OCC Alumna Shares Her Story with SUNY

Danielle Lambert '24 gave the entire Onondaga Community College Family much to be proud of today. The 40-year-old mother of three was selected to be the student speaker at the annual State of the University Address in Albany.

She shared her story of being inspired by the 9/11 terrorist attacks to join the military, and did so after graduating from Henninger High School in 2002. After serving four years in the United States Air Force, she started her family. Their oldest son was diagnosed with autism, an experience which inspired her to become an autism advocate and start a related not-for-profit.

Once her children became school-aged, she came to OCC and majored in Early Childhood. She served in Student Government, was a Meg O'Connell Scholar, and an officer in the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society where she counseled fellow students on scholarship opportunities. She was named a SUNY Chancellor's Award winner and a PTK All-State student.

This fall she will enroll at SUNY Cortland where she will double major in Early Education and Childhood Education. "I do not plan to stop when I earn my bachelor's degree. I do not plan to ever stop," she told the in-person and online audience. "At 40 I know I will be a true lifelong learner and I know SUNY will be with me on every step of that journey."

"We're so proud of Danielle and the message she shared with the entire SUNY System today," said OCC President Dr. Warren Hilton. "Her desire to use education to improve her life and the lives of others brought her to our campus. She had an enormous impact during her two years here and we are better for it. I know she will continue growing as both a student and a leader at SUNY Cortland. We look forward to seeing her remarkable work which we know will impact future generations."

You can watch and listen to Lambert's remarks by clicking on this link. She begins at the 33 minute and 30 second mark.