Exploring Their Futures

Onondaga Community College students Kierstin Lorraine and Jadrien Jones are spending part of their semester break figuring out what they'll be studying in the future. They're participating in a two week internship at the Heroy Geology Lab at Syracuse University where they are working with and learning from Professor Melissa L. Chipman Ph.D. "Kiersten is extremely meticulous and very excited about everything we are doing and Jadrien is a quick learner. He works in the lab like he's been there for ages," said Chipman.

Both students are in OCC's Mathematics & Science degree programs with a specialization in Geology, and both are taking advantage of the internship opportunity thanks to the Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP) and the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP). CSTEP and LSAMP, along with the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), are all located on the second floor of Coulter Hall.

Lorraine and Jones are interested in continuing their higher education path in the earth sciences. They hope this internship will bring their plans into focus. "The skills taught through genuine research are skills that can be applied to a myriad of different situations throughout life. Those are skills I hope to gain," said Lorraine. "My hope is that by the end of this experience I'll have a good idea what I should pursue in the future and what professionals believe would be a good path for me to follow," added Jones.