Mar 19, 2026 | Community, Curry Campus
Brookings, OR – Southwestern Oregon Community College Curry Campus invites the community to join us on Thursday, April 9, 2026, 1:00 to 2:00 pm for “ORKA in Action: Restoring Oregon’s Kelp Forests.” 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.
In the waters along Oregon’s southern coast, a quiet ecological emergency is unfolding beneath the waves. According to the 2024 Oregon Kelp Forest Status Report, Oregon lost approximately 70% of its kelp forests between 2010 and 2022 — a collapse driven by exploding purple sea urchin populations, ocean warming, and the loss of natural predators. Bull kelp forests that once stretched for miles, sheltering rockfish, feeding gray whales, and anchoring coastal food webs, have largely vanished from reefs where they thrived just a decade ago. The effects reach from the ocean floor to your dinner plate: the wild fish, Dungeness crab, and sea urchins that define Oregon’s coastal economy all depend on healthy kelp ecosystems. If you care about Oregon’s coast, this crisis demands attention.
The Oregon Kelp Alliance (ORKA) is responding with urgency and purpose. Funded through NOAA Fisheries’ Restoration Center, ORKA’s Oregon Kelp Forest Stewardship Initiative has already removed more than 330,000 purple sea urchins from targeted restoration sites and successfully outplanted bull kelp at two of six coastal reefs, including Macklyn Cove here in Brookings — returning life to underwater habitats that had gone dark. Commercial divers, marine scientists, and tribal community partners are working side by side to make this happen. ORKA is also developing restorative kelp mariculture — cultivation of kelp for both habitat recovery and economic opportunity — with support from the Builders Initiative. This dual approach reflects a core belief: that thriving oceans and thriving coastal communities are mutually beneficial goals.
Carolyn McKinnon, the Urchin Control and Dive Safety Coordinator for ORKA will be the presenter for this lecture. ORKA unites diverse stakeholders passionate about kelp forest ecosystems, including commercial urchin divers, marine scientists, resource managers, tribal communities, tour operators, recreational divers, students, culinary professionals, and coastal residents. Carolyn holds a Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology from Dalhousie University, with her current work focusing on coordinating volunteer and commercial divers to achieve ORKA’s restoration goals while promoting diver safety. In her free time she enjoys exploring the beautiful coastal hikes, beaches, and communities around Port Orford.
Come join us for this exciting presentation about the ocean in our own backyard.
Stay tuned for upcoming talks in our speaker series. For more information contact the Curry Campus at 541-813-1667.
Mar 18, 2026 | Community, Curry Campus, News
Presented by Oregon NASA Space Grant Consortium (OSGC) and SWOCC STEAM Pathways
COOS BAY, OR – Southwestern Oregon Community College invites the community to join us on Saturday, May 9, 2026 at 2:00 pm, to attend “Blast Off into STEM!”, a free science fair featuring judges from the community and the College. All ages are welcome to view the projects. Student participation is limited to students from grades 4 – 12 within Oregon’s 4th Congressional District.
The fair will be held in the Lakeview Meeting Rooms located in the Hales Center for the Performing Arts/Empire Hall on Southwestern’s Coos Campus, 1988 Newmark Ave, Coos Bay, Oregon.
Student participants can register for the science fair HERE.
[https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSftt4J9s1aln0Wi4Q-QGqtbvrmoo5rljLOg4PfZg2I05g_n2Q/viewform]
About the Science Fair:
This is the first year of an exciting community event that celebrates curiosity, hands-on learning, and student innovation. This year’s science fair will feature projects from students across Oregon’s 4th Congressional District, including Benton, Coos, Curry, northern Douglas, Lane, and Lincoln counties. Students in grades 4 – 12 will present projects exploring scientific concepts in fields such as biology, chemistry, physics, environmental science, engineering, and technology.
Student Participants are encouraged to investigate real-world questions, conduct experiments, explore their curiosity and creativity over several weeks leading up to the showcase.
Attendees will have the opportunity to:
- View interactive exhibits and student demonstrations
- Speak with young scientists about their work
- Celebrate award winners in each grade category
- Engage in hands-on STEM activities provided by teachers and community partners
Attendance at the science fair is open to families, community members, and organizations interested in supporting STEM education and student achievement.
All student participants may receive certificates recognizing their creativity and effort. Additional awards may be provided through in-kind donations such as educational materials, gift cards, or event supplies. Monetary donations cannot be accepted. Those interested in contributing may contact sabrina.pingree@email.socc.edu by May 2, 2026.
For more information contact the event organizers: Cassie Coyner, STEAM Pathways Assistant, at 541-888-7416, or cassie.coyner@socc.edu, and Sabrina Pingree, OSGC Student Ambassador at sabrina.pingree@email.socc.edu.
To learn more about STEM degrees at Southwestern visit: https://www.socc.edu/programs-classes/stem/.
Mar 17, 2026 | Community, News
COOS BAY, OR – The Southwestern Oregon Community College Library, in partnership with the College’s Agroecology program, is thrilled to announce the launch of our new Seed Library! A free initiative designed to empower local residents to grow their own food and maintain thriving gardens.
