Jun 25, 2025 | Curry Campus, News, Student Success
COOS BAY, Ore. – Thanks to Southwestern Oregon Community College Foundation, donors and grants, the College has purchased an X-ray fluorescence spectrometer, or XRF.
Student researchers Tia DeLorto and Ava Bolster prepare a sample for the XRF
Using this device, a student team kicked off a research project to unveil the secrets of coastal rocks and fossils. The XRF is a tool that tells researchers what elements are in a variety of materials – solutions, solids, or crushed solids of samples like rocks, soils, metals or even fish and plants – by zapping the sample with X-rays and reading the energy that bounces back. Each element gives off a unique energy signature, helping researchers determine the elemental composition.
“The XRF is a power tool for conducting cutting-edge scientific research, but also for broader impacts ranging from testing soil quality to testing the purity and quality of locally produced food,” said Dr. Win McLaughlin, Assistant Professor of Geology at Southwestern. “We’re not only able to offer those testing services via student-led research projects, but also give students a set of skills with a wide range of potential for employment in different industries.”
Under the guidance of McLaughlin and Derek Morrelli, Assistant Professor of Chemistry, teams of students will engage in two initial research projects. One upcoming project will analyze a fossil walrus jaw collected in the 1930s from Fossil Point at Coos Bay. By matching the elemental signature of the jaw’s surrounding sandstone with regional rock formations, the team aims to determine its geologic origin. They hope to determine whether the fossil represents the oldest walrus fossil found on the U.S. mainland.
Tia DeLorto, a 2025 graduate of Southwestern and student researcher from Prineville, Oregon, discovered her passion for geology through courses with Dr. Win McLaughlin. Inspired by her studies, she plans to pursue a career in the field. “Learning about and preserving the natural world is important to me,” she says. “This technology is just one of the tools that helps scientists do that.”
Team member, Ava Bolster from Gold Beach, is a marine biology major who will return to SWOCC this fall. “I’m focused on marine biology and Tia is studying geology, but this technology has applications across both fields — and many others,” she explains.
Another project will use geo-chemical fingerprinting to measure uplift rates of marine terraces along the South Coast. These ancient shorelines, formed by tectonic uplift, hold vital clues to regional earthquake risk. More accurate modeling of uplift patterns will provide data that can be used to develop more accurate seismic maps from Reedsport to Brookings.
Students also are considering projects to analyze fish for metal contamination and to look at soil quality in former mining sites.
Over the next year, up to 60 students across three academic terms will use the XRF in coursework and projects. Some research will also tie in with research at the University of Oregon Earth Science Department.
To learn more about STEM degrees at Southwestern visit: https://www.socc.edu/programs-classes/stem/.
Jun 4, 2025 | Curry Campus, News
COOS BAY, Ore. – Southwestern Oregon Community College (SWOCC) is rolling out a new Diesel Mechanic Technology Program this fall. The program will enroll 15 students fall term, bringing high-skill, hands-on training to individuals ready to power up careers in one of the region’s highest-demand trades.
The limited-entry, competitive program is open for applications through July 24. Interviews will be held in August and classes begin Sept. 15. A limited-entry format means students must apply and interview to be considered for the program. Classes will run weekday afternoons and simulate a real job environment — complete with uniforms and professional expectations. More details are available at http://www.socc.edu/dieselmechanic.
Coos Bay business owner Terry Cheyne created the program and brings more than 35 years of experience in diesel technology and shop management. A Marshfield High School graduate and Universal Technical Institute alum, Cheyne returned to Coos Bay in 2016 to launch his successful mechanic business, Cheyne’s Truck & Marine. He’s now ready to turn his focus to teaching.
“I plan to structure this program like a job all the way through graduation. Students will learn all aspect of the business, not just turning wrenches,” Cheyne said.
The program combines lectures and hands-on lab training to prepare graduates for careers in trucking, maritime, forestry, fleet services, rail and agriculture. Each term will build on skilled learned, increasing in experience and complete truck maintenance and repair. Ultimately, students will earn an Associate of Applied Science in Diesel Mechanic Technology.
Initially housed in a repurposed ambulance bay in Umpqua Hall, the program is the first step in a larger vision. Over the next two years, the college will design and build a new four-bay diesel shop facility on the Coos Bay campus. SWOCC and the SWOCC Foundation are working together on grant funding and private donations to support this expansion, aiming for completion in 2026 or 2027.
For more information about the program, contact Terry Cheyne at (541) 888-7242 or terry.cheyne@socc.edu. To learn how to support the diesel program, call the SWOCC Foundation at (541) 888-7211 or email foundation@socc.edu.
You can read more about Cheyne’s background and the creation of the Diesel Mechanic program HERE.
Applications Now Open!
Click HERE for more details and instructions to apply.
