Nov 12, 2024 | Alumni, Community, News
COOS BAY, OR – Southwestern Oregon Community College is excited to announce the acquisition of a ‘new to us’ Fire Truck generously donated by the Charleston Rural Fire Protection District under the leadership of Chief Mick Sneddon, 2010 Southwestern Distinguished Alum.
The Charleston Rural Fire Protection District donated a 1991 Pierce Arrow Fire Engine to Southwestern’s Fire Science Program, replacing a similar engine owned by the College.
The newer engine is in superior condition and has several upgrades such as LED exterior lighting, enhanced access to the interior pump assembly, aluminum wheels, and new tires. The engine has been maintained and tested to industry standards throughout its years of operation. The staff at Charleston Fire worked hard to clean and polish the engine, replaced some of the valving, and cleaned up the piping around the fire pump.
Charleston Fire has been providing maintenance and repairs to the current Fire Science Program engine since it was purchased through grants from local fire agencies and fire associations. We’re happy to confirm that Charleston Fire has agreed to continue this invaluable servicing of the new engine.
The upgraded engine from Charleston Fire & Rescue gives the Southwestern Fire Science program a functional and appealing vehicle. It will serve as a key training tool and help attract and retain students. This engine exchange is a win-win. An increase in students in the Southwestern Fire Science program provides local fire agencies with more resources for their firefighter training programs.
You’ll find more information about our Fire Science program in our eCatalog. To learn more about becoming a student call or text 541-240-8227.
Photo left to right: Dean Daniel Koopman, Chief Mick Sneddon, Captain Russell Shield, President Patty Scott, Fire Science Instructor Mike Seldon, Vice President of Instruction Ali Mageehon.
Nov 8, 2024 | Community, Curry Campus
Brookings, OR – Southwestern Oregon Community College is hosting Mushroom Identification workshops in Brookings and Port Orford. The workshops are scheduled to meet November 15 and 16, 2024 in Brookings and November 16 and 17, 2024 in Port Orford. The class will be taught by mycologist Bob Burch.
Positive identification of local edible and non-edible species — as well as favorable locations, preparation, and preservation methods — will be covered during the evening lecture. The group will participate in a field trip the next day to hunt for wild mushrooms. After the field trip, students will have an opportunity to taste the mushrooms. Registered students may bring mushrooms to the class for identification.
The Brookings class is scheduled to begin with a lecture from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. on Friday, November 15 at Southwestern’s Curry Campus, followed by a field trip from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 16. The Brookings field trip is under a Special Use Permit with the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest.
The Port Orford class will begin with a lecture from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 16 at the Port Orford American Legion Hall, followed by a field trip from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 17.
The cost of the workshop is $55. Space is limited so pre-registration is required. For more information or to register, those interested can contact Southwestern’s Curry Campus at 541-813-1667.
Nov 7, 2024 | OCCI News
Join us at OCCI (1988 Newmark Ave., Coos Bay) on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024 from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. for a pop-up sale! We’ll be offering delicious pizza, salads, pastries and more!
POP-UP SALE: PIZZA & MORE
All Pizza’s are $12:
- Cheese Supreme (Mozzarella, Ricotta, Parmesan with Red Sauce and Basil)
- Meat Head (Sausage, Pepperoni, Chorizos, Red Sauce)
- Mushroom Sampler (Selection of Roasted Mushrooms with Truffle Cream)
- Vineyard (Oregon Blue Cheese, Cranberry, Caramelized Onion, Almonds Arugula & Hot Honey)
All Salads are $12:
- Italian (Mixed Greens, Salami, Peppers, Onions, Olives, Tomatoes, Italian Dressing)
- Caesar Salad (Served Classic Fashion)
- Winter Kale (Mixed baby kale, apple, bacon, onion& fried quinoa, balsamic dressing)
Other Options:
- Assorted Pastries – $3
- Cappuccino – $3
- Single Shot Espresso – $1
- Cup of Coffee – $2
- Soft Drink – $2
We hope to see you there! Questions? Email or call: 541-888-7309.
Oct 29, 2024 | Curry Campus, News
COOS BAY, OR – Southwestern Oregon Community College is offering students a chance to take fast-track classes during the winter holiday. These “Wintersession” classes will be fully online, allowing students to work on a schedule that fits their needs. The classes start Monday, December 9, 2024, and end Monday, January 6, 2025. Registration for these classes opens Monday, November 4, 2024.
These classes are ideal for students who need prerequisite courses or who want to accelerate their time to completion, maximize enrollment if they are part-time, or return to or maintain athletic eligibility.
