Feb 23, 2026 | Alumni, News
Photo courtesy of Brian Fowler, Park Manager, South Beach Management Unit
“I grew up thinking, and telling myself, that there were a lot of things in life I would never be able to do or have,” says Rushal Sedlemyer. College, a career, and homeownership. They were not part of what she could imagine for herself.
Like many first-generation college students, Rushal grew up without clear examples of people who followed college or career pathways. Raised in rural Oregon, she had limited financial resources. Yet she made her way to SWOCC knowing she wanted more.
A new story
A graduate of Southwestern, Rushal is now the South Coast Natural Resource Specialist for Oregon State Parks and Recreation – a role that once sounded like a dream job. She owns her own home, holds a college degree, and has built a career she’s passionate about. And it all began with one brave step toward education.
When Rushal enrolled at SWOCC, she didn’t have a clear sense of where she was headed. She was interested in biology, but didn’t realize the wide range of possible careers, from ecology and geomorphology to stewardship coordination and habitat restoration.
What she did know was that she wanted something better for herself, and she believed college was the key.
The path wasn’t easy. Rushal faced major financial challenges and leaned on every resource available to her. She found TRIO, a federally funded program designed to support first-generation students. With TRIO, she found mentorship, encouragement, and a sense of belonging.
“It helped me be more engaged and less scared about going to college.” She also found that SWOCC’s smaller campus and class sizes were the right fit. “It felt manageable and welcoming compared to a big university.”
While at SWOCC, Rushal enrolled in an ecology class that made a lasting impression. She began volunteering with the South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve and sought out hands-on projects wherever she could find them.
Rushal graduated from SWOCC in 2013 with her Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer degree. At the time, SWOCC did not yet offer a Natural Resources degree path, and Rushal was still unsure what her future held. But a simple flyer on campus changed everything.
It advertised an internship opportunity with the Coos Watershed Association. She applied and was accepted. During her time there, the Watershed staff encouraged Rushal to pursue a degree in Natural Resources. The experience opened her eyes to a new world — working outdoors, studying ecosystems, and protecting natural spaces now felt possible and exciting.
She eventually took advantage of SWOCC’s dual enrollment partnership with Oregon State University, earning her bachelor’s degree in Natural Resources in 2017. By completing many of her courses at SWOCC, she saved money, reduced travel, and continued using campus resources like the library and tutoring center.
Job Opportunities
Rushal continued building experience through volunteer work and seasonal field positions with organizations such as the Coos and Coquille Watershed Associations, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, and local conservation districts.
Her first full-time job was as a Watershed Technician with the Coquille Watershed Association. Over time, she grew into a Restoration Project Manager role and spent seven years developing her skills, confidence, and leadership.
Then came a full-circle moment.
“Seven years ago, I met the person who was in the job I have now,” Rushal recalled. “When I heard her talk about her work, I thought, ‘Wow, that sounds like a cool job.’”
Today, Rushal oversees natural resource projects for Oregon State Parks along the coast from Newport to Brookings. She collaborates on habitat restoration, erosion control, and environmental planning. “Our state parks are special places,” she said. “I’m honored to be the local voice advocating for them.”
Looking back, Rushal is proud not only of where she is, but of how far she’s come. All those things she once thought were impossible – college, a career, homeownership – are now part of her life.
“SWOCC was definitely my launch pad,” she said. “It set me up for success in a lot of areas of life.”
Rushal Sedlemyer’s story is a powerful reminder that with support, opportunity, and determination, even uncertain beginnings can lead to extraordinary outcomes. Her journey reflects grit, curiosity, and a belief that something better was possible.
Beach photo courtesy of Rob Brazie, Bullards Beach Management Unit
Feb 23, 2026 | Community, Curry Campus, Curry News, News, OCCI News
Spring Term 2025-26 is quickly approaching! Classes start Monday, March 30, 2026. Below are instructions about how to register. If you are experiencing any issues registering after reading the below, please contact us:
- Coos Campus Students: Call 541-888-7352 or Email
- Curry Campus Students: Call 541-813-1677 or Email
REGISTRATION FOR DEGREE OR CERTIFICATE SEEKING STUDENTS:
If you are already a current/admitted student, below are instructions on registering.
