I was born here in Coos Bay and have lived here for practically my whole life. I come from a Hispanic household. Although we are not extremely wealthy, we work hard to meet our goals. I have two loving parents that have supported me from the beginning. They are always making sure I accomplish and complete my life goals. I am pursuing an associates degree in Nursing and I’m hoping to make it into the nursing program next year. - Adolfo Rodriguez, Art and Toni Poole Scholarship

I came to SWOCC to play basketball and study Criminal Justice, yet I have come out of my first year with more than only those two things. SWOCC gave me the chance to learn from wonderful professors, play basketball, and also live in a beautiful place.

On the academic end of it, SWOCC let me be interactive in all my classes with small class sizes and a large variety of people from different steps in life. On the athletic end of it, they have wonderful sports facilities with a very prideful program.

SWOCC also gave me the chance to live and experience the beautiful west coast. The lake on campus, vast beaches, and endless hikes add something special to your experience.

I am 24 years old and will be a second-year nursing student next year. I live in Brookings and attend the Curry campus. SWOCC has given me the education to progress toward my goals of becoming a well-rounded nurse. I have always believed in compassionate care for individuals and have practiced this as I go throughout my clinical rotation. I love being able to care for people and create an atmosphere of kindness. Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity. - Lauren Cotten, DeArmond CTE Scholarship

Coming to Southwestern was one of the best decisions I’ve made. Everyone was kind and thoughtful. They made me feel at home.

The College Now program greatly expanded the curriculum I had access to during my high-school education and prepared me for college classes. It also allowed me to finish my bachelor's degree in three years and to do so while accruing only half of the debt that accompanies the average bachelor's degree.

Cayce attended Marshfield and graduated from Portland State University in 2020.

I plan to attend SWOCC next year with the goal of graduating with an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Fire Sciences as well as earning EMT certification. This scholarship will help lighten the load financially so that I can continue to focus on school and remain a Student Firefighter for Coos Bay. - Trevor Niehoff, DeArmond CTE Scholarship

TRIO Student Support Services was a lifesaver for me at SWOCC. The program helped me to integrate on campus and become a confident college student. I always knew I had a place to go for advising, tutoring, and hanging out with my peers. Without TRIO, I don't feel that I would have succeeded in college and earned my degrees. I credit TRIO for my educational success and I recommend the program highly. Joining Student Support Services means you will have a wonderful support system and amazing people to help you achieve your goals and dreams.

I never set my sights on college because just living day-to-day was a financial struggle. I had no idea how I was going to be a successful student until I found TRIO. They helped me realize that my dreams and ambitions were not out of reach simply because of my finances. TRIO made me feel validated and heard in my struggles. The TRIO advisors taught me about scholarships showing me I had many more opportunities available to me than I thought possible, and they showed me how to take advantage of them! It was a TRIO campus trip to Oregon State University that made me realize OSU was where I needed to be. It’s because of TRIO that I have made it to where I am today: an OSU graduate with a bachelor's in Agricultural Science and a minor in Comparative International Agriculture.

There aren’t many places where education and nature are so closely intertwined. Southwestern has both in spades.

Everyone has been so welcoming, kind and helpful. It’s been amazing!