Kelsey Guenther, Author at Southwestern Oregon Community College

Thanks for having us at the Montana College Fairs!

Oct 3, 2023 | News, OCCI News

Montana residents, we enjoyed visiting you at the college fairs this fall! In case you missed us—or if you’re just looking for info about why you should become a Laker—here’s a quick overview of what we offer:

No Out-Of-State Tuition!
On-campus living in apartment-style student housing.
A fun, active campus. Easy to get involved in clubs and activities.
A chance to meet new people with students from 40 states and 35 countries.
New, state-of-the-art classrooms in our Umpqua Health & Science building.
Small classes with qualified instructors (not teacher aides) who genuinely care.
The largest athletics program of any community college in the Northwest.
Scholarships and opportunities for free tuition/tuition breaks—ask us more about this!

You can check out a list of all our academic programs on the pathways and degrees page.

Thinking about a career in Culinary Arts or Baking and Pastry?

At our Oregon Coast Culinary Institute you will receive hands-on, professional training. Be in our kitchens nearly every day, and learn beside internationally experienced chef instructors who care about your success. You will receive high-end ‘boutique-style’ culinary training (without the boutique cost). Our classes average just 20 students to make sure you get the personalized training you desire. Our award-winning competitive culinary and ice teams won national championships in 2022, 2020 and 2019. You will have the opportunity to join the teams and travel around the world.

Interested in checking out our campus on the beautiful Oregon coast?

Schedule a visit and let us show you what your student life would be like here at Southwestern!

Not quite ready to visit, but curious to learn more?

No problem! You have a few options—pick whatever way you prefer…and we look forward to connecting with you:

Text “SWOCCMT” or call 541-240-8227.
Email your question or area of interest to swoccbound@socc.edu.
Complete this general inquiry form and we’ll be sure to get back to you!

Thanks again for having us, and we look forward to (hopefully) hearing from you soon.

Youth Hoop Group Basketball Camp 2023

Sep 6, 2023 | Community, News

Southwestern Oregon Community College athletics is once again pleased to host the youth Hoop Group basketball camp for kindergarten through 8^th grade students this fall 2023. Hoop Group is led by the current 2023-24 men’s and women’s coaches and players, designed to prepare local youth for the upcoming basketball season.

These one-day camps take place on select Sundays starting September 24, 2023, from 5 – 6:30 p.m. in Prosper Hall on Southwestern’s Coos Campus (1988 Newmark Ave., Coos Bay).

The camp fee is $20 per player, per day. Proceeds will support Southwestern’s basketball teams. Participants are welcome to register at the door. To pre-register a participant, or for any other camp information email Heather Weber at heather.weber@socc.edu.

Hoop Group Fall 2023 Dates:

All on Sundays from 5 – 6:30 p.m. in Prosper Hall

September 24
October 1
NOT October 8 (teams will be away)
October 15
October 22
October 29
November 5

Register online at the following (pay at the door):

Hoop Group Online Registration

Southwestern Foundation Congratulates 2023-24 Curry County Scholarship Recipients

Aug 30, 2023 | Curry Campus

The Southwestern Oregon Community College Foundation is pleased to congratulate the 2023-24 Curry County scholarship recipients. Thanks to generous donors, the organization awarded 27 scholarships totaling $29,000 for students attending college from Curry County the upcoming academic year.

“Scholarships often make the difference between students pursuing their education or not,” said Elise Hamner, Southwestern Foundation Executive Director. “A scholarship is not just financial aid. Our students tell us that receiving a scholarship inspires them, because they know someone cares about their future and wants them to succeed. That’s powerful.”

Guided by a board of community volunteers, the Southwestern Foundation organized as a nonprofit organization in 1962, the year after the college started. Since then, thousands of students have attended the college using Foundation scholarships. These awards help students achieve their goals, by breaking down barriers, and cultivating the next generation of leaders, thinkers and innovators in local communities, the state and around the world.