“We’ve heard from our students that they would like options to accelerate learning. Southwestern is committed to our students’ success and completion, which is why we are making these classes available. A fast-track, four-week online class is rigorous, hard work. The College is here to support students who want an extra opportunity to excel,” shared Ali Mageehon, Vice President of Instruction and Student Services at Southwestern.
This special Wintersession Term includes six, four-week classes:
- Interpersonal Communication (COMM 218Z, four credits)
- Life Span Development (PSY 237, three credits)
- Medical Terminology I (AH 111, three credits)
- Personal Health (HE 250, three credits)
- Sociology of Sport (SOC 208, three credits)
- World Mythology & Religion (HUM 206, three credits)
Students are responsible for tuition, fees, and cost of textbooks. All six classes are eligible for financial aid.
Registration for Wintersession opens November 4, 2024 and ends on December 9, 2024. Last day to drop with no grade and receive a full refund is December 10, 2024 by 5:00 pm. After this date students are not eligible for a refund.
Register for Wintersession classes via the myLakerLink portal. Search for courses under the “2024-2025 Wintersession Term” drop down.
Students can also register for courses at the Student Success Center in Stensland Hall on the Coos Campus (1988 Newmark Ave., Coos Bay), or at the Curry Campus front desk (96082 Lone Ranch Parkway, Brookings).
For more information or for help registering call the Student Success Center at 541-888-7352, or email firststop@socc.edu.
Oct 21, 2024 | Community, Curry Campus, News
COOS BAY, OR – Southwestern Oregon Community College invites the community to join us on Thursday, November 21, 2024 at 6:00 pm, for “The Physics of Anime” with Dr. Roman Gomez from Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), San Antonio, TX. Dr. Gomez will also be giving us an update on what he has been working on at SwRI! This is a free event; all ages are welcome.
Coos County residents can join us in-person in the Umpqua Hall lecture room (room 184) on the Coos Campus, 1988 Newmark Ave., Coos Bay.
Curry County residents can join us for a watch party in the Community Room on the Curry Campus, 96082 Lone Ranch Parkway, Brookings.
For those not able to attend in person the lecture will be streamed live on the College’s YouTube channel at: www.youtube.com/@southwesternOR/streams.
About the Lecture:
Anime is a medium that has recently become quite popular. Given its nation of origin, it introduces us to some very new concepts and ideas. Some religious and cultural concepts are distinctly Japanese and help broaden our social and cultural worldviews. However, while familiar, others may still be relatively new to many viewers, one of which is science. While some anime directly addresses scientific principles, others, especially those in the science fiction genre, introduce these concepts in their storytelling. Surprisingly, anime sometimes gets their physics right, giving us a vehicle for enjoyably discussing very complex concepts if we allow a few “miracles” to occur. This lecture will discuss some of these concepts in depth in a beginner-friendly way. It’s meant to be one one-part physics lecture, one one-part geek-out session, and a lot of fun, just like watching anime.
About the Presenter:
Roman Gomez has over 18 years of work experience in the field of space science and engineering. Roman has worked as a Lead Scientist at Southwest Research Institute since 2008, where they developed, calibrated, implemented, and analyzed data from plasma instruments on spacecraft. Roman was involved in projects such as the MMS-HPCA mission and the IES-Rosetta ion and electron spectrometer. Prior to that, they worked as a Research Scientist at the same institute, where they participated in the development of space plasma instrument prototypes and completed their PhD in space science and engineering. Roman also has experience as an Adjunct Professor of Physics at St. Mary’s University since 2018, where they teach physics courses. Roman has previously worked as an Adjunct Professor at Northwest Vista College, instructing students in astronomy and physics basics. Additionally, Roman served as a Graduate Research Assistant at Rice University, focusing on dark matter search and contributing to projects in gamma-ray and x-ray astronomy. Dr. Gomez has a Bachelor’s degree in Physics and Biology from Texas State University (1999-2002) and holds a Master of Science and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Physics from Rice University (2003-2011).
For more information about the lecture series contact Dr. Aaron Coyner, Associate Professor, Engineering and Physics at aaron.coyner@socc.edu or 541-888-7244.
For more information on upcoming lectures contact Krystal Hopper Meyers, STEAM Pathways Assistant, at 541-888-7416, or krystal.hopper@socc.edu.
To learn more about STEM degrees at Southwestern visit: https://www.socc.edu/programs-classes/stem/.
Oct 17, 2024 | Community, Curry Campus
Brookings, OR – Southwestern Oregon Community College Curry Campus invites the community to join us on Thursday, November 14, 2024, 12:00 to 1:00 pm for: A TRIP TO EGYPT.
