Honorees include a Fayetteville Firefighter, two Student Veterans, and a former baker!
Onondaga Community College students Alex Espitia-Casallas and Danielle Lambert have been named recipients of the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. It is the highest award any SUNY student can receive.
Alex Espitia-Casallas
- Worked as a baker for a decade before deciding to volunteer in a New York City hospital during Covid.
- Enrolled in OCC’s Laboratory Science degree program and took advantage of research opportunities at SUNY Upstate Medical University.
- Will complete his degree in May, then transfer into SUNY Upstate Medical University’s Medical Technology program. His goal is to become a clinical laboratory scientist.
Danielle Lambert
- Was a senior at Henninger High School when the 9/11 attacks happened. She decided to enlist in the military as soon as she received her diploma.
- She spent four years in the U.S. Air Force, married a U.S. Army Veteran, and they started their family. When the youngest of their three children became school-aged, she focused on her future and came to OCC.
- Danielle earned a perfect 4.0 grade point average in the Early Childhood degree program. She will transfer to SUNY Cortland and continue toward her goal of becoming a teacher.
Espitia-Casallas and Lambert were also named Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) All-State students.
A third OCC student, Rebekah Wade, is receiving PTK’s Hurst Review NCLEX Scholarship. NCLEX stands for National Council Licensure Examination. It is the exam which Nursing graduates are required to pass to become licensed as a Registered Nurse in the United States and Canada. The Hurst Review NCLEX Scholarship will cover the cost of Wade’s study materials and exam fee. She is a United States Navy Veteran, a member of the PTK Honor Society, and she will complete her Nursing degree in May. She plans to continue her education and work for the Veterans Administration.
Gavan Liston, an OCC student who is also a member of the Fayetteville Fire Department, will receive the Norman R. McConney, Jr. Award for EOP Student Excellence. EOP stands for Educational Opportunity Program. The award is given to a student who shows positive academic trajectories despite challenges faced during their academic career. Liston is enrolled in the Fire Protection Technology major. As part of OCC’s bunk-in program, Liston lives at the Fayetteville Fire Department and responds to emergency calls while also taking classes. He’s a native of the Bronx whose career goal was inspired by seeing firefighters respond to a fire at the 18-story apartment building he grew up in.
“We’re so proud of Alex, Danielle, Rebekah, Gavan, and everything they accomplished here. Their success is a testament to the opportunities which are available to students of all ages at Onondaga Community College. Each decided what they wanted to do, built a strong academic foundation here, and are on their way to successful careers which will benefit our entire community,” said OCC President Dr. Warren Hilton.
OCC will host an Open House for prospective students and their families Saturday, April 6 beginning at 9:30 a.m. Students will have the opportunity to speak with professors in degree programs they are interested in, ask our Financial Aid experts questions, and tour the campus. Anyone interested in attending can RSVP at this link:
Tuition for full-time students is $2,645 per semester, and $220 per credit hour for part-time students.
