Looking Back at the OCC Headlines of 2023

From a $1 million-plus legacy donation supporting student scholarships to OCC’s plans for the future, and a vote for a new College mascot, there was plenty of College news to share in 2023. The online news stories that captured the greatest attention on oaklandcc.edu included registration for classes, employee and alumni stories and new program launches. Here’s a look back at the top viewed stories of the past year.

  1. OCC Summer and Fall Registration Open in March 
    Current and future OCC students, and guest students who will be home for the summer, can now register online for both summer and fall semester classes. 
  2. OCC Welcomes Two New Leaders to College’s Executive Team 
    Oakland Community College has appointed Christina “Tina” Kostiuk to Vice Chancellor for Administrative Services and Christina Ayar to Vice Chancellor for External Affairs.  
  3. OCC Winter Registration Begins Oct. 24 
    OCC offers a variety of course formats in the Winter semester including in-person; hybrid courses – a combination of in-person and online; and full online courses for maximum flexibility (and no snow- days!). 
  4. OCC Employees Recognized for Years of Service 
    Before beginning his 45-year career at OCC, Robert Spruce was known in the U.S. Army as an audio specialist. Little did he know the skills he learned would later help him land a job at OCC.  
  5. OCC Announces Partnership with Great Lakes Maritime Academy 
    An opportunity to explore a career on the water, sailing the Great Lakes and oceans just became easier for students at OCC. 
  6. An OCC Love Story 
    This Valentine’s Day, we reflect on a heart-warming alumni love story. Cheyne  Jarnol  met her future husband, Michael, through the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship (IVCF) student organization at OCC. 
  7. Cast Your Vote for OCC’s New Mascot 
    OCC is officially one step closer to implementing a new mascot! Will it be Cobras, Green Tide or Owls? 
  8. OCC Announces 2023 Commencement Speakers 
    Two Oakland Community College students have been selected as keynote commencements speakers, marking the first time in recent history that commencement speakers have been selected from the student body.   
  9. OCC Foundation Receives $1.1 Million Bequest to Fund Student Scholarships 
    Thanks to the generosity of two sisters, Oakland Community College students will soon have additional scholarship opportunities to support their educational goals and pursue their dreams for the future. 
  10. OCC Employees Honored for Years of Service 
    Tahir Khan, Computer Aided Design faculty member, and Patrick Dean, network specialist, will be recognized as employees with the most years of service during an anniversary and retirement event at the Orchard Ridge campus. 

We are honored to cover the news, people, information and events happening at OCC in our commitment to ensure OCC students succeed and the needs of our community are met. Stay connected on oaklandcc.edu/news and on OCC’s social media channels.  

About OCC    

Oakland Community College offers nearly 100 degrees and certificates programs with the resources students need to be successful and advance our community. As a top transfer institution, OCC offers one of the state’s most affordable tuition rates and flexibility in scheduling with face-to-face and online options. The College is nationally recognized for its high-demand career training with expert faculty in their fields. More than 1 million students have enrolled in the College since it opened in 1965. Learn more at  oaklandcc.edu.    

### 

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