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.
Apr 28, 2025 | Community, News
Coquille Rotarian Lee Van Pelt reads a book of Haiku poetry “Climbing the Volcano” to first-graders at the Gift of Literacy event at SWOCC.
COOS BAY, OR – “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more you learn, the more places you’ll go.”— Dr. Seuss
More than 600 first-graders from throughout Coos County gathered at Southwestern Oregon Community College (SWOCC) for a celebration of books and reading on April 24, 2025. The event marked the culmination of the Gift of Literacy Program, a six-month initiative designed to encourage a lifelong love of reading among young children.
Reading is fundamental. It develops young children’s brains, provides a window into the world around them and helps them do better in all school subjects. Even so, 800 million people around the world cannot read or write. And many families (and some schools) have no books for children to read.
With the idea of improving children’s access to fun books and reading, the Rotary Clubs and school districts of North Bend, Coos Bay, Reedsport, Bandon, Coquille, Myrtle Point and Powers, along with South Coast Education Service District (ESD), and SWOCC have partnered for the past eight years on the Gift of Literacy Program.
Modeled after the Springfield Gift of Literacy, this well-established, time-tested, award-winning program supports reading and inspires thousands of young children.
Each year, Coos County librarians and teachers choose the books. First-grade classrooms receive a set of the books in November, giving teachers or guest readers an opportunity to read the books in the classroom and build excitement.
The Gift of Literacy Program culminates in the festive celebration at the college with music, guest book readers and a play put on by youth actors with The Little Theatre on the Bay. First-graders receive a bag filled with fun swag, a careers coloring book and the year’s featured brand-new books!
“Literacy is the foundation for lifelong learning, and it’s a privilege to support that journey from the very start,” said Southwestern President and local Rotarian Dr. Patty Scott. “This event reflects our deep commitment — not just to education, but to empowering every child in our community to thrive.”
The Rotary Clubs, ESD and the College also special thanks to Yellow Cab, First Community Credit Union, McDonald’s and Northwest Community Credit Union for their generous support of the Gift of Literacy Program.
Apr 22, 2025 | Community, News
Girls High School Varsity Basketball Tournament at Southwestern Oregon Community College
COOS BAY, OR – Southwestern Oregon Community College athletics invites high school basketball teams from across the region to participate in the annual Ballin’ In The Bay Showcase—a premier varsity girls basketball tournament set to take place June 19-21, 2025, at the College’s Coos Campus in Coos Bay, Oregon.
With a seven game guarantee, the Ballin’ In The Bay Showcase promises a fun tournament for high school girls basketball teams that includes a skills competition, memorable camaraderie and an event barbeque for participants. Teams interested in on-campus housing accommodations can arrange for them at an additional fee.
Registration for the Ballin’ In The Bay Showcase is now open. Teams can secure their spot for $500 by registering online HERE. Furthermore, teams registering and submitting their rosters by June 1, 2025, will receive complimentary t-shirts. Hurry, as the tournament will cap at 16 teams.
Tournament Details:
- Dates: June 19-21, 2025
- Location: Southwestern Oregon Community College’s Coos Campus (1988 Newmark Ave., Coos Bay)
- Registration: $500 per team, register online HERE
- Game Guarantee: 7 games
- Officiating: OSAA Certified Officials
- Additional Events: Skills competition & BBQ
- Accommodations: Teams have the option to stay in on-campus housing for an additional fee (details in registration link)
For more information, including specific inquiries about accommodations and tournament details, please contact Southwestern’s Head Women’s Basketball Coach Heather Weber at 541-391-3494 or via email at heather.weber@socc.edu.
Join us for this opportunity to compete, connect, and celebrate basketball at the Ballin’ In The Bay Showcase.
Apr 18, 2025 | News
COOS BAY, OR – Southwestern Oregon Community College invites the community to join us on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, at 6:00 pm, for a special online presentation by Oregon State University’s branch of the American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics (AIAA). This is a free event; all ages are welcome.
