May 22, 2023 | Alumni, Community, Curry Campus, Foundation, News, Student Success
When you walk into Randolph Hall on SWOCC’s Coos Campus, you can hear laughter. It is hard not to follow the sound right into the Veterans Center to be a part of something good.
One tall, blond-haired man is always right in the middle of conversations there. To folks who do not know Ryan DeVore, he appears to be just another Vet Center work study student. Quiet-spoken. Smiling.
To those who know him, he’s much more.
“I’ve become a better person because of Ryan,” Shana Brazil said, as she watched him chatting with two students. “Ryan is so open to everything. Veterans can tell him anything, and he never looks down on them – ever. He never has anything negative to say.”
Shana is SWOCC’s Veteran Services Coordinator. She’s worked with vets at the college for years. She got to know Ryan a couple years ago. He was one of many disabled veterans coming to school to use GI Bill benefits to learn. Ryan found his way to her office. Shana liked him immediately. She asked if he would be her work-study student. Disappointingly, he said no. Three weeks later, Ryan returned. He asked if the job was still open.
Ryan and his wife, Jessie Courtright, grew up here and have family here. Ryan felt a connection to the college. Jessie graduated from SWOCC 18 years ago, he said, adding proudly she was the first woman to graduate in welding. Ryan applied to SWOCC in 2022 and got a Foundation scholarship. He is pursuing a science degree, but is working on a bigger mission. He believes his mission will improve the world in small, incremental ways long after he’s gone.
“I’m dying, you know. Slowly,” Ryan said, as he started telling his story. “I have organ failure.”
It is an autoimmune disorder that manifested as diabetes and Grave’s disease. Slowly, it has overcome his pancreas and now is destroying his liver and spleen. He’s waiting for it to attack his heart or his brain.
A person could let that eat away at him. That’s not Ryan’s story.
When he started his work study job, he learned that veterans club students tried to create a permanent scholarship for vets and their families. They made good progress in 2020 fundraising, until COVID killed the effort.
Ryan picked up the mission.
“It’s really important to help the soldiers and their dependents. They may be running out of benefits or needing a little extra help,” he said.
There’s a perception that if you serve in the military, you get free college, free job training. Some do. For others it is more complicated. Many older veterans’ benefits may have expired, or run out just short of the end of their schooling. For veterans with families, the monthly aid often does not stretch far enough.
Ryan knows personally, the value of a scholarship. It covers the bits and pieces. It eases worry. It helps to know someone cares.
His goal is to raise the scholarship fund to $50,000. The Vet Center is selling T-shirts. Ryan says he’s hoping to win the lottery. He launched a GoFundMe effort. Donations are trickling in.
“I’m trying to make the world a smarter place. It’s how I deal with my PTSD and ailments. If I’m going to be around, I’m going to try to make everybody’s day better,” Ryan said.
Ryan developed the mindset serving in the U.S. Army from 2002-16, until being medically discharged. He served at Fort Benning, Fort Stewart and Fort Hood. He also did two deployments to Iraq and one to Afghanistan. As a staff sergeant, Ryan watched over his soldiers. He cared for them not only at work, but in their home life and everything. If they needed something, he made sure they were taken care of.
“He’s brought that into the Vet Center a thousand times more than we ever had,” Shana said. “He just cares about the students. I appreciate it so much.”
Every day, Ryan keeps a candy jar ready for anyone who walks through the Vet Center door. He gets to know each veteran, their spouses, their children. He listens. When they need help, food or a friend, Ryan finds it for them. He connects them with things to do in the community. When some veterans’ car broke down recently, he picked them up and drove them to school.
“I’m just trying to live forward. I need as much good karma as I can find,” Ryan said, which is why this 42-year-old man’s mission is to finish creating the scholarship fund for veterans.
“This work-study money I get, it’s going to go to this project. I am working for free today for kids,” he said.
Now you have met Ryan DeVore. No, he is not just another work-study student. To those who know him, he is a hero.
If you would like to contribute to a permanent scholarship for veterans and their families click ‘Give’ to donate online. Put ‘Veterans Scholarship’ in the notes.
Give
For more information about the veterans program at Southwestern visit www.socc.edu/veterans, call 541-888-7236 or email veterans@socc.edu.
Apr 25, 2023 | News, Student Success
Photo: Damian Lilienthal, President Scott, Brayden Edwards
Coos Bay, OR – Southwestern Oregon Community College is pleased to announce the selection of Damian Lilienthal and Brayden Edwardsfor the 2023 All-Oregon Academic Team (AOAT). These outstanding student scholars are selected for their academic excellence, leadership, and community service. Many are members of Phi Theta Kappa, the nation’s community college honor society.
