Meet Our 2023 Pinnacle Award Winners

Onondaga Community College recognized its 2023 Pinnacle Award winners during a ceremony May 3 in the Otis Suite.

The Pinnacle program honors students who show excellence in one or more of the following fields: leadership, civic engagement, and scholarly research. Honorees demonstrate not only an exemplary academic performance, but a strong connection with the campus or community.

The Pinnacle Award winners and the disciplines they represent on campus are:

Athletics - Hannah Durand

• Degree: Mathematics & Science
• High School: Marcellus
• Hannah is an outstanding student and athlete. She is a member of the Lillian Slutzker Honors College, the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, serves as Student Trustee on the Board of Trustees, and is an Honorable Mention All-American on the Women's Basketball team. She is one of OCC's two recipients of the SUNY Chancellor's Awards for Student Excellence.

Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP) - Noor Noor

• Degree: Mathematics & Science
• High School: attended in Brooklyn
• Noor is a role model and leader within CSTEP where he serves as a Peer Mentor to fellow CSTEP students and is a member of the first group of Meg O'Connell Social Justice Scholars. He has worked to establish a college-wide mentoring system, and during the winter did research at Syracuse University with Dr. Sarah Hall where he studied C. elegans and Nature vs. Nurture.

Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) - Chaiya Renfroe

• Degree: Humanities & Social Sciences
• High School: Nottingham
• Chaiya is an RA in the residence hall, works in the OCC's President's Office, is a member of the first group of Meg O'Connell Social Justice Scholars, and is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. She is the only freshman in the entire SUNY System who is an EOP Ambassador, going into local high schools to speak with students about opportunities here. She is also a Student Ambassador who gives prospective students and their families campus tours. And she does all of this while carrying a 3.8 grade point average!

International Students - Christian Knights

• Degree: Exercise Science
• From: Lowestuft, England
• Christian came to the United States with the dream of earning of earning a college degree and playing soccer. During his freshman year he was inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society while also being one of the leaders of the Lazers soccer team. When he returns in the fall he will be an RA In the residence hall and one of the soccer team's captains.

Office of Accessibility Resources - George Washington

• Degree: Human Services
• George will earn his Human Services degree later this month at age 63. He was working as an electrician when glaucoma gradually diminished his vision to the point where he needed to change careers. He came to OCC where he took advantage of the technology aides and support systems provided by the Office of Accessibility Resources. During the fall semester he was seriously injured in a car accident which required shoulder replacement surgery followed by months of grueling physical therapy. Through it all he still managed to earn a perfect 4.0. He was nominated for an award by Professor Yvonne Fish-Kalland and earned second place in the Robertson Endowment for Excellence in Writing. George plans to transfer to Syracuse University.

Residence Life - Kyle Goff

• Degree: General Studies and Broadcast Media Communications
• High School: Bellport on Long Island
• Kyle completed his General Studies degree in December 2022 and will finish his Broadcast Media Communications degree this month. He did it all while serving the campus community as an Assistant Residence Hall Director, a member of the Unity Day Student Committee, and the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society's Vice President of Leadership. He is transferring to Ithaca College where he will major in Television & Digital Media Production.

Student Orientation, Leadership & Engagement (SOLE) - Christopher Cedano Alcala

• Degree: Business Administration
• High School: Liverpool
• Chris was very involved in campus life while earning his degree in just three semesters. He was President of SOLE, a member of the Extraordinary Men of Distinction Club, the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, the Business Club, and the Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP). Through CSTEP he landed an internship with Brackens Financial Solutions Network which inspired him to pursue a career as a financial advisor. He completed his degree in December, then went through basic training as a member of the United States Army Reserves.

TRIO - Felonne Nganga

• Degree: Human Services
• High School: Henninger
• Felonne is a native of the Congo. She came to the United States in 2019, entered Henninger High School in 11th grade, graduated two years later, and came to OCC. She is part of the TRIO educational opportunity outreach program, the Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program where she serves as a Peer Mentor, the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, and OnPoint for College. She will receive her degree this month and plans to transfer to a four-year school. Her goal is to become a social worker.

Veterans Affairs - Kayden Perry

• Degree: Sound Recording
• High School: attended in Austin, TX
• Kayden is a Student Veteran who served in the United States Marine Corps for four years as a logistics specialist, rising to the rank of sergeant. He began in OCC's Architectural Technology program, but a semester away from school due to the pandemic offered him the opportunity to reflect on his career aspirations. When he returned, he fearlessly switched majors into the new Sound Recording degree program despite having no musical background. Kayden will complete work toward his degree this month. He is President of OCC's Student Veteran Club, and leads quietly by example both in the Veterans Office and in class.

Members of the Unity Day Committee received Pinnacle Awards.