Coos County residents can join us for a watch party 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 Presentation:
In 2012, a group of students had a goal: to introduce aerospace and aviation to a campus with no formal program for such studies. Oregon State University’s (OSU) branch of the American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics (AIAA) was created to fill that void. OSU AIAA is a student-led organization. Since their humble beginnings, they have grown to be one of the largest groups on campus, serving over 200 members in Beaver Nation. We invite you to further explore their vision and the incredible network of students that fuel their success. The presentation will involve a detailed description of all eight teams housed within OSU AIAA. They will have segments explaining who they are, what they do, and many of the benefits students get by being part of this organization.
About the Presenters:
Brayden Haldezos: Brayden is a senior in mechanical & aerospace engineering at Oregon State University. He is the president of OSU’s AIAA student chapter and is passionate about rocketry, human spaceflight, and aviation. He has served as a Command and Data Handling Engineering Mentor for the NASA L’SPACE Program and has interned at NASA Johnson Space Center as a Payload Systems Engineer for human research onboard the International Space Station. He enjoys providing students with resources and opportunities for success, specifically within the aerospace field.
SWOCC SPEAR Alumni, Damian Lilienthal: Damian is a senior at Oregon State University, pursuing a degree in mechanical and aerospace engineering. He is the lead of the High-Altitude Rocket Team (HART), where he manages a team focused on designing a two-stage rocket with a goal of reaching an altitude of 100,000 feet, and he also went through NASA’s NCAS (National Community College Aerospace Scholars) program that ultimately cued his interest in the field. Damian has experience in various aerospace projects with his position in HART, including hands-on expertise in rocket propulsion and structural systems. Passionate about advancing the field, he actively engages in both academic and extracurricular projects to promote the program through presentations and career fairs.
Lukas Knipple: Lukas is in his second year at OSU pursuing his BS in Electrical & Computer Engineering. As an avid fan of aerospace, he joined AIAA’s Solar Plane team and HALE liquid rocketry team when he began at Oregon State. In addition to being the Chief Treasurer of AIAA, he works on design, instrumentation, and control of HALE’s flight vehicle and mobile launch pad electrical systems. All things programming and electrical are his interest, and he hopes to take that passion into the aerospace industry after he graduates.
For more information on upcoming lectures contact Krystal Hopper Meyers, STEAM Pathways, at 541-888-1518, or krystal.hopper@socc.edu.
To learn more about STEM degrees at Southwestern visit: https://www.socc.edu/programs-classes/stem/.
Apr 16, 2025 | Community, News, OCCI News
Coos Bay, OR – Come taste what’s cooking at the Oregon Coast Culinary Institute (OCCI)! This spring, students and instructors invite the community to enjoy freshly made pastries, artisan breads, and chef-prepared meals—while supporting local students gaining real-world experience in the kitchen.
OCCI’s La Patisserie bake sales and Culinary Market Days are hosted by students in the Retail Baking and Culinary Arts programs. The events give aspiring bakers and chefs the opportunity to showcase their skills in a live retail setting, offering thoughtfully crafted goods to the public. Weekly menus will be posted at www.socc.edu/occi prior to the event (click on the “news & events” button) and are subject to change.
La Patisserie Bake Sales
Guests can expect a rotating menu of croissants, pastries, artisan breads, desserts, and handcrafted coffee drinks—made fresh by baking and pastry students. Each week features a unique theme that highlights seasonal flavors and creative techniques.
Culinary Market Days
Beginning in May, Culinary Market Days offer an expanded experience featuring pre-made and take-and-bake culinary goods, presented in a “farmers market” style. In addition to the market offerings, the OCCI Food Truck will be on-site serving up hot meals, and other counter-service lunch options will also be available.
SPRING 2025 SCHEDULE:
Thursdays | 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Location: OCCI – 1988 Newmark Ave., Coos Bay
- April 17 – La Patisserie (Italian Theme)
- April 24 – La Patisserie
- May 1 – **NO EVENTS THIS WEEK**
- May 8 – La Patisserie & Culinary Market
- May 15 – La Patisserie & Culinary Market
- May 22 – La Patisserie & Culinary Market
- May 29 – La Patisserie & Culinary Market
- June 5 – La Patisserie & Culinary Market
All events are first-come, first-served. No pre-orders or phone orders accepted.
Come support our students, enjoy delicious food, and see the next generation of culinary talent in action!