Jun 2, 2025 | Curry Campus, News, Student Success
Coos Bay, OR – Southwestern is proud of the 2025 graduates! This year the College is pleased to honor a total of 412 graduates, from 21 states and 13 countries.
Degrees being awarded are:
143 Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer
110 Associate of Applied Science
50 Associate of General Studies
41 Associate of Science
5 Associate of Science Transfer
127 Certificates of Completion (one year)
Southwestern also congratulates seven local high school students who have completed their associate degrees in a dual enrollment program in partnership with their individual high schools.
Southwestern’s 2025 Commencement Ceremony will take place on Friday, June 13, 2025, at noon in Prosper Hall on the Coos Campus, 1988 Newmark Ave., Coos Bay. Guest attendance at the ceremony is by ticket only. The celebration can be viewed live via the College’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@SouthwesternOR.
Additional information for graduates and their families can be found on the Graduation webpage located at https://www.socc.edu/graduation.
Honors:
GH = Graduating with Honors, 3.75 GPA
PK = Member Phi Theta Kappa
V = Valedictorian, 4.00 GPA
Jun 2, 2025 | Community, Curry Campus, News
Coos Bay, OR – In celebration of Juneteenth, Southwestern Oregon Community College invites the public to a free presentation “Juneteenth: Americanism Reclaimed” by Taylor Stewart, founder of the Oregon Remembrance & Sunrise Projects. The presentation will be held at Southwestern’s Coos Campus (1988 Newmark Ave., Coos Bay) at 3:00 pm on Wednesday, June 18, 2025 in Umpqua Hall, Room 184. This is a free event and everyone is welcome.
Stewart’s presentation will offer a powerful reflection on emancipation, the meaning of Juneteenth, and the ongoing pursuit of truth, justice and reconciliation in America.
Juneteenth, officially Juneteenth National Independence Day, is a federal holiday in the United States celebrated annually on June 19 to commemorate the end of slavery. For the past four years, Taylor Stewart has been at the forefront of Juneteenth celebrations across the state of Oregon, lending his expertise and passion to the cause. Stewart’s first time working on a Juneteenth celebration was in 2021 in Coos Bay.
Stewart founded the Oregon Remembrance Project in 2018 to memorialize Alonzo Tucker, Oregon’s most widely documented African American victim of lynching, which occurred in Coos Bay in 1902.
For more information contact Forrest Akers, Director of International Recruitment and Academic Partnerships, at 541-888-7185, forrest.akers@socc.edu.
May 19, 2025 | Curry Campus, News
Coos Bay, OR – Southwestern Oregon Community College is offering free GED® and Adult Basic Education classes summer term 2025. These classes prepare individuals to take the GED® exam and update skills to enroll in college or career training programs. Students enrolled in these classes can build a pipeline to enter college, training programs, and jobs in high-demand career areas.
GED® and Adult Basic Education classes summer term:
- Monday through Thursday, 1pm-3pm
All classes will be live and in person on the Coos Campus (1988 Newmark Ave., Coos Bay) and in person on the Curry Campus (96082 Lone Ranch Parkway, Brookings).
For students who cannot make it to either campus, classes will also be offered via Zoom.
Summer term starts June 23, 2025 and ends August 14, 2025. To register for orientation and classes go to https://swoccapce.org/ and click GET STARTED. For questions, please email Adult & Pre-College Education at apce@socc.edu or call 541-888-1593.
May 16, 2025 | Community, Curry Campus
Photo by Gretchen Kay Stuart
BROOKINGS, OR – Southwestern Oregon Community College Curry Campus invites the community to join us on Thursday, June 12, 2025, 1:00 – 2:00 pm (New Time!) for: Sea Otters: Once More on Our Shores?
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.
Join Kyle Motley, Coastal Community Coordinator with the Elakha Alliance, for an in-depth exploration of sea otters, their ecological role, and their historical significance along the Oregon Coast. Kyle will share the fascinating history of these iconic marine mammals, discuss the vital ecological functions they serve in coastal ecosystems, and outline the considerations involved in their potential reintroduction to Oregon. This presentation highlights the intersection of science, culture, and community in restoring balance to our coastal waters.
Kyle has an extensive background working with endangered species, threatened ecosystems, stakeholder engagement, and watershed restoration projects on private and public lands. He received his Master of Science degree in natural resources from the University of Vermont, where he focused on forest ecology. He has worked on monitoring, restoration, and forestry projects with the United States Forest Service, the National Park Service, and several local government agencies around the country. Since moving to the south coast six years ago, Kyle has worked with local non-profit groups to successfully implement habitat restoration projects focused on coho salmon and oak woodlands. He is excited to be able to use his stakeholder engagement and community outreach skills for the Elakha Alliance.
Explore, grow, and create with the Friends of Curry Campus on the second Thursday of every month during the school year. Stay tuned for upcoming talks in our speaker series. For more information contact the Curry Campus at 541-813-1667.
