Frances Gomez (1929-1999) Mrs. Gomez was instrumental in establishing the Chicano C4 Program at Oakland Community College. The program provided full scholarships to Hispanic students at a time when services for Hispanics were few, and by its end, 250 students...

Fraser E. Pomeroy (1908 – 2008) Mr. Pomeroy “BUD” of Waterford formerly of Birmingham, was born in Detroit. He married Margaret Trout on Thanksgiving Day-November 24, 1932. She preceded him in death in 1997. He graduated from Detroit Northwestern High School in 1925....

This fund is established for students at Oakland Community College to recognize scholastic achievement, encourage their continued progress, and provide financial assistance toward achieving their educational goals. It will be administered according to the following...

On June 22, 2005, the Oakland Police Academy dedicated a memorial honoring Police Officers Gary Davis of Bloomfield Township and Mark Sawyers of Sterling Heights. Then-Deputy Chief Dan McCaw of the Waterford Township Police Department initiated this memorial to...

Gerald Williams graduated from Lawrence Technological University and spent most of his career as an engineer with General Motors where he was instrumental in vehicle exports. When not at the GM Tech Center, he traveled the world collaborating and educating countries...

Gerald E. Faye was a faculty member at Oakland Community College for 51 years, retiring in 2017. He was a dedicated instructor, teaching within the Social Science discipline. In addition, Gerald was actively involved in the Oakland Community College Faculty...

“The adventure of life is to learn,” wrote motivational writer William Arthur Ward. These words could not be truer for Oakland Community College alumnus Gerald Clute, who passed away October 17, 2021, at the age of 74 after a courageous battle with Parkinson’s...

During the early 1900s Detroit’s Harper Hospital was home to one of the nation’s most renowned nursing schools. Opened in 1884, Harper’s Farrand Training School for Nurses graduated nurses who served with distinction in every major twentieth century crisis. During...

Ann O’Grady accepted a position with Oakland Community College during its formative years. She would often recall those beginning days and the antics that occurred as it began to get on its feet. She was very dynamic and inspirational, and as a professor, you...

This scholarship was established in memory of Joyce and Lauren for students at Oakland Community College who are pursuing a degree in Mental Health Social Work with concentration on addiction. The fund is intended to recognize scholastic achievement, encourage their...

This fund is established for students at Oakland Community College to recognize scholastic achievement, encourage their continued progress, and provide financial assistance toward achieving their educational goals. It will be administered according to the following...

Ivy C. Davis Jr. (Poppy) was a free spirit, who enjoyed the warm outdoors, and was an avid biker, hiker, and traveler. He had wonderful smile, gentle heart, and sense of humor. (June 21, 1987 – January 17, 2014)

This fund is established for students at Oakland Community College to recognize scholastic achievement, encourage their continued progress, and provide financial assistance toward achieving their educational goals. It will be administered according to the following...

The Janice Simmons Memorial Endowed Scholarship was established to recognize scholastic achievement, encourage continued progress, and provide financial assistance to students pursuing a Nursing degree.

Jeffrey (Jeff) Rees was a trainer at Delta Airlines for many years, and he had returned to OCC to take classes as he worked toward a Master’s degree in Communication. Jeff was passionate about helping people, and because of the exemplary work in his classes, he was...

Jim “Fish” Fisher served a long 30+ year career as a City of Pleasant Ridge police officer. After retiring as a lieutenant in 1988 he went on to work as a court officer for the City of Oak Park. He personified integrity and ethics, but also had a warm and loving...

Joel Cohen was the first faculty member to begin work at OCC, although not, as he was always quick to point out, the first hired. Back in 1965, the new college readily explored innovative educational concepts, with one such being computer-assisted instruction. ...

Shirley Bryant has been on the Oakland Community College Board of Trustees since 2008 and has served as chair and vice-chair. Ms. Bryant also served as a Director on the OCC Foundation Board from 2005 to 2016. She is a retired Executive Director of Community...

Jon was a loving son and brother; full of life with many friends and life experiences. It’s been said he was a meticulous employee and dedicated firefighter, with the ability to bring co-workers together with his leadership qualities. After high school graduation,...

The Joseph Bolinger, Jr. Scholarship was established by Mr. Bolinger’s family to honor his memory and to recognize scholastic achievement, encourage continued progress, and provide financial assistance to students.

As a dedicated Library Technician, beloved friend and respected co-worker, Joyce Keil Zurel worked with students and always encouraged them to do their best. This scholarship in her name acknowledges future Library Technicians who are committed to excellence in their...

Kegham Tazian is an award-winning sculptor and painter. The Armenian-born artist has gained notoriety for the diversity of his work and the variety of media exemplified in his pieces. A blend of modernism, realism and abstraction are commonly depicted in his...

Kathleen Kelly has been an employee of Oakland Community College for over 20 years. During her tenure, she has held numerous positions within various departments. Many of her positions related to directly assisting students in varying aspects of their educational...

Kevin Peter de Matas was born in Trinidad in 1935. He was unable to continue his education beyond the age of 16 as he elected to go to work to help his parents support his fourteen siblings. His first job was on a tugboat at an oil refinery. A few years later he...

Kristine Borrayo has been employed by OCC since 2001. Since 2011, she has worked in the college’s Career Placement Services department where she has experienced her most valuable experiences relating to students with autism, autism spectrum disorder, and those who...

In appreciation of the teaching and friendship, Dr. Don & Alice Nichols started this scholarship in honor of Lee S. Peel. (Lee S. Peel 1926 – 2006) Mr. Peel was a retired Farmington High teacher, Mr. Peel was a founder of the City’s Historical Society and served as...

Lila E. (Jenkins) Wasson lived a very full life and made significant contributions throughout her lifetime. Lila was the 6th of 8 children, born to a sharecropper and domestic woman on January 6, 1924. She died on November 30, 2012 at the age of 88. Lila was fully...

Lily Broner taught economics at the OCC Highland Lakes Campus from 1982 to 2002. She earned her Bachelor’s, Master’s in Education, and MBA at Wayne State University.

Lillian Kelmenson obtained a bachelor’s degree in nursing and a master’s degree in health administration. After a career in clinical nursing and nursing administration, Lillian joined OCC in 1968 as the Associate Director of Allied Health within the Applied Sciences...

Lori A. Przymusinski first became interested in the nursing profession while caring for her mother, Barbara Yarema, during a prolonged illness. She entered Oakland Community College as a non-traditional student, and earned her Associate in Applied Science in Nursing...