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Southwestern Foundation Congratulates 2024-25 Curry County Scholarship Recipients

Southwestern Foundation Congratulates 2024-25 Curry County Scholarship Recipients

Coos Bay, OR – The Southwestern Oregon Community College Foundation is proud to congratulate our 2024-25 Curry County scholarship recipients. Thanks to generous donors, the organization awarded 23 scholarships totaling $23,000 for students from Curry County attending Southwestern for the upcoming academic year.

“Students who receive scholarships tell us that it helps them get started on a goal they thought they couldn’t achieve,” said Karen Pringle Cunningham, SWOCC Foundation Board of Trustees member. “It boosts self-confidence and relieves a financial burden for them and their families. Seeing a thank you letter from a student you helped is a rewarding experience.”

Guided by a board of community volunteers, the Southwestern Foundation organized as a nonprofit organization in 1962, the year after the college started. Since then, thousands of students have attended the college and received Foundation scholarships. These awards help students by breaking down financial barriers and inspiring students to better their lives and futures.

If you are interested in donating to scholarships or volunteering with the Southwestern Foundation visit www.socc.edu/give or call 541-888-7209 for additional information.

 

2024-25 Southwestern Oregon Community College Foundation Curry County Scholarship Recipients:

 

SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT(S)
Andy Toribio Scholarship Sonia Haro
Ann Lansing Scholarship Steven Scruggs
Baughman Memorial Apprenticeship Scholarship Dylan Kamph
Bezzerides Scholarship Kylie Shaw-Kamehaiku
Dani Marshall
Cherie J. Mitchell Scholarship Jade Bernhardt
Curry Campus General Scholarship Brooke Gray
Gracie Brozdounoff
Alannah Clark
Maxine Smith Scholarship Stephanie Horn
Menasha Legacy Fund Scholarship Aimie Bussmann
Nancy Douglas Memorial Scholarship Ava Bolster
New Beginnings for Tribal Students Scholarship Oliver Merritt
SWOCC Foundation Board General Scholarship Chanel Greenwood
Dustin Ledford
Taya Torres
RayAnne Lockett
June Markum
SWOCC Foundation General Nursing Scholarship Amanda Higgins
SWOCC Foundation General Scholarship Jeffrey Jennings
SWOCC Foundation General Scholarship Sonia Haro
The Friends of the Curry Public Library James Boyle Memorial Scholarship Zachary Renfro
The Yellow Cab Taxi Scholarship Emmett Hawthorne

*Note: Some scholarship recipients request their award(s) not be listed publicly. The Foundation respects their privacy by not including them on this list.

 

 

Southwestern Foundation Congratulates 2024-25 Scholarship Recipients

Southwestern Foundation Congratulates 2024-25 Scholarship Recipients

Coos Bay, OR – The Southwestern Oregon Community College Foundation is proud to congratulate the 2024-25 scholarship recipients. Thanks to generous donors, the organization awarded nearly 200 scholarships totaling more than $300,000 for students attending Southwestern for the upcoming academic year.

“Students who receive scholarships tell us that it helps them get started on a goal they thought they couldn’t achieve,” said Karen Pringle Cunningham, SWOCC Foundation Board of Trustees member. “It boosts self-confidence and relieves a financial burden for them and their families. Seeing a thank you letter from a student you helped is a rewarding experience.”

Guided by a board of community volunteers, the Southwestern Foundation organized as a nonprofit organization in 1962, the year after the college started. Since then, thousands of students have attended the college and received Foundation scholarships. These awards help students by breaking down financial barriers and inspiring students to better their lives and futures.

If you are interested in donating to scholarships or volunteering with the Southwestern Foundation visit www.socc.edu/give or call 541-888-7209 for additional information.

 

2024-25 Southwestern Oregon Community College Foundation Scholarship Recipients

 

SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT(S)
Andy Toribio Scholarship Sonia Haro
Ann Lansing Scholarship Steven Scruggs
Alicia Ames
Art and Toni Poole Scholarship Jessi Knudsen
Rylee Madison
Angel Garcia
Samuel LaGore
Isabelle Enright
Lily Gagnier
Brayden Lester
Kirra Cooley
Barbara Dodrill Scholarship Rebecca Healy
Barbara Emily Knudson Scholarship Emily Peck
Barbara Reynolds Scholarship Gio Castro
Baughman Memorial Apprenticeship Scholarship Dylan Kamph
Bay Area Picklers Scholarship Akshat Akshat
Bay Area Sportsman’s Association (BASA) Scholarship Kacee Ligons
Bechtold-Laird Health Care Scholarship Taryn Hurley
Ryan Cook
Bezzerides Scholarship Kylie Shaw-Kamehaiku
Dani Marshall
Cherie J. Mitchell Scholarship Jade Bernhardt
Cherish Pride Scholarship Lindsey Tatakis
Christine Moffitt Science Scholarship Jaclyn Young
Gracie Peach
Cole Roberts
Gabbard Herring
Heidi Graves
Chuck Hanners Scholarship Taylor Weidemiller
Clyde and Jackie Cherry Memorial Scholarship Nicole Hamby-Freund
Natasha Holmes
Coastal Clay Pottery Guild Scholarship Tori Goodell
Coos Bay Surfrider Scholarship Jaydenn Gamboa
Coos Bay Vision Center Scholarship Michelle McKiddy
Coos Bay-North Bend Rotary Scholarship Vanessa Cardoso
Coos County Realtors Scholarship Ning Zhao
Coquille Indian Tribe Scholarship Katie Gauntz
CTE Training Scholarship Quinn Komok
Curry Campus General Scholarship Brooke Gray
Gracie Brozdounoff
Alannah Clark
Dean and Jane Muffett Memorial Scholarship Kyla Bailey-Wilson
DeArmond CTE Scholarship AbbieGail Michael
Autum Burford
James Loetzerich
Auguste Ledji
Brittany Mueller
Dennis and Janet Beetham Family Scholarship Khobi Carmichel
Sam Hayes
Breck Jones
Samaan Abdul Aziz
Aubrey Brooks
Lars Knudsen
Cainan Stewart
Haydenn Matzner
Cameron Miller
Luke Norris
Stuart Kayanja
Tate Vigna
Donald Ivy Memorial Scholarship Mariah Hill
Dorothy Heagy Education Scholarship Aeryn Jones
Early Bird Scholarship Takemasa Okawa
Ernest L. Frye-Keizer Memorial Scholarship Katie Berger
Estella Morgan Memorial Michelle McKiddy
Flaxel Family Scholarship Holly Ullha-Reams
*Anonymous
Floyd Ingram Scholarship Marisol Carreno Yanez
Jackson Brazil
Lupita Trujillo
Godfred Amonoo
Forty & Eight Bobby L. Fraser Memorial Nursing Scholarship Jessica Jones
Hales Family Scholarship Nolan Black
Karli Daugherty
Jacob Montenero
Henry F. and Elva H. Hansen Memorial Scholarship Samantha Ward
ILWU Local 12 Scholarship Kaitlyn Dubisar
Jack & Margaret S. Dean Scholarship Alexa Crum
James Montalbano Scholarship Shyla Jorgensen
Adrean McGuire
Jessica Jones
Kiefer Allen
James Reed VanDuzer IV Scholarship Diego London
Jody McCaffree Social & Environmental Justice Scholarship Michelle Riley
John C. Anderson Memorial Scholarship Kaela Hickox
Aryanna Corrales
John W. Burles Memorial Scholarship Jasmin Mitchell
Abby Jessen
Taylor Weidemiller
*Anonymous
Keiser Scholarship for Culinary Excellence Brooklyn Hansen
Oliver Cowan
Stefania Tlachi
Kyle Trust Scholarship Holden Guzman
Laker Legacy Alumni Scholarship Hannah Tanner
Leonard C. Farr Community Service Scholarship Brooklyn Hansen
Linda Bufton Culinary Scholarship Monica Florez
Linda Kallgren Donaldson Nursing Scholarship Shantaya Cotton
Lisa G. Wampole Memorial Scholarship in Criminal Justice Shyla Applegate
Lyon/Orr Family Scholarship Lilly Dubisar
Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Isaiah Wilson
Mary, Kate and Cap Sharples Scholarship Makenzie Alexander
Maxine Smith Scholarship Stephanie Horn