Southwestern Foundation 2023-24 Curry County Scholarship Recipients:

SCHOLARSHIP	RECIPIENT
Ann Lansing Scholarship	Viridiana	Penaloza
Cherie J. Mitchell Scholarship	Benjamin	McQuaid
Clyde and Jackie Cherry Memorial Scholarship Fund	Natasha	Holmes
Curry Campus General Scholarship	Marshall	Dickson
	Jayme	Larson
	Rosemarie	Springer
	Anonymous*
	Anonymous*
Curry Health-Related Scholarship	Regina	Alvarez
Curry Health-Related Scholarship	Samantha	Mellow
DeArmond CTE Scholarship	Sonia	Haro
Maxine Smith Scholarship	Alyssa	Skillett
Mike Groben Scholarship	Steven	Scruggs
Opportunity Links! Roseburg Forest Products Scholarship	Citlali	Gonzalez
Pringle/Cunningham Scholarship for Curry Student	Amy	Vick
Shirley Barton Nursing Scholarship	Viridiana	Penaloza
SWOCC Foundation Board General Scholarship	Bryce	Bales
	Kaytlin	Burdett
	Saron	Cruz
	Brooke	Gray
	Melissa	Keyes
	Hailey	Knedel
	Kylie	Shaw-Kamehaiku
	Gabrielle	Zellmer
SWOCC Foundation: Judy Ann Mogan Scholarship	Miriam	Glasband
The Friends of the Curry Public Library James Boyle Memorial Scholarship	Samantha	Mellow
Uncorking Opportunity! DB Western Scholarship	Monica	Thompson
*Note: Some scholarship recipients request their award(s) not be listed publicly. The Foundation respects their privacy by not including them on this list.

In addition to Foundation scholarships, the college can potentially assist families of current high school graduates with a cumulative high school GPA of 3.75 or higher with a free two-year tuition waiver worth more than $9,800 to attend Southwestern. This past year, 44 students from the 10 high schools in the college district took advantage of the GPA award opportunity. In total, they saved their families nearly $150,000 in tuition costs.

If you are interested in donating to Southwestern Foundation scholarships visit www.socc.edu/give or call 541-888-7211 for additional information.

Southwestern Foundation Congratulates 2023-24 Scholarship Recipients

Aug 30, 2023 | Foundation, News, OCCI News, Student Success

The Southwestern Oregon Community College Foundation is proud to congratulate the 2023-24 scholarship recipients. Thanks to generous donors, the organization awarded nearly 200 scholarships totaling more than $270,000 for students attending Southwestern for the upcoming academic year.

“Scholarships often make the difference between students pursuing their education or not,” said Elise Hamner, Southwestern Foundation Executive Director. “A scholarship is not just financial aid. Our students tell us that receiving a scholarship inspires them, because they know someone cares about their future and wants them to succeed. That’s powerful.”

Guided by a board of community volunteers, the Southwestern Foundation organized as a nonprofit organization in 1962, the year after the college started. Since then, thousands of students have attended the college using Foundation scholarships. These awards help students achieve their goals, by breaking down barriers and cultivating the next generation of leaders, thinkers and innovators in local communities, the state and around the world.

In addition to Foundation scholarships, the college can potentially assist families of current high school graduates with a cumulative high school GPA of 3.75 or higher with a free two-year tuition waiver worth more than $9,800 to attend Southwestern. This past year, 44 students from the 10 high schools in the college district took advantage of the GPA award opportunity. In total, they saved their families nearly $150,000 in tuition costs.

If you are interested in donating to Southwestern Foundation scholarships visit www.socc.edu/give or call 541-888-7211 for additional information.

