Made for More
At Oklahoma City Community College (OCCC), we believe our students are Made for More. Throughout May, we are celebrating and spotlighting the inspiring success stories of our students and alumni.
When you give to OCCC, you help students discover what they’re made for!
Stories of Impact: Class of 2025
Made for Leadership
Hiram Oghenekome Ophiohonren
Hiram is a standout student leader at OCCC, known for leading with purpose and a smile. He is guided by the strong influences of his father, a chemical engineer, and his late grandmother. As an international student, he embraced every opportunity, immersing himself in campus life and uplifting those around him. Now president of the Student Government Association and pursuing a degree in engineering, he’s focused on inspiring others — including his four younger siblings. “It all started with stepping out of my comfort zone,” he said.
Made for Giving Back
Safiya Armstrong-Sarjeant
Safiya’s time at OCCC has been about more than earning a degree — it’s been about honoring her father’s lessons and building a life centered on giving back. Growing up with ADHD and dyslexia, she worked harder than most and found strength through martial arts, something she shared closely with her father. After his passing in 2021, she made it her mission to live by his example of service before self. “If I could talk to my younger self, I’d say, ‘We struggled, but we pushed through — and we did it by living what Dad taught us,'” she said.
Made for Transformation
Bradlee Sanchez
Bradlee is a first-generation college graduate dedicated to honoring his family and empowering others. Raised by parents who aspired to attend college but couldn’t, Bradlee sees his accomplishments as a tribute to their sacrifices. Through mentorship programs and community initiatives, he has guided others through the college process. For Sanchez, success is not just personal — it’s about showing up for others, just as mentors once did for him. “Graduating with my degree is one of my biggest accomplishments, not just for me but for my family. I’m closing a generational gap because not even my grandpa or grandmother went to college,” he said.
Made for Resilience
Keri Weber
Keri has earned four degrees from OCCC — chemistry, biology, engineering, and mathematics — but her journey hasn’t been easy. A serious car accident in 2005 left her with a brain injury and years of recovery before returning to college in 2017. Now working as a lab assistant, she helps students navigate challenges of their own. “I get to give guidance to students who maybe were like me,” she said.
How Can Your Gift Help?
Every gift, no matter the size, helps students achieve more.
- 100 gifts of $10 ($1,000) provide textbooks and essential supplies for a student.
- 100 gifts of $20 ($2,000) fund a scholarship for one outstanding student.
- 100 gifts of $50 ($5,000) enable a student to overcome financial emergencies.
- 100 gifts of $75 ($7,500) support mentorship programs for dozens of students.
- 100 gifts of $100 ($10,000) create substantial scholarship opportunities, impacting many lives.
