May 13, 2025 | Community, News
COOS BAY, OR – Southwestern Oregon Community College is hiring people this spring for the SWOCC Trail Crew to build hiking and biking trails. The project will involve restoration and construction of trails and bridges through SWOCC’s Coos Campus forest beside Empire Lakes and connecting to Coos Bay’s John Topits Park. This is a partnership between the College, SOWIB, and Port Orford-based Ptarmigan Trails.
Trail Crew members will be full-time and get to work outside. They will get training in hands-on tool use and learn trail-construction skills that can be used in recreation, forestry, landscaping and other outdoor career pathways. This is the first phase of a project to build more than 4.5 miles of natural surface trails on the Coos Campus for walking, hiking and mountain biking.
All necessary gear for the crew including boots, gloves, and safety equipment is provided.
Interested individuals can call (541) 888-7211, or email foundation@socc.edu.
May 13, 2025 | Community, News
[Photo: Southwestern’s Assistant Professor of Biology, Amy Burgess, instructs students at the Cape Arago tide pools. Students in Southwestern’s new Marine Biology Program will study coastal ecosystems like these before transferring to OIMB.]
Partnership ensures students transfer seamlessly into the University of Oregon’s Oregon Institute of Marine Biology (OIMB)
COOS BAY, OR – Students now have a direct path to earning a bachelor’s degree in marine biology without leaving Oregon’s South Coast, thanks to a new partnership between Southwestern Oregon Community College and the University of Oregon’s Oregon Institute of Marine Biology (OIMB) in Charleston.
The new Associate of Science in Marine Biology at Southwestern allows students to complete the first two years of their bachelor’s degree and seamlessly transfer to the University of Oregon to finish their upper-division coursework at OIMB.
“It just makes sense,” said Dr. Doug Goodwin, Dean of Instruction – Transfer, Arts, & Community Education at Southwestern. “With a nationally renowned marine research institute in our backyard, this collaboration opens the door for students to complete their entire marine biology degree—start to finish—right here on the South Coast, in one of the most beautiful and biologically rich environments on the Pacific Coast.”
This is the only associate degree program of its kind in Oregon. Southwestern’s location near Charleston, where OIMB is based, allows students to immerse themselves in coastal ecosystems from the very beginning of their college journey.
“We’re excited for SWOCC’s new Associate of Science in Marine Biology and the opportunity to collaborate on a more accessible pathway for Oregon students,” said Maya Watts, Education Program Coordinator at OIMB. “This program allows students to immerse themselves in marine biology for four consecutive years on our two coastal campuses. It helps students integrate into the coastal community and the many opportunities it offers.”
Students in the program will take foundational courses in biology, chemistry, oceanography, and mathematics at Southwestern. The curriculum also emphasizes critical thinking, ecosystem understanding, and global environmental awareness. After completing a two-year degree at Southwestern and transferring, students will complete hands-on, field-based courses at OIMB in subjects including marine ecology, deep sea biology, and invertebrate zoology.
Ultimately, students who graduate with a bachelor’s degree in marine biology could pursue careers as marine biologists, in research, ocean engineering, archaeology, marine aquarium work, and environmental and energy specialties.
See below for a complete listing of classes associated with this pathway:
Course List – Marine Biology Pathway
Fall term registration for the 2025-26 academic year is now open!
CLICK HERE for information about how to register for Summer and Fall Term classes.
To speak with an advisor or learn how to enroll, contact Southwestern Admissions at 541-240-8227 or swoccbound@socc.edu.
May 8, 2025 | Community, News
COOS BAY, OR – Southwestern Oregon Community College (SWOCC) athletics is pleased to host a two-day 2025 Laker Youth Basketball Camp on June 16-17, 2025, at the Recreation Center gymnasium. This camp is a fantastic opportunity for young athletes to develop their skills, make new friends, and enjoy the game under the guidance of experienced coaches.
The camp schedule for both days is as follows:
- Athletes just completing 1st – 3rd Grade: 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
- Athletes just completing 4th – 8th Grade: 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
The registration fee for each camper for both days is $60. Payment is accepted at the door and checks should be made out to SWOCC Basketball.
Pre-registration is encouraged (on-site registration will also be accepted). To pre-register, simply:
- Go to the 2025 Laker Basketball Camp athletics page
- Complete the 2025 Laker Basketball Camp Form
- Complete the Basketball Hold Harmless Form
For any additional questions, contact SWOCC’s head women’s basketball coach Heather Weber at 541-391-3494 or email heather.weber@socc.edu.
Don’t miss this opportunity for your athlete to learn basketball skills from SWOCC basketball coaches and players! Sign up today and join us for two days of learning, skill-building and a lot of fun on the court.
May 1, 2025 | Community, Curry Campus, News
COOS BAY, OR – Join the Southwestern Oregon Community College Swim Team for SWIM CAMP! Whether you’re just learning to swim or looking to sharpen your technique, this event is open to all skill levels. Join SWOCC’s talented swim team and experienced coaches for a day of expert instruction and fun at the North Bend Municipal Pool (2455 Pacific Street, North Bend) on Saturday, May 10, 2025.
All Level Camp – For all skill levels, ages 3 to 18 years old. Parents of small children are encouraged to stay and participate.
Three sessions available:
[1] 8:30am-9:15am
[2] 9:45am-10:30am
[3] 11:00am-11:45am
Pricing: $25 per attendee, per session
To register: https://swoccathletics.com/sb_output.aspx?form=27
Competitive Swimmer Camp – Training for competitive swimmers ages 9 to 18 years old.
