Mar 10, 2023 | Alumni, Community, News, Student Success
Tom, Deanna, Jack and Alan Prater
If you were to look among a crowd of Prater family members, just about every one you see works in health care. Husband and wife team Deanna and Tom Prater, Tom’s brother and sister-in-law, and Deanna’s mom worked in the profession.
Tom and Deanna met in the military. He grew up in Reedsport and she in Pennsylvania. When they finished service, they landed on the south coast in the late 1990s. Tom had it in his mind to go into nursing, having watched the timber industry crash while growing up. He knew it was a good pathway.
They enrolled at SWOCC.
“I was doing math, physics, and engineering. Tom definitely didn’t want to move out of the area. I thought what am I going to do with a math degree?” Deanna said.
It’s funny how things work out.
It wasn’t long before Deanna entered the nursing program. Today, the Praters have enjoyed nearly 25 years in the profession.
“There are so many avenues you can do in nursing. I feel like there is some avenue for anyone,” she said.
Tom worked at Bay Area Hospital for years, and now works in the ER at Lower Umpqua Hospital in Reedsport. Deanna works at Lower Umpqua, too, as Director of Infection Control, Employee Health and Safety.
Soon Deanna and Tom’s sons, Jack and Alan, will enter the profession. Both are first-year nursing students at SWOCC and living at home so they work their way through school debt-free.
“With nursing, you help people,” said Jack who’s 30 and ready for a new career. “And, you can make a living wage and own a home here.”
Alan had worked entry level jobs in health care, monitoring people’s hearts and then at the cancer center. He’s comfortable in a health care setting. He had the opportunity to take a free ride to law school in Salem, but turned it down for a career in nursing. Oregon desperately needs nurses and is among the top five states with the highest pay for RNs.
“This field is useful and helpful whereever you go, and wherever you are,” Alan said.
The brothers study together. Being able to work and go to school at the same time has been helpful, too.
“It’s convenient. I attend lectures remotely and in-person,” Alan said.
This winter, the brothers started their “clinicals” – the hands-on hospital work experience alongside a Registered Nurse.
“Seems like I know every fifth person. It’s cool taking care of people you live around,” Jack said.
Deanna and Tom didn’t pressure their sons to go into nursing. Their message to each son was simple.
“Be a good person. Enjoy life. Find a partner you can have a happy life with. Contribute to the world. Do something good.”
The next generation of Praters intends to follow that mission. Nursing will give them a start in that direction.
To learn more about our Nursing program text or call 541-240-8227; email: SWOCCbound@socc.edu.
Mar 6, 2023 | Alumni, Community, News, Student Success
Tasha Renard, Battalion Chief and Critical Care Paramedic with the Myrtle Point Fire Department, messaged us that she was going to be late to our photo shoot appointment. The reason? She received a text from a local waitress that one of their morning’s regular customers hadn’t shown up for a few days. The staff at the café were worried. That’s when Tasha jumped in her rig and headed over to do a Home Wellness Check on an older resident. He turned out to have been under the weather, nothing serious, but Tasha did a vitals check, visited for a bit, and then was back at the station.
“That’s a common occurrence in this job, and I love it. I love supporting our local people”, says Tasha. It’s been a long journey to get where she is now. As a younger person she didn’t think about her future, or even realize she had one. Dropping out of high school junior year and having a baby right before her 18th birthday limited her perspective. She later found support and encouragement from a SWOCC program at the Newmark Center and was able to complete her GED. After that, she landed a job doing clerical work.
Growing up in Coquille, Tasha developed respect for the Fire Chief there. “I used to go down to the station and bug Dave Waddington regularly because I wanted to become a volunteer Firefighter.” It was after volunteering for a while that Waddington encouraged Tasha to do a ride-a-long in the back of the ambulance. “That was it. I was hooked. I traded in my office high heels for Danner boots. My only regret is that I didn’t start sooner.”
Tasha went back to school. She worked for six years as a part-time Emergency Medical Technician, then quit her “day job” to go to school full-time and get her AAS in Paramedicine. Since 2018 she’s been full-time at Myrtle Point Fire and was promoted to Battalion Chief Jan. 1, 2023. Tasha credits the Fire Chief Willy Burris as playing a big role in her career advancement. “Willy has always been supportive of my career growth and training. He hired me, making me the first full-time female firefighter/paramedic in the county. He’s very progressive and an amazing mentor. He keeps us on the cutting edge of emergency medicine.”
“I was the first in my family to go to college and model that for my daughter who graduated from SWOCC’s nursing program. I’m very proud of her.”
In addition to her duties as Chief, Tasha also provides valuable training and mentoring to the next generation of paramedics currently enrolled in SWOCC’s EMS programs.
