Cayuga Community College will celebrate its first graduate from the school’s Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) this spring.
Mari Getman enrolled at CCC in 2022 from Hannibal High School. In December, they completed a Liberal Arts and Sciences Degree: Humanities & Social Science with a concentration in psychology. Getman credited the program and its director, Debra Joseph-McEwen, with helping them earn their degree.
“Debra and EOP helped me a lot. I did well my first semester, but I struggled with math in my second semester and my GPA dropped. She helped me gain confidence, and my GPA returned to where I wanted it to be,” said Getman. “But she also helped me with more than classes. Things that I know I’ll need going forward, like time management and managing stress. Debra is very dedicated to her students and helping them succeed.”
While at CCC, Getman joined the Phi Theta Kappa honor society and became a tutor to help students improve their writing.
“I was scared at first, but I wanted to help people take a step forward and improve their writing. It was important to me to help them find their voice in their own words,” said Getman.
Joseph-McEwen praised Getman’s commitment to helping those around them.
“Mari is a phenomenal student and writer who has demonstrated care and commitment to the success of other Cayuga students by serving as a Peer Writing Tutor. In that position, Mari used the skills and knowledge they developed at Cayuga to support other students’ writing experiences, and I’m sure Mari will continue to do so for years to come,” said Joseph-McEwen. “I’m proud Mari is the first EOP graduate at Cayuga.”
Getman has transferred to SUNY Oswego, where they plan to continue studying psychology.
EOP provides academic support and financial assistance to eligible students who show the potential to earn a degree but may need additional support. Through the program, students receive a variety of support, such as free tutoring, academic coaching, and counseling.
EOP first became available to CCC in 2022.