Two sessions available:
[1] 8:15am-9:30am – starts and turns clinic
[2] 10:15am-11:30am – stroke technique/filming
Pricing: Advanced swimmers may pick one session for $25, or attend both sessions for $50 without the video package. The underwater swimming and data analysis package price includes the 2nd session at 10:15am-11:30am for $75, plus $25 for each additional stroke you would like to have filmed/analyzed; $150 for all four strokes.
To register: https://swoccathletics.com/sb_output.aspx?form=20
What to Bring: Swimsuit, Towel, Swim Goggles (preferred), hair must be tied up or use a swim cap if you have long hair.
Payment by cash or checks only, made payable to SWOCC Swimming. Customizable camp t-shirts will be available to design as well as SWOCC swimming swag for purchase during the camp.
For more information please contact Sandra Bullock, Head Swim Coach at Southwestern at 541-297-2158 or sandra.bullock@socc.edu.
Apr 30, 2025 | Community, Curry Campus, News
COOS BAY, OR – Southwestern Oregon Community College invites the community to join us on Thursday, May 15, 2025, at 6:00 pm, for “The Science & Art of Making Beer, Wine, & Rum” with Annie Pollard and Carmen Matthews of 7 Devils Brewery, Richard Stillwagon of Stillwagon Distillery, and Veronica Viramontes with Gallo Winery. 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:
This lecture series event features a panel discussion focusing on the chemistry challenges and processes involved in the arts of brewing, distilling, and winemaking. Each of our guests has followed a unique path to their respective challenge in beverage science and are eager to share their lessons learned with the community.
About the Presenters:
Annie Pollard, Brewer/Artist/Marine Biologist, is fueled by a desire to combine all of her loves — sustainability, science, art, and community. As co-owner and CEO of 7 Devils, she opened the Coos Bay brewery in 2013. Before taking on the role of entrepreneur, Annie earned both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in science from the University of Oregon. She began studying biology and later honed in on marine bird nesting ecology. Between rehabbing endangered songbirds in Hawaii and researching Antarctic penguins, Annie picked up home-brewing as a hobby straight out of her Eugene apartment — an interest that brought her and 7 Devils co-owner Carmen Matthews together. Their passion for not only conserving and restoring the coast but celebrating it led the pair to open 7 Devils Brewery as a gathering place for the Coos Bay community.
Carmen Matthews, co-owner and head brewer of the 7 Devils Brewing Co., began his tenure in the beverage industry as a barista for locally owned Dutch Bros. Coffee. Trading in caffeination for fermentation, Carmen developed a passion for the art of craft brewing and all things pub culture. Carmen and his wife/co-owner, Annie Pollard had a common interest in home brewing when they first met, and began crafting recipes together. Their shared love of beer and community culminated in the duo opening the 7 Devils Brewery and Tap Room in their home base of Coos Bay, OR. Carmen grew up on the coast in a surf-loving family of artists. His deep love and respect for the coast and its inhabitants inspired the ethos behind 7 Devils; peace, love, music, and beer.
Richard Stillwagon is an artist, maker, and tinkerer. Self-educated in all professional pursuits, his formal education includes about two years of community college. Richard’s professional history includes: cabinet, furniture, yacht fixtures, light metal fabrication, greenhouse construction, aqua culture and aquaponics, martial arts instructor, distillation of spirits, and most recently opening an arts and trades school. Personal pursuits are art, history, tinkering, upcycling of industrial byproducts, water issues, and gardening.
Veronica Viramontes was born and raised in the Central Valley. Her family has been growing grapes in the Lodi area for 40 years. After growing up in the wine industry, she decided to make a career of it and enrolled at California State University, Fresno, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in enology. She says she is living her dream where she is a winemaker at Gallo, the largest winery in the world.
For more information about the lecture series contact Derek Morrelli, Assistant Professor, Chemistry at derek.morrelli@socc.edu or 541-888-1507.
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/.
Apr 28, 2025 | Community, News
COOS BAY, OR – The Southwestern Oregon Community College Library is now showing One World, Eight Billion Faces, a sketchbook exhibit by artist and author Shinan Barclay. The display runs through June 30, 2025.
As part of the exhibit, the public is invited to a free drawing workshop with Barclay. It’s called FACE IT and takes place Thursday, May 8, from 2–4 p.m. at the Southwestern Library. The event is open to all. No experience is needed, and all materials are provided.
“Sketching helps me value our diverse community and see each person’s unique beauty,” Barclay says. “Pen to paper is a conversation without words.”
A teacher at heart, Barclay spent her first year of teaching in a remote Inuit village in Arctic Alaska. She later taught in Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Arizona. Sketching and writing stories of multicultural peoples became her passion. Her memoir stories have been translated into French, Spanish, Japanese, Portuguese, Czech and Mandarin.
Wherever she went, she brought her sketchbooks. She sat down with people and drew their faces. Over 40 years, she filled more than 30 sketchbooks with scribbled notes, landscapes and portraits—each one a quiet moment of connection.
The exhibit features photocopies from her sketchbooks and simple text. Together, they reflect the heart of her idea: One World, Eight Billion Faces.
Barclay’s approach is simple: drawing faces doesn’t have to be hard. “It’s as easy as scribbling an egghead,” she says. The workshop is meant to be fun and low-pressure—a chance to slow down, try something new, and connect with others.
Southwestern’s library is offering this program to bring people together through art. It’s free and open to the community.