Anthony Gantenbein, Assistant Professor of EMT/Paramedicine says, “Tasha Renard is one of the best paramedics, and people, that I’ve ever known. She truly embraces what it means to be a patient advocate and is committed to doing what is right for people whether they are in the back of her ambulance or not. Our program is lucky to have alumni like her out in the world helping to advance the profession. SWOCC EMS wouldn’t be what it is without her, and the profession would be worse off if Tasha and Myrtle Point Fire/EMS didn’t push our students to have pride and ownership in their education.”
Tasha received advanced training to become a Critical Care Paramedic and is internationally certified to be a flight paramedic. One challenge of living in an isolated area means critical care flights are not generally authorized. Add to that the fact that often the ability to take care of critically ill people in our medical facilities is limited. “We do a lot of critical care transfers by ground. That’s why I got the certification. With my other certifications I could work for a fancy flight company as a paramedic, but I really love working on an ambulance, responding to a scene, stabilizing the patient, and starting the treatment plan.”
To anyone considering a career path similar to Tasha’s she wants you to know the EMS field needs people!
“Without us the community is at great risk. There are going to be bad days but there are more amazing, rewarding days.”
To learn more about all our EMS programs text or call 541-240-8227; email: SWOCCbound@socc.edu.
Feb 8, 2023 | Alumni, Community, Curry Campus, Foundation, News
COOS BAY, OR – Southwestern Oregon Community College is seeking the community’s help to honor graduates who have gone on after college to improve their professions, education, communities, and the world. Each year since 1992, the College has requested nominations for a distinguished alumni.
The College is accepting nominations for 2023 through April 1. To be eligible, nominees must have graduated with a degree or certificate, or have completed a minimum of 60 credits from Southwestern.
Past recipients have included leaders in education, the arts, Native American tribes, business and finance, research, medicine, and the military. Today, Southwestern’s graduates continue to distinguish themselves in professions and innovative efforts to build friendships around the globe. The College wants to celebrate these individuals who have contributed selflessly to improving society. Please consider nominating alumni for the recognition they deserve.
To read more about past recipients, go to Alumni News at www.socc.edu/alumni-news/.
To download the nomination form, go to:
https://www.socc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/dist_alumni_nom_fillable.pdf
Please submit nomination forms by April 1 to: alumni@socc.edu
Or mail them to:
Southwestern Oregon Community College
c/o President’s Office
1988 Newmark Ave.
Coos Bay, OR 97420
Jan 5, 2023 | Alumni, News, Student Success
Daniel Morris
Years ago, when Sause Bros.’ Human Resources Director Kathy Rose, and HR Coordinator Ashley O’Neil, visited Daniel Morris’ high school manufacturing class, he couldn’t imagine where his life was headed. First came a job at Sause Bros., and then with support and encouragement from them, Daniel entered the welding program at Southwestern, working and training at the same time. Currently Daniel is an apprentice welder, on his way to becoming a journeyman welder/fitter.
Rose says, “Sause Bros. looks forward to our continued partnership with SWOCC and welding instructor Chelsea Clemens, to encourage upcoming generations to seek professions in the trade fields.”
Daniel says he struggled with academics when he was young but was good working with his hands. Hours spent hanging out with Dad in his shop had an impact. He knew he had an inclination for working in the manufacturing field.
A major influence on Daniel’s career path was his Marshfield High School manufacturing instructor, Glen Crook. Crook is a great partner to Southwestern and a big supporter of the College’s welding program. “Daniel was a perfect candidate for the apprenticeship program at Sause Bros. I’m really proud of him,” shared Crook.
Daniel is grateful for where he’s ended up. “I’m not sure where I’d be if I hadn’t found the trades. Sause Bros. gave me an amazing opportunity right out of high school. Mr. Crook did so much for me. And my instructor at Southwestern, Chelsea Clemens, was great. She really knows her stuff and works hard for her students,” says Daniel.
Dec 13, 2022 | Alumni, News
Answer: 4-H and farm life led welders and president to SWOCC
Most folks know our college’s president, Patty Scott, as Oregon’s longest serving college president. What they don’t know is she’s also the daughter of a Wallowa farm family who loves hard work and small-town life. Scott often talks about her roots in northeastern Oregon and her involvement in 4-H, America’s largest youth engagement organization. 4-H set her on a path into education.
Ironically, as we worked on this feature about Southwestern’s welding program, we found the college’s two welding instructors got their start in 4-H, too. 4-H operates in Oregon through the OSU Extension Service. In our region it connects young people from 4th grade through high school with service and group projects, leadership camps, and animal projects that culminate with our county fairs in Coos, Curry and Douglas counties.
