For Oklahoma City Community College (OCCC) class of 2025 graduate Bradlee Sanchez,
attending OCCC was the “right approach” to build his career and transform his future.
“I'm glad that I ended up choosing OCCC,” Sanchez said. “OCCC helped me with my growth and professional development.”
On May 17, Sanchez earned his associate degree in engineering, the first in his family to graduate from college.
When he was growing up, Sanchez’s parents emphasized the importance of education and encouraged him to attend college — something they both aspired to do but could not.
“Graduating with my degree is one of my biggest accomplishments, not just for me but for my family,” Sanchez said. “I’m closing a generational gap because not even my grandpa or grandmother went to college.”
Still, it was the influence of his family that set Sanchez on the path to success.
He was always good at math, he said, but it was working on cars with his dad, learning basic auto maintenance, that established a foundation and curiosity around engineering.
“One of Bradlee’s most notable traits is his willingness to try, even when success isn’t certain,” said Professor Greg Holland, department chair of engineering and physics at OCCC. “He knows the importance of learning from failure and then trying again.”
At OCCC, Sanchez joined Students Connecting with Mentors for Success (SCMS), a program designed to provide degree-seeking students with mentors and intra-campus resources to facilitate successful academic achievement, higher retention rates, and graduation completion. The SCMS program focuses on connecting students with professionals in their area of interest who offer support, guidance, and engagement according to each student’s need.
“When I first met Bradlee, he was very quiet and unsure about his ability to navigate higher education. He was interested in doing his best at OCCC, so he joined SCMS to gather a network of support,” said Dr. Bryon Dickens, director of SCMS. “Bradlee’s intellectual curiosity and teachability make him the ideal college student. I have witnessed him transform from a quiet, reticent student to one who is confident, outgoing, and affable. There are times when he comes by the SCMS area, and I literally marvel at the metamorphosis he has undergone. He has matured into a fuller, more authentic version of himself.”
At OCCC, Sanchez has shown what it means to be Made for More. From a shy, uncertain student to a confident, outgoing individual, his transformation has driven both his academic success and his commitment to the community. This spring, Sanchez received the U.S. President’s Volunteer Service Award for completing more than 250 hours of service to his community. He also was recognized as a Student for SHINE, a statewide initiative celebrating young leaders committed to civic engagement, and received OCCC’s Civic Excellence Award for contributing over 100 hours of service to the college or local community.
After graduating from OCCC, Sanchez plans to attend the University of Oklahoma and pursue a bachelor's degree in engineering.
“Bradlee was remarkably disciplined as he took demanding engineering courses here at OCCC. I know his work ethic will follow him to the OU campus, and he’ll excel there, too,” said Dr. Dickens. “Bradlee’s intelligence, along with his humility and teachability, will carry him into his limitless future.”
Students like Sanchez are proving they’re Made for More through service and academic excellence. Learn more about engineering at OCCC.