This is a free program sponsored by the Friends of Curry Campus and will be held in the Community Room on Southwestern’s Curry Campus, 96082 Lone Ranch Parkway (off Highway 101), Brookings. Bring a friend and a brown bag lunch.
The speaker, Louise Abbott, received a Fulbright Fellowship to teach for one semester at Badr University in Cairo in the School of Veterinary Medicine, from February until early May in 2023.
Louise, and her husband Jim, traveled to Egypt in February of 2023. Louise taught Veterinary Anatomy and Histology to second year veterinary professional students at Badr University.
Louise said “The high light of the experience was working with the students at Badr University. They were eager to learn and our interactions were delightful. I also had wonderful faculty colleagues who were helpful, kind and very knowledgeable.”
The major difficulties were the restrictions placed on their travel by the US State Department and embassy in Cairo. It was for the safety of US nationals, but it was frustrating that they were not allowed to visit certain parts of Egypt where Louise had colleagues.
Louise added “Where we were able to travel, Jim, a seasoned photographer, captured very iconic images from Egypt.”
Jim and Louise reside in Brookings, Oregon, light years away, it seems, from Egypt.
Stay tuned for upcoming talks in our speaker series. Talks during fall term will focus on travel! For more information contact the Curry Campus at 541-813-1667.
Oct 14, 2024 | Community, Curry Campus, News
COOS BAY, OR – Southwestern Oregon Community College invites the community to join us on Tuesday, November 12, 2024 at 6:00 pm, for “Life in the Marine Crustal Biosphere” with Dr. Stephanie Carr from Hartwick College, Oneota, NY. This is a free event; all ages are welcome. This event is made possible by the US Science Support Program (USSSP) Ocean Discovery Lectures. Thank you to USSSP and to the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP).
Coos County residents can join us in-person in the Umpqua Hall lecture room (room 184) on the Coos Campus, 1988 Newmark Ave., Coos Bay.
Curry County residents can join us for a watch party in the Community Room on the Curry Campus, 96082 Lone Ranch Parkway, Brookings.
For those not able to attend in person the lecture will be streamed live on the College’s YouTube channel at: www.youtube.com/@southwesternOR/streams.
About the Lecture:
Join us for an exciting exploration of the ocean’s depths! We’ll uncover the oceanic crust, a hidden habitat often covered by sediment. Beneath this layer is a unique rock structure that serves as an underground water reservoir. In this environment, tiny microorganisms thrive without sunlight, relying on minerals and nutrients from the surrounding rock and water. Their remarkable adaptations help them survive and contribute to vital planetary processes. This presentation will introduce you to the borehole observatories at the Juan de Fuca Ridge Flank and share insights from our genetic studies of these fascinating microorganisms.
About the Presenter:
Dr. Stephanie Carr earned a BS in Biochemistry from Hartwick College and a PhD in geochemistry from the Colorado School of Mines, studying the microbiology and carbon cycling of Antarctic sediments. Since then, Stephanie has enjoyed 166 days on research expeditions. In addition to sampling Antarctic sediments, Stephanie has sampled sediments of a Japanese subduction zone, seamounts offshore Costa Rica, and the marine crustal aquifers of the Mid-Atlantic and Juan de Fuca Ridges. She uses metagenomic and single-cell genomics paired with geochemistry to investigate the functional potential of deep life. Stephanie has served three years on the United States Advisory Committee for Scientific Ocean Drilling and is branching into local continental drilling research projects.
For more information about this lecture contact Amy Burgess, Assistant Professor of Biology at amy.burgess@socc.edu or 541-888-7496.
For more information on upcoming lectures contact Krystal Hopper Meyers, STEAM Pathways Assistant, at 541-888-7416, or krystal.hopper@socc.edu.
To learn more about STEM degrees at Southwestern visit: https://www.socc.edu/programs-classes/stem/.
Oct 14, 2024 | Curry Campus, News
Looking for an affordable, high-quality college experience? Southwestern Oregon Community College (SWOCC) is now accepting applications for the 2025-26 academic year! Whether we met you at a recent college fair or you’re just starting to explore your options, now is the perfect time to see what makes SWOCC a great place to start your educational journey.
Why Southwestern? Here’s what we offer…
- No out-of-state tuition! Study at a beautiful coastal campus without paying extra fees as an out-of-state student.
- Apartment-style student housing—live comfortably right on campus, with lakefront views!
- Active campus life: It’s easy to get involved in student clubs and organizations and meet new friends.
- Diverse community: Meet students from 40 states and 35 countries!
