New students get inspired, informed and prepped for success at campus kickoff event 

Starting college can be overwhelming—but at Oakland Community College’s New Student Success Kick-Off, excitement and empowerment took center stage. 

Held July 30 at the Orchard Ridge campus, the event provided incoming students with a jump-start on their college journey with inspiring talks, hands-on workshops, and practical tools to thrive at OCC. 

“You are here to learn and invest in your future” 

Dr. Kimberly Hurns, OCC Vice Chancellor of Student Services, opened the event with a warm welcome to new students and their families. 

“You are here to learn and invest in your future and to make the best decision you can,” she told students. “We do not want you to be anxious about this journey. College is your experience – do it in a way that makes sense for you. We are here to support you all the way to graduation day.” 

From rejection to direction 

Keynote speaker Joshua Fredenburg added motivation with a powerful story about resilience, vision, and the power of college to shape your future. He shared his early plans to become an NBA basketball player and how not making his college basketball team was a life-changing turning point.  

“Rejection is direction to something better,” he said—explaining how that moment led him to discover a passion in class that we had not known - public speaking. Now a nationally recognized motivational speaker who travels across the country speaking to academics and business, he urged students to dream big and take charge of their future. 

“You’re not just here for a degree,” he said. “You’re here to be empowered to change the world. If you are a first-generation student, you will be the first in your family to ignite a legacy that impacts generations to follow.” 

Fredenburg encouraged students to visualize their goals every day – and gave this 4-step strategy for success: 

  • Write down a clear vision 
  • Identify five passionate reasons why it matters 
  • Post it where you will see it 
  • Visualize it daily 

“Vision is the foundation for success,” he said. “The more you can see, the farther you will go.” 

Highlights from student workshops 

Following the keynote, students rotated through hands-on sessions covering:  

  • Student Tools – navigating OCC’s portal, MyOCC 
  • Success in the Classroom 
  • Strategies for Paying Tuition 
  • New Student Success Chat – conversations with faculty and student leaders 

Nicole Willis, Associate Dean of Enrollment Services, introduced MyOCC to find student planning information, registration and resources to help them stay on track. Key takeaways included how to plan and schedule classes, when online class materials are available, and information about waitlists and asynchronous classes. 

Joshua Hunter, a West Bloomfield High School graduate, found these very helpful. 

“I didn’t even know we had to go into a portal to register for classes,” he said. “This is all new to me.” 

Advice from those who’ve been there 

In a lively panel discussion, OCC faculty and student leaders shared practical advice on thriving in college.  

  • Attend class and go to office hours – Hriday Desai, Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) and Student Government. “You will definitely know what you are doing when you go to class, and office hours help a lot. And know how to relax. If you are working hard, you need to relax equally as hard. Work hard, play hard.” 
  • Use your syllabus as a roadmap – Nichole Mangoba, PTK student. “And don’t forget to take care of yourself—sometimes you are too focused in your work and you are not taking care of yourself. Sleep, eat good, and exercise.” 
  • Plan your semester from day one — Dawn Young, Faculty, Accounting. “Gather all syllabi and actually read them from front to back. They provide important information about how the class will be administered, including assignment due dates, submission guidelines, and a schedule for when assignments are due. Create a schedule and mark these dates for the entire semester. 
  • Ask questions and go beyond the minimum – Peter Schade, Faculty, Graphic Design. “There’s no such thing as a dumb question.” 

Kaimi Larkin, a recent Huron High School graduate, said the event helped her feel prepared and was glad she attended. 

“I learned how to plan ahead and make sure I have a plan, so I don’t fall behind in order to be successful,” she said. 

Visit Student Services for information and resources for Student Success.  

About OCC     

Celebrating 60 years, Oakland Community College (OCC) has educated over one million students since 1965. OCC offers more than 80 degree and certificate programs and is committed to student success with affordable tuition, support services, flexible class options and top transfer opportunities. The College serves more than 20,000 students annually while advancing our community through education, training and career support. OCC is nationally recognized as Michigan’s top online college, and seventh in the U.S., by Newsweek’s America’s Top Online Colleges 2025. Learn more at oaklandcc.edu.      

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Media Contact: Marketing & Communications | (248) 341-2020 | contactus@oaklandcc.edu