2023-24 Southwestern Oregon Community College Foundation Scholarship Recipients
SCHOLARSHIP	RECIPIENT
Adam Bower Scholarship	Aurora	Duff
Andy Toribio Scholarship	Brooklyn	Culver
Ann Lansing Scholarship	Viridiana	Penaloza
Art and Toni Poole Scholarship	Raiya	Estupinian
	Dezi	Hazzard
	Ryuto	Hiramatsu
	Matt	Howard
	Melanie	Nielsen
	Skylee	Pettit
	Cadence	Wilstead
Barbara Dodrill Scholarship	Heather	Beaird
	Ruby	Cardoso
	Anonymous*
Barbara Emily Knudson Scholarship	Katherine	Alcober
Barbara Reynolds Scholarship	Marcela	Mendoza
Baughman Memorial Apprenticeship Scholarship	Julia	Willis
Bay Area Sportsman’s Association (BASA) Scholarship	Ethan	Pounder
Bechtold-Laird Health Care Scholarship	Vanessa	Cardoso
	Asa	Crusoe
	Davey	Gayler
	Laresa	Rowden
Cherie J. Mitchell Scholarship	Benjamin	McQuaid
Cherish Pride Scholarship	Alexandra	Graves
Christine Moffitt Science Scholarship	Hunter	Ciarabellini
	Boe	Clayson
	Harli	Crossman
	Amanda	McDonald
	Ashley	Pimentel
Chuck Hanners Scholarship	Antonio	Gallagher
Clyde and Jackie Cherry Memorial Scholarship	Nicole	Hamby-Freund
Clyde and Jackie Cherry Memorial Scholarship	Natasha	Holmes
Coos Bay Vision Center Scholarship	Raynee	Woodworth
Coos Bay-North Bend Rotary Scholarship	Kendle	Langley
Coos County Cultural Coalition Genesis Scholarship	Astrid	Hesson
Coos County Realtors Scholarship	Amber	Moodenbaugh
Coquille Indian Tribe Scholarship	Minami	Miyauchi
CTE Training Scholarship	Damon	Lynch
Curry Campus General Scholarship	Marshall	Dickson
	Jayme	Larson
	Rosemarie	Springer
	Anonymous*
	Anonymous*
Curry Health-Related Scholarship	Regina	Alvarez
Curry Health-Related Scholarship	Samantha	Mellow
Dean and Jane Muffett Memorial Scholarship	Kyla	Bailey-Wilson
DeArmond CTE Scholarship	Alannah	Gee
	Sonia	Haro
	Paige	Hoene
	Joshua	Theis
	Adrianna	Thode
Dennis and Janet Beetham Family Scholarship	Derell	Augustine
	Aubrey	Brooks
	Cesarea	Haller
	Aleczander	Hardy
	Cameron	Miller
	Kari	Morales
	Luke	Norris
	Shane	Sundberg
	Ian	Wakeling
	Anonymous*
Donald Ivy Memorial Scholarship	Amanda	Kapsner
Dorothy Heagy Education Scholarship	Erika	Smith
Early Bird Scholarship	Bailey	Ward
Ernest L. Frye-Keizer Memorial Scholarship	Alissa	McCord
Estella Morgan Memorial	Nicole	Lehto
Flaxel Family Scholarship	Mia	Knight
Floyd Ingram Scholarship	Archal	Devi
	Brooklyn	Garrigus
	Haley	Reeves
Forty & Eight Bobby L. Fraser Memorial Nursing Scholarship	Jessica	Edmundson
Hales Family Scholarship	Godfred	Amonoo
	Jayden	Felton
	Savannah	Smith
Henry F. and Elva H. Hansen Memorial Scholarship	Kaitlyn	Dubisar
ILWU Local 12 Scholarship	Cambree	Messner
Jack & Margaret S. Dean Scholarship	Natalie	Vincent
James Montalbano Scholarship	Serenia	Church
	Heather	Howell
	Kayla	Johnson
	Samantha	Lucero
	Maria	Medina
	Bailey	Pederson
	Alan	Prater
	Carley	Sjogren
James Reed VanDuzer IV Scholarship	Zachary	Warner
John C. Anderson Memorial Scholarship	Joane	Arzalluz Garzon
John W. Burles Memorial Scholarship	Mike	Marchetti
John W. Burles Memorial Scholarship	Shjon	Petersen
Keiser Scholarship for Culinary Excellence	Julia	Conolley
	Maddison	Valdez
	Erin	Williams
Kyle Trust Scholarship	Micheline	Score
Laker Legacy Alumni Scholarship	Avineet	Devi
Leonard C. Farr Community Service Scholarship	Ryan	DeVore
Liberal Arts Scholarship	Daniel	Messing
Linda Bufton Culinary Scholarship	Azul	Garcia Ruiz
Linda L. Kallgren Nursing Scholarship	Braydon	Snoddy
Lisa G. Wampole Memorial Scholarship in Criminal Justice	Aneyai	Smith
Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship	Tatiana	Edmonds
Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship	Nevaeha	Florez
Mary, Kate and Cap Sharples Scholarship	John	Capps
Maxine Smith Scholarship	Alyssa	Skillett
May Virginia Smith VanDuzer Scholarship	Jessica	Rivera
Maybelle M. Olson Scholarship	Aeryn	Jones
Menasha Legacy Fund Scholarship	Brandi	Anderson
	Christopher	Gray
	Andria	Johnson
	Ethan	Pounder
	Paige	Speakman