Not a current or admitted student? You’ll need to first complete an Application for Admission to Southwestern** Not sure whether or not you’re an admitted student? Contact us using the information above! (**Note: If you’re a community member simply looking to take a credit class for fun or personal enrichment, you’ll complete the Community Education and Personal Enrichment Form in lieu of the Application for Admission).
Spring Term 2025-26 credit classes begin Monday, March 30, 2026. Registration for credit classes is available February 23, 2026 – April 8, 2026. **IMPORTANT: April 1 is the last day to register for Spring Term without instructor consent. From April 2-8, you will first need instructor consent to register for a class.** To register:
- First clear with your advisor! If you’re unsure who your advisor is, call 541-888-7405 or schedule an advising meeting. Curry Campus students call 541-813-1667.
- Login to myLakerLink using your student ID and password.
- Search for courses to add under the “2025-2026 Spring Term” drop down.
REGISTRATION FOR COMMUNITY CLASSES (COMMUNITY EDUCATION):
Spring Term 2025-26 community education class registration opens Monday, March 9, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. To register, follow the instructions on the top of the community class page. Spring Term community class listings will be updated prior to registration opening.
As a reminder, all academic term dates and other important milestones may be found on the Academic Calendar. Click on the “2025-26 Academic Calendar” button for a .pdf version or click on the “categories” button and filter for “instructional calendar” to view the online version.
Feb 4, 2026 | Community, News
COOS BAY, OR – Southwestern Oregon Community College (SWOCC) Athletics will host the annual BASA “Big Mike” South Coast All-Star Basketball games on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at Speasl Court in Prosper Hall, featuring top high school basketball players from across the South Coast.
Proudly sponsored by the Bay Area Sportsman’s Association (BASA), the event honors the legacy of the late Mike “Big Mike” Helfrich, a longtime supporter and true champion of local athletics. Held each March following the conclusion of OSAA basketball, the All-Star Games bring together standout players from high schools across Southwestern Oregon. The South Coast All-Star tradition began in 2013 and continues to recognize both outstanding student-athletes and the legacy of Mike “Big Mike” Helfrich.
Participating schools include Bandon, Brookings-Harbor, Coquille, Gold Beach, Marshfield, Myrtle Point, North Bend, Pacific, Powers, and Reedsport. Referees, coaches, broadcasters, and game-management staff generously volunteer their time to support the event. All proceeds are deposited into the “Big Mike” account, which helps fund shooting shirts and uniforms for future All-Star Games.
Game Schedule & Format
Team practices take place at 2:00 p.m. (girls) and 3:00 p.m. (boys)
- Girls All-Star Game: 4:30 p.m.
- Boys All-Star Game: 6:00 p.m.
Players from each participating school will compete, with teammates matched against one another on opposing sides. Games will be played under college rules, including the use of a shot clock. The boys’ game will consist of two 20-minute halves, while the girls will play four 10-minute quarters.
Admission
- Adults: $10
- Seniors: $5
- High school students with ID: FREE
- Children 12 and under: FREE
Concessions will be available for purchase.
Community members are encouraged to attend and support South Coast basketball while honoring the memory of Big Mike Helfrich. The evening promises outstanding competition for a great cause.
Feb 3, 2026 | Community, Curry Campus, News
Coos Bay, OR – In celebration of Black History Month, Southwestern Oregon Community College invites all to attend a free virtual presentation by Taylor Stewart of the Oregon Remembrance Project (ORP) titled “Maintaining Internal Hopefulness in the Midst of External Hopelessness” on February 27, 2026, from 3:00 to 4:00 pm.
Join the presentation by Zoom: https://socc-edu.zoom.us/j/97511641511
Taylor Stewart of the Oregon Remembrance Project will share his experience falling in and out of love with activism, rekindling joy, and finding hope in bleak times. Stewart will engage in conversation with Forrest Akers, Director of International Recruitment and Academic Partnerships at Southwestern, as they explore the difficulties facing justice organizers today and the lessons that help make their work more sustainable. In Stewart’s own words, “Justice work is hard work. It’s also draining and never ending.”