- Top-notch facilities: Study in our new Umpqua Health & Science building and recently renovated Coaledo and Sumner Halls.
- Small classes, qualified instructors: Get personalized attention from experienced instructors (NOT teacher aides) who genuinely want you to succeed.
- Largest athletics program of any community college in the Northwest!
- Scholarships and tuition breaks: Ask us about scholarships and opportunities for free tuition!
For a full list of academic programs and degrees, explore our pathways and degrees page.
Considering a career in the Culinary Arts?
If your passion is in cooking or baking, our Oregon Coast Culinary Institute (OCCI) provides a boutique-style, hands-on training experience that’s unmatched. Small class sizes mean you get personal attention from experienced, award-winning chefs. You’ll be in the kitchen almost every day, developing the skills you need to succeed in the culinary world.
OCCI’s competitive culinary and ice teams have won national championships in 2022, 2020, and 2019, giving students the chance to showcase their talents and travel the world. Start your culinary career on the Oregon Coast!
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Application for Admission
Not quite ready to apply, but curious to learn more?
Choose the option that works best for you:
- Schedule a visit and let us show you what your student life would be like here at Southwestern
- Text “SWOCCBOUND” or call 541-240-8227
- Email swoccbound@socc.edu
- Complete this form and we’ll get back to you
Whatever your future plans, we’re here to help you achieve them. We hope to hear from you soon!
Oct 9, 2024 | Community, News, OCCI News
Purchase Delicious Holiday Favorites and Support Local Students!
This Thanksgiving season, prepare a delicious holiday meal while making a difference for local students! The Oregon Coast Culinary Institute (OCCI), in partnership with the Junior Chamber of Commerce, is once again offering a variety of holiday food items for purchase through the annual Thanksgiving Bazaar.
This year’s fundraiser marks a special milestone—celebrating a decade of collaboration and support for local students. To honor this achievement, the event will feature a new and improved menu with take-and-bake options, seasonal desserts, and traditional side dishes.
Place your order now through Wednesday, November 20, 2024, to guarantee your holiday favorites. Proceeds support the OCCI Competition Team and the Junior Chamber of Commerce Business Club, providing hands-on learning opportunities for students in both culinary and business fields.
Ordering Details:
Place your order by Wednesday, November 20!
- Email lapatisserie@socc.edu or call 541-888-7309
- Submit your completed order form to a Junior Chamber Club member
- Order in-person at Past to Present Emporium (281 S Broadway, Coos Bay, OR 97420)
- Payment due at time of order via cash, credit card or check (payable to “OCCI”)
Pick-Up Locations & Times:
- OCCI: Wednesday, November 27, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
- Past to Present Emporium: Wednesday, November 27, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (Only for orders placed at the Emporium)
Menu Items Available for Purchase:
- Pumpkin Pie – $18 (2 for $34), Vegan Option – $20
- Apple Pie – $18 (2 for $34)
- 4 Mini-Chocolate Hazelnut Tarts (GF) – $25
- Cheesecake with Chocolate Pretzel Crust – $35 (GF option available)
- Turkey Breast (seasoned & ready to cook, GF) – $55
- Cornbread Stuffing (ready to cook) – $15
- Whipped Potatoes (reheat and serve, GF) – $15
- Fresh Cranberry Sauce (GF) – $7 per cup
- Homemade Turkey Gravy – $12 per quart
- Truffle Mac & Cheese – $18
- Blue Cheese Dressing – $12 per pint
- Small Round Bread Loaf – $5 (2 for $7)
- OCCI Turkey Spice Blend – $5
Featured Box Option:
- GRAND BOX – $210
Includes one of each menu item listed above
Thanksgiving Bazaar Order Form 2024
The Thanksgiving Bazaar has become a beloved annual event, highlighting the talents of OCCI students and faculty while providing the community with gourmet holiday dishes. By participating, you not only enjoy delicious food, but you also support the next generation of culinary and business professionals right here in the local community.
Oct 8, 2024 | OCCI News
Help support OCCI’s culinary team with their first sale of the 2024-25 academic year: a festive Oktoberfest food truck pop-up!
The event will take place Friday, October 18th from 11am – 1pm in the OCCI parking lot area (1988 Newmark Ave., Coos Bay).
This will be a Fall celebration with German faire featuring:
- Grilled bratwurst on a bun (…plus a veggie option, too!)
- Bavarian pretzel with beer cheese sauce
- Pork Schnitzel sandwiches
- Fries
- Apple strudel for dessert!
No reservations needed. We hope to see you there!
Questions? Call 541-888-7309 or email shawn.warren@socc.edu.