	Kimberly	Webster
Mike Groben Scholarship	Levi	Clow
Mike Groben Scholarship	Steven	Scruggs
Nancy Douglas Memorial Scholarship	Davis	Wright
New Beginnings for Tribal Students Scholarship	Karli	Daugherty
	Allie	DeShazer
	Katelyn	Jensen
	Tamira	John
	Cassidy	Orr
Opportunity Links! Bandon Dunes Scholarship	Liam	Trapold
Opportunity Links! Banner Bank Scholarship	Bobbi	Rangel
Opportunity Links! Johnson Controls Scholarship	Jackson	Rasmussen
Opportunity Links! Lil’ Bogey Scholarship	Abigail	Warrick
Opportunity Links! North Point Development Scholarship	Ashlee	Tims
Opportunity Links! Roseburg Forest Products Scholarship	Citlali	Gonzalez
Opportunity Links! Scholarship	Eduardo	Penaloza
Opportunity Links! The Mill Casino-Hotel Scholarship	Peyton	Kidd
Opportunity Links! Three Rivers Casino Scholarship	Trynly	Haack
Pacific Orchid Society Scholarship	Aurora	Parsons
Patricia Benetti Memorial Scholarship	Michelle	Villalobos
Patricia Benetti Memorial Scholarship	Anonymous*
Patricia D. and William B. Smullin Scholarship	Garrett	Bushnell
Patricia D. and William B. Smullin Scholarship	Michele	Ingle
Presbyterian Church of Coos Bay Memorial Scholarship	Kiefer	Allen
	Summer	Jake
	Jack	Prater
Pringle/Cunningham Scholarship for Curry Student	Amy	Vick
Roderick H. Morris Scholarship	Kalista	Bochart
Sandra Martinez & Carrie Kralicek Selfless Act Nursing Scholarship	Sarah	Williams
Sharon Barnett Scholarship	Andrea	Pedrini
Sharon Kolkhorst Memorial Nursing Scholarship	Natasha	Campbell
Sharon Kolkhorst Memorial Nursing Scholarship	Karli	Kinney
Sheryl Rosenbaum Memorial Scholarship	Lee Anna	Saunders
Shirley Barton Nursing Scholarship	Viridiana	Penaloza
Sickels Family Rural College Technology Scholarship	Daisy	McAfee
Slaney Family Human Services Scholarship	Heather	Edwards
Slaney Family Scholarship	Guadalupe	Trujillo
Stephens Family Scholarship	Gabe	Dresser
Stephens Family Scholarship	Nathan	Ward
Steve Shirtcliff CASA Scholarship	Brandy	Griffin
Student of the Year Scholarship	Jessica	Pardo
SWOCC Foundation Board General Scholarship	Bryce	Bales
	Kaytlin	Burdett
	Saron	Cruz
	Brooke	Gray
	Melissa	Keyes
	Hailey	Knedel
	Kylie	Shaw-Kamehaiku
	Gabrielle	Zellmer
SWOCC Foundation Culinary General Scholarship	Christa	Jolley
	Kale	Levanger
	Abigail	Madsen
	Jupiter	Nyberg
	Mckenzie	Palacios
	Michelle	Riley
SWOCC Foundation General Nursing Scholarship	Julie	Carr
SWOCC Foundation General Scholarship	Julia	Anzaldua
	Amy	David
	Emilia	Eaton
	Claire	Eilers
	Tori	Goodell
	Celeste	Le
	Noa	Quintana
	Connor	Spindler
	Rune	Van Den Bosch
	Emily	Walters
SWOCC Foundation: Donna Nichols Scholarship	Madelyn	Ford
SWOCC Foundation: James Turner Scholarship	Emily	West
SWOCC Foundation: Judy Ann Mogan Scholarship	Miriam	Glasband
The Friends of the Curry Public Library James Boyle Memorial Scholarship	Samantha	Mellow
TymByr Culinary Scholarship	Kelsie	Thurston
TymByr Culinary Scholarship	Erin	Williams
Uncorking Opportunity! Bandon Dunes Golf Resort Scholarship	Autum	Burford
Uncorking Opportunity! Carol Holden Memorial Nursing Scholarship	Aria	Woodruff
Uncorking Opportunity! DB Western Scholarship	Monica	Thompson
Uncorking Opportunity! Janet Rose Kramer Scholarship	Amanda	Moulton
Uncorking Opportunity! Reid/Carter Scholarship	Alleyna	Rohde
Uncorking Opportunity! The Mill Casino-Hotel Scholarship	Kimber	Privetts
Verena Matthews Nursing Scholarship	Alexis	Marino
Verena Matthews Nursing Scholarship	Spencer	Spini
Vernon Brecke Memorial Scholarship	Jakob	Crowder
Vernon C. and Jean G. Sorenson Scholarship	Anonymous*
William Lansing Scholarship	Erica	Evers
William Lansing Scholarship	Hanalei	Warren
William McGuire Scholarship	Joane	Arzalluz Garzon
Woolridge Myrtle Point Scholarship	Allison	Storts
Yellow Cab Taxi Scholarship	Tia	DeLorto
Note: Some scholarship recipients request their award(s) not be listed publicly. The Foundation respects their privacy by not including them on this list.*