President Scott raised sheep and dairy cows, showed horses, trained dogs and did cooking/sewing through the organization while growing up. Our lead Welding instructor Chelsea Clemens engaged in 4-H showing horses and training dogs. Duncan Cooper, who teaches welding in Southwestern’s Coos and Curry job training programs, was involved in sheep and dog 4-H programs.
What is it about 4-H that helps young people gain confidence and find their way in the world?
“As I look back, it was through 4-H that I experienced my first sense of accomplishment and understanding of being responsible,” said President Scott. “Animals need to be fed and cared for, and sometimes that is at 5 a.m. I learned record keeping, time management, and leadership and public speaking skills that I use today. Watching my parents as club leaders inspired my lifelong interest in community service.”
Inspired to teach
Chelsea Clemens
Associate Professor Welding
Born and raised in Coos Bay, Chelsea Clemens headed into high school with a mind toward being in the medical field, maybe a doctor. She took anatomy and physiology at Southwestern and soon enrolled at Portland State. It wasn’t long, though, before she came back home.
“I realized that was not my career choice. I didn’t like the city. I liked the more rural, slower pace. I like working with my hands.” She lined up a summer job at Roseburg Forest Products and was making good money. All the while, the crew she worked with kept teasing her that she’d be a good welder.
“I saw Southwestern had a welding program. I thought, ‘you know what? I’m going to take a few classes,” she said.
Soon Chelsea had a two-year welding degree and then a new job at the barge-building company Southern Oregon Marine. Still, she had an urge to teach, that started with class assistant experience at Southwestern and even younger, while in 4-H.
“I learned a lot in 4-H about how to teach people, because you start as a young person and you learn from the seniors. Then you grow into a senior and learn to instruct the juniors,” she said.
She gained confidence speaking to the public. “It teaches a young person how to communicate with people and it really gets you engaged in your community. And, you get to learn.”
In 2015, Chelsea picked up a call from Southwestern’s former welding instructor. He kept in touch with his former teaching assistant, and was retiring. He thought she should apply. You know the story … eight years later, Chelsea is a welding instructor inspiring tomorrow’s boat builders, construction workers and metal fabricators.
Mechanically minded
Duncan Cooper
Assistant Professor Welding, Manufacturing
Duncan Cooper’s path to teaching was similar to his colleague Chelsea Clemens. He was raising sheep and dogs, and participating in 4-H as a young person. Being so horribly shy, a person might never have imagined Duncan would grow up to teach dozens of students in a college welding program.
“In my 4-H group especially, it was part of the requirements that we talk with the public. We had to interact with them. We talked about our animals and how stuff works. That helps a lot with trying to structure a speech of any kind,” he said.
He happened to visit a Southwestern campus while in high school for a Math & Skills Day competition, not knowing someday he would teach there. After graduating Coquille High School, Duncan joined the military. When he returned to civilian life, he dabbled in welding. Liking it, he enrolled in Southwestern’s program, even assisting in the labs.
Over the summers and between classes, Duncan worked on a large dairy. Farm work is a do-all job. Once you are known as a go-to person for welding, fabrication, and repairs in farming and fishing, you won’t starve in this region.
“I never even touched a cow while I was there. I was always working on the heavy equipment,” he said.
Duncan does private contracting now, too. He has worked with the fishing fleet in Port Orford, where he lives. So, when Southwestern needed a second welding instructor for its classes in Brookings and Coos Bay, well, you know the story. Duncan got a phone call, encouraging him to apply.
Pictured left to right: Dr. Patty Scott, Duncan Cooper, Chelsea Clemens
Nov 14, 2022 | Alumni, Foundation, News
The Southwestern Oregon Community College Foundation and the College’s Department of Nursing invite all nurses in the local community to an open house on Wednesday, November 16, 2022, from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. The event, “A Celebration of Nursing,” will take place in the nursing wing of Southwestern’s new Umpqua Hall.
Current faculty and students will provide tours of the College’s new nursing lab. Practicing and retired LPN/LVNs, RNs, APRNs and nursing alumni/faculty are encouraged to network, connect with peers and help inspire the next generation of nurses.
“We have an amazing group of nurses practicing here in our local community. They know, first-hand, what it takes to make it through school,” said Joannie Miller, Executive Director of Nursing at Southwestern. “Our own students are motivated by seeing their success. This event provides a unique opportunity to facilitate those connections, showcase our new labs and simply have fun celebrating our profession.”
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 inspire students to achieve their goals and give back to our community.
Community health care organizations interested in hosting an information table at the event are welcome to do so with a minimum $100 donation through the Southwestern Foundation. Donations to serve as a sponsor may be submitted at www.socc.edu/give, and designate “nursing event sponsor” in the notes section.
If you are interested in donating to Southwestern Foundation nursing scholarships, simply visit www.socc.edu/give or call 541-888-7211 for additional information.