May Virginia Smith VanDuzer Scholarship Sayana Phillips
Maybelle M. Olson Scholarship Hayley Brophy
Menasha Legacy Fund Scholarship Aimie Bussmann
Menasha Legacy Fund Scholarship Hope Schrag
Stephen Votaw
Asher Vredenburg
Brenna Watkins
Keagan Morris
*Anonymous
Mike Groben Scholarship Dezi Hazzard
Vincent Monaco
Military Families Scholarship Annalisa Norland
N/A Tuition Certificate donated Kaleb Clason
Nancy Douglas Memorial Scholarship Ava Bolster
New Beginnings for Tribal Students Scholarship Oliver Merritt
Ray Slocomb
Kota Bear
Kacee Ligons
Brooke Williams
Pacific Orchid Society Scholarship Irelyn Gibbs
Patricia Benetti Memorial Scholarship Rami Escure
Tia DeLorto
Patricia D. and William B. Smullin Scholarship Gracie Andrews
Garrett Bushnell
Paul Cameron Rients Memorial Scholarship Dominic Duckett
Presbyterian Church of Coos Bay Memorial Scholarship Ashlea Gottschalk
Carly Nair
*Anonymous
Randy Carpenter Memorial Scholarship Charles Woodruff
Bobbi Rangel
Roderick H. Morris Scholarship Brenden Kirby
Sandra Martinez & Carrie Kralicek Selfless Act Nursing Scholarship Shyla Jorgensen
Sharon Barnett Scholarship Trillian Zotti
Sharon Kolkhorst Memorial Nursing Scholarship Ruby Cardoso
Sheryl Rosenbaum Memorial Scholarship Taarna Lancaster
Shirley Barton Nursing Scholarship Ashley Watkins
Sickels Family Rural College Technology Scholarship Taylor Sheppard
Takeru Onozaki
Slaney Family Human Services Scholarship Alexis Rogers
Slaney Family Scholarship Emma Spalding
Stephens Family Scholarship Savannah Doughty
Annalisa Norland
Steve Shirtcliff CASA Scholarship *Anonymous
Student of the Year Scholarship Mark Gutierrez
SWOCC Foundation Board General Scholarship Chanel Greenwood
Shyla Applegate
Dustin Ledford
Taya Torres
Denese Abeyta
Morgan Herring
Rachel Jones
RayAnne Lockett
June Markum
SWOCC Foundation Culinary General Scholarship Zoe Andresen
Ashley Lavender
Olivia Fatooh
Mckenzie Palacios
Oliver Cowan
Stefania Tlachi
Fyn Elton
Sergio Rodriguez
Nathan Vance
Jasper Andersen
SWOCC Foundation General Nursing Scholarship Jessica Edmundson
Amanda Higgins
SWOCC Foundation General Scholarship Jeffrey Jennings
Wren Brown
Penelope Town
Paolo Flores
Cory Ricketts
Milagros Perez Nanez
Sonia Haro
Heather Beaird
Michael Knutsen
*Anonymous
The Friends of the Curry Public Library James Boyle Memorial Scholarship Zachary Renfro
TymByr Culinary Scholarship Jesse Spinella
Jennifer Parker
Uncork your Potential Scholarship Lily Isom
Uncorking Opportunity! Bandon Dunes Golf Resort Scholarship Rune Van Den Bosch
Uncorking Opportunity! Culinary and the Arts Scholarship Vanessa Barragan
Uncorking Opportunity! Ken Chard Scholarship Alannah Gee
Uncorking Opportunity! Nursing Scholarship Zubeda Ingabire
Uncorking Opportunity! Roos and Roos Scholarship Marcela Mendoza
Uncorking Opportunity! The Mill Casino Hotel Scholarship Dominic Duckett
Uncorking Opportunity! Warehouse Coffee Cafe Farm and Sea Scholarship Dawson Howerton
Vernon Brecke Memorial Scholarship Jill Holbrook
Vernon C. and Jean G. Sorenson Scholarship Mary Wolfe
William and Virginia Erickson Scholarship Mycah Nichols
Avineet Devi
William Lansing Scholarship Christopher Beil
Nevaeh Dewitt
Woolridge Myrtle Point Scholarship Hayley Brophy
Yellow Cab Taxi Scholarship Emmett Hawthorne
*Note: Some scholarship recipients request their award(s) not be listed publicly. The Foundation respects their privacy by not including them on this list. 
Southwestern Oregon Community College celebrates its 2024 graduates

