Graduation Spotlight: Transferring to a 4-year School

When OCC students graduate, they usually go down one of two paths: transferring to a 4-year school or going directly into the workforce. Today we will be highlighting some of our amazing graduates that are transferring to 4-year schools. 

Faiza Abakar

Abakar is excited to take that first step towards her bachelor's degree. She is married and has an 11-month-old daughter. For her, every day is a new adventure! 

School: Art, Design, Media & Music 

What are your plans after graduation? 

Transferring to SUNY Empire for Graphic Design. 

Why did you choose OCC? 

"OCC was recommended by my elder brother at the time who was a first-year student at OCC. I was looking for supportive professors and a school with smaller class sizes to fit my needs. My brother told me about the programs at OCC that help students with their works and needs."

What has been the best part of your education to date! 

"My best part was changing my major from drawing and painting to graphic design. Because I thought I belonged in painting and drawing but found my true passion in graphic design." 

Arub Abedrabbaa

Abedrabbaa is excited to graduate with her associate degree and take her next step! She enjoys writing, reading poetry, music, and running in her spare time. 

School: Math, Science & Engineering 

What are your plans after graduation? 

Transferring to Upstate Medical University for Medical Technology

Why did you choose OCC? 

"I chose OCC because the environment is so great! I love the professors and I love the resources there are for students especially when students need help. I believe OCC is a perfect choice to make once graduating high school."

What has been the best part of your education to date! 

"The best part of my education would be that I was able to maintain great grades throughout those two years I have been here! The best part is also making it on the dean's list for an excellent GPA."

Shannon Arthur

Arthur is excited to graduate and celebrate her next step in life! She is a fry cook at a pizza shop in Baldwinsville and in her free time she enjoys painting and playing video games. 

School: Public Safety & Community Service 

What are your plans after graduation? 

I plan to transfer to SUNY Brockport and major in criminal justice with a minor in Forensic Science and Psychology.

Why did you choose OCC? 

"After graduating from high school, I wasn't entirely sure what I wanted to do yet. OCC allowed me to explore my options while also staying close to home."

What has been the best part of your education to date! 

"I loved my criminal justice classes! I always found them very interesting and was always eager to learn."

Kaleigh Chartrand 

Chartrand is very excited to go to Keuka College in the fall after she graduates! 

School: Education 

What are your plans after graduation? 

Transferring to Keuka College in the Fall. 

Why did you choose OCC? 

"I chose it because it was relatively close for me to commute and it is a very good starting point."

What has been the best part of your education to date! 

"My parents/teachers were always there for me and gave me nothing but love, patience, and constant support/help."

Allison Logue

Logue is excited to graduate because she never saw herself at this moment. But after perseverance and hard work, she made it and is excited to move onto the next chapter in her life. 

School: Liberal Arts 

What are your plans after graduation? 

Transferring to Smith College to study Government. Her ultimate goal is to go to law school and become a defense attorney. 

Why did you choose OCC? 

"I chose OCC because I thought it would be a great place to discover the next steps for me while receiving a broad education. Oftentimes we don’t step out of our comfort zones and I think we really miss out on new discoveries. That’s what OCC has been for me: discovering my interests and the next steps in life."

What has been the best part of your education to date! 

"The best part of my education to date has been realizing there is an entire amazing, fascinating, and beautiful world beyond the borders of the United States of America."

Danielle Pachilis

Pachilis is excited to graduate and begin the next chapter of her life. Outside of OCC she works part-time at a local restaurant and hopes to one day work with kids with special needs. 

School: Liberal Arts

What are your plans after graduation? 

Transferring to Keuka College in the fall to study Occupational Therapy. 

Why did you choose OCC? 

"I chose OCC because I was not sure of what I wanted to do after high school and at OCC I could take time to figure that out. It is also saving me a lot of money for the first two years of my college experience."

What has been the best part of your education to date! 

"The best part of my education at OCC was taking American Sign Language classes. I have always wanted to learn ASL, and I was able to get a couple classes under my belt, even though it is not a lot, it is still very helpful to know the basics of ASL." 

Eleanor Petrucco 

Petrucco is excited about graduation because she's thankful for the opportunity to celebrate her success with her friends and family and look forward to the future.  

School: Liberal Arts 

What are your plans after graduation? 

Transferring to the College of St. Rose in Albany to study History! Her ultimate goal is to gain a master's in library sciences and become an elementary school librarian., 

Why did you choose OCC? 

"I chose OCC because it was a convenient choice for me since I grew up in Tully! I was a homeschooled student finishing high school when I came here and I was hoping that this would be a bridge for me into my life as a college student." 

What has been the best part of your education to date! 

"The best part of my education to date has been my involvement on campus this year. Despite the complications of COVID-19, I've really been able to get involved in our community more than ever before and develop some life-changing connections with staff and students that I will take with me for the rest of my life. I have really been able to realize my ability to make a difference in my community because of the projects and events that I've been able to plan and collaborate on this year as well, which is something that I hope to continue to do once I reach St. Rose." 

Martha Roes

Roes is excited about graduation because of all the hard work she and her friends have put in. She is excited to celebrate that work and move forward with the future. 

School: Art, Design, Media, and Music

What are your plans after graduation? 

Transferring to Mansfield University majoring in Music Education.

Why did you choose OCC? 

"I chose OCC because it was the best option for me financially and in terms of education."

What has been the best part of your education to date! 

"It's been really nice to learn more about music, but the best part has definitely been meeting and building relationships with my professors and colleagues."

Lauren Searle

Searle is excited about graduation because it concludes two years of hard work. She is a 20-year-old resident of Camillus and enjoys dancing, spending time with friends, working out, traveling, and camping with her family. 

School: Liberal Arts 

What are your plans after graduation? 

Transferring to Utica College to major in psychology: child life. Her goal is to become a child life specialist. 

Why did you choose OCC? 

"I chose Onondaga Community College because I wanted to complete my core classes before transferring to a four-year institution."

What has been the best part of your education to date! 

"The best part of my education here at OCC was the professors. They were so incredibly helpful and flexible which made it easy for me to succeed."

Zachary Weiler

Weiler is excited to graduate OCC because it opens a lot of opportunities, and it makes me very happy knowing I am the first one in my family to obtain a degree. He enjoys hockey, lacrosse, video games, and his puppy Oscar. 

School: Public Safety & Community Service 

What are your plans after graduation?

Transferring to Quinnipiac University to get a Computer Science degree.

Why did you choose OCC? 

"I chose OCC because the atmosphere of this college is great, the professors are awesome, and it's the best bang for your buck." 

What has been the best part of your education to date! 

"The best part of my education is the professors and the way they helped me through everything. Professor Wieczorek of Criminal Justice is the best professor I have come across and she is one of the best things that came from OCC."