One And Done: Grant Williams

Grant Williams knew P-TECH was for him when he listened to a presentation about it while in the 8th grade at Mexico Middle School. "I was taking an Intro to Engineering type of class at the time and I really enjoyed it. The P-TECH program sounded like something I would be interested in doing."

P-TECH stands for Pathways in Technology Early College High School. It's a program that provides high school students the opportunity to work toward their high school diploma and associate degree simultaneously, and provide them a pathway to an in-demand job.

Williams began coming to OCC two days a week during his junior year of high school and felt right at home on campus. His biggest adjustment was in the classroom. "We would do the equivalent of year of a high school course in just a semester of college. We moved through things very fast."

Williams chose to pursue a degree in Electrical Technology. The P-TECH program helped coordinate job shadow opportunities for him at Attis Biofuels in Volney and Novelis in Oswego.

During his senior year as a high school student, Williams took classes at OCC five days a week. Now he's a full-time student OCC student who will earn his degree this May after just one year here. Throughout the year he interned at Novelis, and in June he will start working there full-time as an Electrical Technician. "I'm excited. I would tell anyone considering P-TECH if you are looking for a future doing something with your hands, come here and get a degree in Electrical. It's a really good thing to have for any kind of degree you want to pursue afterwards."