Acclaimed Chefs from ACF Culinary Team USA Host Exclusive Luncheon at Oregon Coast Culinary Institute (RSVP Required)

Aug 2, 2023 | Alumni, Community, News, OCCI News, Student Success

Coos Bay, OR – The Oregon Coast Culinary Institute (OCCI) at Southwestern Oregon Community College is pleased to announce a luncheon prepared by the esteemed American Culinary Federation (ACF) Culinary Team USA. This exclusive culinary affair will take place on Wednesday, August 16, 2023. Seating is available by RSVP only, with reservations offered every 15 minutes from 12:30 – 2:00 p.m. at OCCI, located at 1988 Newmark Ave., Coos Bay.

The ACF Culinary Team USA will be preparing an exquisite three-course menu as part of their training to prepare for the prestigious world competition in early 2024. This luncheon will tantalize the taste buds with a seafood starter, a succulent beef entrée, and a delectable dessert. Due to the competitive nature of the event and impending competition, a specific menu cannot be published in advance.

The luncheon is priced at $45 per person, offering an unparalleled opportunity for food enthusiasts, culinary professionals, and students to indulge in the artistry of the culinary world. Community members are welcome to join!

Luncheon Details:

Date: Wednesday, August 16, 2023
Time: 12:30 – 2:00 p.m.
Location: OCCI, 1988 Newmark Ave., Coos Bay, OR
RSVP: Reservations are required for entry, with seating available every 15 minutes. Call 541-888-7309 or email shawn.warren@socc.edu.
Cost: $45 per person for a three-course lunch; beer and wine available for purchase.

The ACF Culinary Team USA comprises culinary professionals and students from various regions across the country. OCCI’s very own Executive Chef Randy Torres assumes the role of Assistant Manager. The team also boasts a pool of remarkable local staff and students, including current OCCI students Paige Hoene, Jeff Schneck, and Maddison Valdez, as well as OCCI graduate Elena Smith. Assistant to the US National Team is OCCI alum Shane Wilder.

Proceeds from the luncheon will contribute to the team’s competition expenses.

To secure a seat at this event, reservations are required, and seating is limited. Parties larger than six cannot be accommodated. To make a reservation, contact Shawn Warren at shawn.warren@socc.edu or call 541-888-7309.