2022 Alumni Faces Honoree: Hassina Adams '17

Each year Onondaga Community College recognizes distinguished graduates who have made a difference in their community and professional life, naming them  "Alumni Faces" honorees. On the night of Thursday, October 6 at 5:30 p.m. in the Frederick Marvin and Ernst Schuh Recital Hall in the Academic II building, we will pay tribute to the Alumni Faces Class of 2022. In the weeks leading up to the event we are proudly profiling our honorees on our website and social media. Today we recognize Hassina Adams '17.

Hassina is one of the youngest Alumni Faces honorees in OCC history, having completed her Liberal Arts and Sciences: Humanities and Social Sciences degree just 5 years ago.

Her story begins in 2014 when she and her three siblings immigrated to the United States as unaccompanied minors from South Africa. They quickly found a home at the North Side Learning Center, where Hassina taught middle-aged school girls while also raising her younger siblings as their legal guardian.

While attending OCC she was a member of the Lillian Slutzker Honors College, the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, and the Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program. She served as President of the History Club, Student Liaison of the International Club, and the Secretary of the Muslims Students' Association.

Hassina was awarded the 2016 Gifford Foundation Scholarship, the Curriculum Honors Award for being the top student in her degree program, the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence, and the Provost Award for Student Excellence.

She earned her bachelor's degree at Syracuse University, graduating magna cum laude with honors in International Relations and Political Science... all while continuing to teach at the North Side Learning Center.

Hassina now works as a Paralegal in the City of Syracuse's Office of the Corporation Counsel. She plans to earn her law degree and become an immigration attorney who advocates for refugees and underrepresented people.

Hassina returned to campus recently and shared her remarkable story with us during a recording of our podcast, "Chatting About College." You can listen to the podcast on iTunes and Spotify by searching "Chatting About College." Enjoy the podcast!