Business-degree learning space at OCC named in honor of retired college president

ONONDAGA, N.Y. — The primary classroom associated with the Onondaga Community College (OCC) business-degree programs is now called “Crabill Commons” in honor of Casey Crabill, who retired as school president June 30. 

The board of trustees at OCC on June 28 approved the classroom renaming.

In addition to the name change, Community Bank System, Inc. (NYSE: CBU) donated $100,000 to the OCC Foundation. The funding will benefit student scholarships, programs, and projects that “create partnerships in success for students and the entire community,” OCC said.

“As a graduate of Onondaga Community College, I know first-hand the value of an OCC degree and how it impacted my career,” said Mark Tryniski, president and CEO of DeWitt–based Community Bank. He is a 1981 OCC graduate and member of the college’s board of trustees. “OCC is one of this community’s greatest treasures and Dr. Crabill did a remarkable job leading the institution throughout her nine years as president. Putting her name on one of the college’s showcase learning environments, which was transformed during her tenure, is a fitting tribute to her and all she accomplished,” he added.

The learning space formerly known as “Whitney Commons” was opened on the 2nd floor of the Whitney Applied Technology Center in the fall of 2015. It includes a scrolling illuminated stock ticker, large touch screens and monitors in the active collaboration area where students work as problem-solving teams, a backlit map of the world to show visual learners how transactions on one side of the world ripple across the globe, and clocks showing current times in business centers around the world.

On the last day of June, Crabill completed her tenure as OCC president, having served nine years as the school’s top official. Warren Hilton, the college’s new president, began his new duties July 1.