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ONONDAGA COUNTY, N.Y. -- Onondaga Community College has received a quarter of a million dollars to get more students involved in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math.

Mary Eileen Wood, a volunteer who directed the Ying Tri Region Science and Engineering Fair for the past six years, received the $250,000 “genius” award from Dr. Nelson Ying himself.

Ying is a nuclear physicist and philanthropist from Florida. He has sponsored the local fair for three years now.

Wood says Ying’s generosity, along with the school's support, helps her and other volunteers do something special for the students.

"I'm still awed by the opportunity to participate in this life-changing movement for 300,000 students in 24 counties," Wood said.

About $50,000 of the grant will go toward expanding future fairs, while the rest will fund other STEM-related activities at OCC.

Time Warner Cable is the parent company of YNN and we are committed to the Connect a Million Minds program, inspiring youth to develop science, technology, engineering and math skills. For more information on the initiative, go to connectamillionminds.com.