Located in the SWOCC Library on the Coos Campus, 1988 Newmark Ave., Coos Bay, second floor of Tioga Hall, the Seed Library offers a diverse selection of vegetable, herb, and flower seeds, many of which are specifically suited to our unique coastal growing conditions, making it easy for anyone to start or expand their home gardens.
The Seed Library aims to support food security and biodiversity, foster community connections, and provide educational opportunities in gardening and seed-saving, all while inspiring a deeper appreciation for gardening and nature along the beautiful Oregon coast.
How It Works
Like borrowing books, patrons can “check out” seeds from the library’s collection for free. Visitors may select up to five seed packets per visit.
- Borrow: Choose from a diverse selection of seeds.
- Grow: Plant, nurture, and enjoy your harvest.
- Return (optional but encouraged): Save seeds from your plants and return them to the library to help sustain the collection for future seasons. Donations of unopened or resealed commercial seed packets are also welcome.
Educational Resources
We are here to help you grow! The SWOCC Library supports gardeners of all levels with a wide selection of books on gardening, seed saving, and agriculture. Our Agroecology program offers hands-on classes such as Gardening the South Coast, Applied Plant Biology, and Soil Science. In the future, the library plans to offer free workshops on seed saving and germination.
Get Involved
Visit the SWOCC Library to explore the seed collection and join the effort to grow a resilient, connected, and sustainable South Coast. Everyone can play a role in developing local gardens and strengthening our community food system.
For more information on the SWOCC Library visit: https://www.socc.edu/resources/library/.
Mar 16, 2026 | Alumni, Community, News
Dayna Cahill, Director of Teaching and Learning for North Bend School District
After graduating from North Bend High School, Dayna Cahill didn’t plan on staying in the community where she grew up. She went straight to work in construction. College wasn’t on her radar, until someone suggested she might be a great teacher. That single comment started her down a completely different path.
She enrolled at SWOCC, where she earned her transfer degree. For Dayna, it was the ideal place to start.
“SWOCC allowed me to grow up,” she said. “It was the perfect landing zone while I was working, living locally, and looking to further educate myself.”
Dayna later went on to complete her bachelor’s degree through a local satellite program. But it was her time at SWOCC that helped her build the confidence and direction she needed.
“I honestly believe my trajectory would have changed significantly had I not opted to go to SWOCC,” she said. “SWOCC gave me a plan. That plan is what gave me my life.”
Today, Dayna serves as the Director of Teaching and Learning for North Bend School District, leading efforts that shape classrooms and impact hundreds of students each year. Her career spanned roles as a substitute, educational assistant, teacher, reading specialist, and even leading as a principal.
One of her proudest moments was returning to teach at North Bay Elementary, the same school she attended as a kid.
“I never thought I would stay in the same community I had grown up in,” she said. “But one of the greatest honors of my life was returning to that school as a teacher. I have a deep sense of pride coming full circle and giving back to the district that raised me.”
Throughout her journey, Dayna leaned on local scholarships and community support to make college work. She encourages others to do the same.
“Money was tight during college. I worked part-time and lived with roommates,” she said. “But there are local organizations with scholarships that can really help. You just have to look.”
Now, she and her husband Chris are raising their own family in North Bend, where they remain deeply invested in the community.
“Our community and SWOCC both have so much to offer,” she said. “If you live here and are looking for connection or opportunity, start with your local community college. You don’t have to go anywhere else to get a fantastic education or live a fantastic life.”
Mar 12, 2026 | Community, OCCI News
Oregon Coast Culinary Institute (OCCI) will host a pizza pop-up sale (plus more) on Friday, March 13, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
OCCI culinary students will be serving up some piping-hot pizza pies in honor of Pi Day! Even though we won’t be on campus on actual Pi Day, we still had to celebrate it a day early. Our baking & pastry students will also have macarons and croissants available for purchase.
All proceeds from sales go to support the student Culinary Team travel fund.
Stop by, grab lunch, and support student chefs!
WHAT: Pizza Pop-Up Sale (plus macarons and croissants)
WHERE: OCCI (1988 Newmark Ave., Coos Bay)
WHEN: Friday, March 13, 2026 | 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Mar 10, 2026 | Alumni, Community, News
For Coos County native Nathan Midyette’s connection to SWOCC largely started through dual credit courses at North Bend High School, where he earned an associate’s degree from SWOCC at the same time he graduated high school. As part of his education, he was able to complete a senior-year SWOCC internship at 7 Devils Brewery that introduced him to fermentation science.
With his Oregon Transfer degree from SWOCC, Nathan entered the University of Oregon well-prepared to pursue chemistry. With his degree and previous internship under his belt, he did two internships at King Estate Winery during college.
Today, Nathan works as a lab technician at King Estate Winery. “I really love this job as it is the perfect blend of art and science.” Nathan said, “No two years are the same, and you are constantly learning from each individual vintage.” Driven by a passion for the wine industry, he is dedicated to ongoing learning and development.
