Watch the tribute video honoring Dr. Debbie Sydow (courtesy of WSYR News Channel 9):

Over 400 people gathered to honor Onondaga Community College President Debbie L. Sydow at the 29th Annual InterFaith Leadership Award Dinner on May 10th at the OnCenter. The annual dinner honors a community leader on the basis of “Devotion to Faith, Dedication to Community and Distinction in Career.”  In addition to honoring Sydow, the event was a celebration of the College and a benefit to support the programs of InterFaith Works.

Event Co-Chairs Aminy Audi, President and CEO of L. & J.G. Stickley & Co., and Allen J. Naples, Regional President of M&T Bank, spoke of Sydow’s extraordinary leadership and commitment to transforming lives through higher education.

When Dr. Sydow was selected to receive the InterFaith Leadership Award, she accepted with the proviso that the honor must also include the College.  “It can’t just be about me,” she said.  In deference to her wishes, the evening was very much a celebration of OCC’s students featuring performances by the OCC Jazz Ensemble, a video of photos by OCC photography students documenting the programs of InterFaith Works (see excerpts on pages 4-5), parting gifts of handcrafted chocolate truffles made by students in the OCC Hospitality Management Program, and a rousing performance by local gospel group Rejoicing Voices.  The evening also included a silent auction that raised $4,500 to benefit the Onondaga Community College Presidential Scholars Program.

Media Partner News 9 produced a tribute video telling the story of Sydow’s humble beginnings in an Appalachian town where her father worked as a coal miner, to her first-hand experience as someone whose life was dramatically changed by higher education, fueling her passion for the access to community colleges.

The annual dinner also focused on the programs of InterFaith Works and raised over $85,000 to support the Community Wide Dialogue to End Racism, Center for New Americans, InterFaith Education and Engagement, Senior Companion Program, and
Spiritual Care Program.