Southwestern Oregon Community College celebrates its 2024 graduates

Southwestern Oregon Community College’s 2024 Commencement Ceremony will take place on Friday, June 14, 2024, at noon in Prosper Hall on the Coos Campus, 1988 Newmark Ave., Coos Bay.

WATCH A LIVE STREAM OF THE CELEBRATION ON SOUTHWESTERN’S YOUTUBE CHANNEL HERE.

Southwestern is proud of the 2024 graduates! This year the College is pleased to honor a total of 401 graduates, from 24 states and eight countries.

Degrees being awarded are:

  • 163 Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer
  • 96 Associate of Applied Science
  • 48 Associate of General Studies
  • 52 Associate of Science
  • 100 Certificates of Completion (one year)

Southwestern also congratulates 15 local high school students who acquired their associate degrees at the same time they were completing their high school diplomas.

Guest attendance at the ceremony is by ticket only. The celebration can be viewed live via Southwestern’s YouTube channel.

Additional information for graduates and their families can be found on the Graduation web page.

 

Graduating Class of 2024

 GH = Graduating with Honors, 3.75 GPA        PK = Member Phi Theta Kappa        V = Valedictorian, 4.00 GPA 

 

 

 

 

Southwestern Oregon Community College announces Chef Reilly Meehan as the 2024 Distinguished Alumnus

Southwestern Oregon Community College announces Chef Reilly Meehan as the 2024 Distinguished Alumnus

Coos Bay, OR – Southwestern Oregon Community College is pleased to announce Reilly Meehan is the 2024 Distinguished Alumnus. Meehan graduated in 2011 from Southwestern with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Culinary Arts.

The Distinguished Alumni award recognizes individuals who demonstrate significant contributions to their professions, communities, or academia.

“Being chosen as the 2024 SWOCC Distinguished Alumni is a high honor and I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to continue to represent SWOCC and OCCI for years to come,” Meehan said.

“I was given the opportunity to pursue a career that not only allows me creative expression but also freedom and a space for individuality – all thanks to the nurturing nature of the staff and teachers I crossed paths with during my time as a student here. I look forward to seeing what this year’s graduates have to bring to this world and will continue to push myself to be the best role model I can for future graduates from this amazing program.”

The world first noticed Chef Reilly Meehan as an award winner. He won Best Young Chef in the World 2011 at the Chaines Des Rotisseurs Jenunes Comms competition in Istanbul, Turkey. That year at age 21, he was the first American to win the award – and the youngest award winner. He followed it up with awards in 2019 and 2022 – ACF Chef of the Year and Americas Global Chef Challenge champion.

Chef Meehan also is a natural teacher. An online mentor, he inspires people who are into food and non-foodies to get into food. This TikTok influencer has 391,000 people following his culinary video posts. Nearly 200,000 people follow him on Instagram.

“Reilly encompasses the best of both worlds,” says Executive Chef Randy Torres. “You can tell he has classical training with Old World style, but with a very modern approach. Fresh ideas. Inspirational. And really, he is inspirational to all genres of people from grandmas to Master Chefs.”

Meehan grew up in Central California. He first connected with Chef Torres as a high schooler during a culinary institute competition in San Jose. He enrolled at the school to learn from Chef Torres, who put together a competition team. Meehan learned and excelled. First competition he won a gold medal.

Torres soon moved to Oregon Coast Culinary Institute. In 2010, he began building the Youth Competition Team for the 2012 Culinary Olympics. Wanting to be on Torres’ team, Meehan followed him to Coos Bay to finish his studies. In 2011, he graduated and worked his way to fame.

Chef Meehan has worked at The Ritz Carlton, San Francisco’s famed The Bohemian Club and owned a restaurant. Now, as a private chef, Meehan jets between Phoenix and Southampton, N.Y. During moments of down time, he inspires thousands of people worldwide as an iconic, charismatic social media culinary teacher.

“Why he’s gaining success in his social media endeavors is his approachability and his overall demeanor,” says Torres. “Reilly’s a welcoming person and you belong in whatever he’s doing. He’s a black tie and T-shirt all rolled into one. He’s a complete package. You can have a beer with him or a glass of champagne.”

It’s very rare to ever see that in a chef. That’s why Southwestern is pleased to celebrate Chef Reilly Meehan as 2024 Distinguished Alum, and especially this year on the 25th anniversary of the Oregon Coast Culinary Institute at Southwestern.

Southwestern Students Recognized for Academic Honors Winter Term – Academic Year 2023-2024

Southwestern Students Recognized for Academic Honors Winter Term – Academic Year 2023-2024

Coos Bay, OR – Southwestern Oregon Community College announces the names of students who excelled winter term for the 2023-2024 academic school year. These students are being recognized with placement on the college’s Dean’s List (DL), Honor Roll (HR) and Academic Excellence (AE) list.

•    Academic Excellence – students must receive a GPA of 4.0 in at least 12 credits

•    Honor Roll – students must receive a GPA between 3.5 and 3.99 in at least 12 credits

•    Dean’s List – students must receive a GPA between 3.0 and 3.49 in at least 12 credits

 

Southwestern announces 2024 Commencement Ceremony – June 14, 2024

Southwestern announces 2024 Commencement Ceremony – June 14, 2024

Southwestern Oregon Community College’s 2024 Commencement Ceremony will take place on Friday, June 14, 2024, at noon in Prosper Hall on the Coos Campus, 1988 Newmark Ave., Coos Bay.

Southwestern is proud of the 2024 graduates! This year the College is pleased to honor a total of 402 graduates, from 24 states and eight countries.

Degrees being awarded are:

164 Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer

96 Associate of Applied Science

48 Associate of General Studies

52 Associate of Science

100 Certificates of Completion (one year)

 

Southwestern also congratulates 15 local high school students who acquired their associate degrees at the same time they were completing their high school diplomas.

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.

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