OCC Students Honored for Academic Excellence and Service

Senator Valesky met two Onondaga Community College (OCC) students on March 9 who received the USA Today Phi Theta Kappa All-New York Academic Team Recognition for their academic excellence and community service. From left are OCC President Casey Crabill, Greg Freitag, Alena Cerro, and Sen. Valesky. Cerro is an electronic media communications major and vice president of public relations for the College’s Alpha Sigma Zeta chapter. Cerro also serves as an Honors Program Student Ambassador and Honors Program Committee Student Representative. She is an intern in OCC’s External Relations and Marketing New Media departments. Freitag is a hospitality management major and has maintained a 4.0 GPA while volunteering for campus events, working several jobs, and raising seven children. Freitag works full time on the overnight shift as a Plant Utilities Engineer at SUNY Upstate Medical University and also works in the hospitality industry at the Courtyard by Marriott in Armory Square. In 2014 Freitag medaled in the Empire State Games Track & Field competition and will compete this summer in the National Senior Games in Minneapolis.