Stewart will discuss the challenges of maintaining internal hopefulness even in times when externally things may seem hopeless. Taylor Stewart launched the Oregon Remembrance Project in 2018 to help communities with truth and reconciliation projects around repairing historical injustice. Stewart first partnered with Coos Bay, OR to memorialize the 1902 lynching of Alonzo Tucker. Between 2018-2021, Stewart and Coos Bay community members held a series of acts of remembrance for Mr. Tucker, which culminated in the installation of a historical marker outside of the Coos History Museum in 2021. Today, ORP has grown to help communities around the state confront Oregon’s history of lynching, sundown towns, Black Exclusionary Laws, and KKK activity.
For more information contact Forrest Akers, Director of International Recruitment and Academic Partnerships, at 541-888-7185, forrest.akers@socc.edu.
Jan 30, 2026 | Community, Curry Campus, News
COOS BAY, OR – Southwestern Oregon Community College invites the community to join us on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at 6:00 pm, for “Fossil whales of the Pacific Northwest and the evolution of baleen” with Dr. Robert Boessenecker. 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 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:
Baleen whales are the largest animals ever to evolve – unlocked by the evolution of baleen. Baleen is a soft tissue structure made of keratin (‘horn’) and allows these oceanic giants to feed on krill and other tiny zooplankton. Further strange is the complete loss of teeth in baleen whales. Where did baleen come from, and what happened to their teeth? Strange fossil whales from the Oligocene epoch (34-23 million years ago) of Oregon, Washington, and beyond showcase many clues about the loss of teeth and the evolution of baleen.
About the Presenter:
Robert W. Boessenecker, Ph.D., grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and began collecting fossils as an amateur in high school. He attended Montana State University in Bozeman for his Bachelor’s and Master’s programs, where he worked on marine mammal fossils from the Purisima Formation near Santa Cruz, California – and met his wife and fellow paleontologist, Sarah Michalies. He attended the University of Otago in New Zealand from 2012-2015 for his doctoral studies on eomysticetid whales from the Oligocene of New Zealand. From 2015-2024 he worked in Charleston, South Carolina, on early toothed baleen whales and echolocating dolphins from the same time period, and since 2024 has come full circle and renewed work on Purisima Formation marine mammals in California.
For more information about the lecture series contact Dr. Win McLaughlin, Assistant Professor, Geology at win.mclaughlin@socc.edu or 541-888-7002.
For more information on upcoming lectures contact Cassie Coyner, STEAM Pathways Coordinator, at 541-888-7416, or cassie.coyner@socc.edu .
To learn more about STEM degrees at Southwestern visit: https://www.socc.edu/programs-classes/stem/.
Jan 28, 2026 | Community, Curry Campus, News
Coos Bay, OR – Southwestern Oregon Community College invites the community to join us on Thursday, February 26, 2026, at 6:00 pm, for a group panel discussion on “The Future of Oregon’s Working Forests: Balancing Timber Production and Ecosystem Health,” hosted by Tasha Davison, Forestry Instructor at Southwestern. 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 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 Panel:
Explore how Oregon’s forests can continue to support a thriving timber industry while preserving biodiversity, water quality, and climate resilience. Experts will discuss innovative management strategies, policy considerations, and collaborative approaches to ensure sustainable forest practices for generations to come.
About the Panelists:
Participants will include Coos Watershed Association, Elliott State Research Forest Station, Coos Forest Protective Association, Weyerhaeuser, South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve, and Oregon Department of Forestry.
For more information about the lecture series contact DeAnne Varitek, Dean of Career & Technical Education at deanne.varitek@socc.edu or 541-888-7312.
To learn more about Southwestern’s Forestry & Natural Resources program visit: https://www.socc.edu/forestry/.
Rushal continued building experience through volunteer work and seasonal field positions with organizations such as the Coos and Coquille Watershed Associations, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, and local conservation districts.
