Esports program is the subject of this edition of our podcast, "Chatting About College." We are joined in the conversation by Edwards, Assistant Coach Jeff Pease, and student-athlete Rob Maher. He's a 2005 graduate of Oswego High School in the Computer Science degree program. "It's so cool the school has a program like this and put that amount of money into a room for kids to compete in. It's incredible," said Maher.

If you enjoy free hot chocolate and free tater tots during the first week of classes, you can thank members of Student Government!

Officers have spent the semester break planning fun and informative activities for fellow students. Here's what is on tap for the first week of classes:

• Tuesday, January 30 - Hot Cocoa Bar from 11:30am to 1:30pm in the Gordon Student Center. The first 200 students will receive a free mug.
• Wednesday, January 31 - Make Your Own Keychain event from 11:30am to 1:30pm in the Lazer Lounge on the ground floor of the Gordon Student Center.
• Thursday, February 1 - Tater Tot Bar from 11:30am to 1:30pm in the Gordon Student Center. The first 200 students receive a free food container.
• Friday, February 2 - Showings of the movie "Groundhog Day" at 12:30pm and 2:30pm in the Lazer Lounge on the ground floor of the Gordon Student Center. Friday is Groundhog Day.

What does it take to become a leader on campus, what can you do to get involved, and how rewarding is being part of the leadership team? Those topics and more were discussed in the latest edition of OCC's podcast, "Chatting About College." We were joined by Student Government members Anthony Mancini (Baldwinsville HS), Haley Madej (Amsterdam HS), and Abi Marin (Cicero-North Syracuse HS).

Enjoy the podcast!

The roster is almost entirely new, but the outstanding results continue. Despite losing 90% of their scoring from the previous year, Onondaga Community College's Women's Basketball team is off to an 11-and-1 start. "Heading into our first scrimmage I was nervous. Heading out of our last scrimmage I was still nervous," said head Coach Kelly Seibt. "We opened up against the 6th team in the country and beat them. Then we turned around and played the 15th team and beat them and I said 'I think we're going to be okay.' Chemistry is great. These girls act like they've known each other their whole lives. It's such a good culture we have right now."

Seibt is in her third season coaching the Women's Basketball team. In each of her first two years she guided the Lazers into the NJCAA National Tournament in Minnesota, and is hoping to do so again this season.

Coach Seibt is a guest on OCC's podcast, "Chatting About College." She's joined by freshmen Mallory Brooks, a Criminal Justice major from Cicero-North Syracuse High School, and Kara Stephens, a Health Sciences major from Lyons High School.

Enjoy the podcast!

Onondaga Community College's Women's Soccer team entered the year with just two returning players. Despite that the Lazers have put together an outstanding regular season, winning 10 games and losing only 2.

Coach Sean St. Denis has three captains on this year's team; sophomore Alex Ruzekowicz (West Genesee HS, Architectural Technology major), sophomore Lynnae Russell (Moravia HS, Humanities & Social Sciences major), and freshman Brenna Mast (Beaver River HS, Health Sciences major).

The Women's Soccer team's season is the subject of this edition of our podcast, "Chatting About College." Coach St. Denis, Russell, and Mast join us and talk soccer, the best part of the season so far, life on campus, and play a lively game of Box of Books. Enjoy the podcast!