Each year, Phi Theta Kappa, community college presidents, and community college state associations including the Oregon Community College Association (OCCA) sponsor All-State Community College Academic Team ceremonies in 37 participating states. OCCA hosted the All-Oregon Academic Team Luncheon on April 21 at Chemeketa Community College in Salem, Ore., to honor AOAT students and their families. The AOAT luncheon’s keynote speaker was Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan.
“I’d like to congratulate these outstanding student scholars for their achievements and the upcoming completion of their community college degrees,” said OCCA Board President Kim Morgan. “As some of our very best and brightest, these students represent hope for a strong future in Oregon.”
Both Lilienthal and Edwards will graduate in June and then transfer to Oregon State University. Lilienthal, who is from Myrtle Point, was a STEM Student Researcher with our Space Physics Engineering and Atmospheric Research (SPEAR) team and plans to pursue engineering. Edwards, who is from Coos Bay, was involved in Student Government as the Club’s Director, became a certified Master Tutor through the College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA), and will major in computer science.
“I was honored to accompany these young men to the recognition ceremony in Salem. It was the highlight of my year. Spending time with these young men and hearing about their professors, classes, goals and aspirations. Their stories are amazing!” said Patty Scott, President of Southwestern.
Apr 25, 2023 | Curry Campus, News, Student Success
Coos Bay, OR – Southwestern Oregon Community College announces the names of students who excelled winter term for the 2022-2023 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
Mar 10, 2023 | Staff & Administration, Student Success
Dear Campus Community,
Southwestern is Oregon’s most remote community college. Most of us may not think about the implications of that. For people who want to go to college, we are the only local option.
To learn elsewhere, residents of the college district must travel over a mountain range or go online. Often, it is more expensive. Many students want the “people connection”, and 50% of our students who enroll in CTE programs need access to labs and equipment, usually requiring time on either campus.
Yesterday, I and seven other community college presidents testified before a legislative higher education committee. One after another, we talked about our students, the challenges they face and the groundbreaking work community colleges do. We did not talk about community college funding, but it was the unspoken topic in the room as the Legislature works on the state’s budget. Here is the link if you want to watch it. https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/mediaplayer/?clientID=4879615486&eventID=2023031097
Oregon funds 38% of our budget through reimbursement on a three-year lookback of FTE enrollment. Local property taxes provide 32% of the college’s revenue. Tuition and fees cover 27%. The other 3% is miscellaneous funding.
When the governor and lawmakers let community college funding stagnate, our costs still go up. Property tax increases are capped at 3% annually, so in times of high inflation colleges are left with few options to balance revenue with escalating expenses. The options then become increasing tuition and fees, and cutting expenses. We can’t raise tuition and fees enough to make up for what we need.
Budgeting at the end of a biennium is an analytical guessing game. As the college works on the budget now through April, it’s unlikely the state will finish its work until June. We don’t know at what level the state will fund colleges. We do know, though, the next two years of funding probably will not cover projected costs for current operations.
Changing Demographics
In this region, the population is shifting rapidly. There are fewer younger people and many more retirees. Enrollment at Oregon’s colleges is projected to decrease through 2029. Rural colleges are hardest-hit. Yet, colleges are expected to provide more services to help students persist, overcome and complete.
If you have taken an economics class, you know there is a point as enrollment decreases, it becomes more expensive per student to operate. Every day we work on the operational challenges of maintaining buildings and grounds. We try to hire and inspire staff in a competitive, worker-shortage era.
Yesterday in the legislative hearing, I put my budget worries aside and focused on the work we do that inspires. I talked with lawmakers about how Southwestern has transformed developmental education and become a leader in the state for student success.
When I started here at SWOCC 30 years ago as a faculty member, a student might have taken 37 credits of developmental reading, writing and math before ever taking a class on their pathway to a degree or career. Most students gave up. National data shows that only 23% completed degrees or certificates if they start in a developmental class for credit.
In the early 2000s, we set out to change that. Southwestern became a pioneer in the Guided Pathways movement. We joined with Achieving the Dream in 2012. This led us down a path to improve developmental reading, writing and math curriculum. Today, the college is a leader in student completion.
Achievement
Students on our campuses at that time took a placement test where 50% needed basic help in reading and writing. 80% of our students needed a developmental math refresh. Not sure how those statistics have changed over the years. What has changed is how the college teaches those students.
Starting in 2011, we began conversations with faculty to improve the pathway to completion. We began by re-engineering classes and linking students with the math they need based on their pathways in STEM or non-STEM. We eliminated many developmental classes by improving curriculum or creating “co-requisite” classes.
After 12 years, our data shows success. Southwestern’s students reach their degrees 1 year sooner than all the other students at Oregon’s other community colleges. The four-year completion transfer rate is 65%, which 14% points higher than the other community colleges. Eleven percent of our students are LatinX. Their completion success at 67% is higher than any other group at this college, and 21 percentage points higher than any other college in Oregon. These are amazing outcomes and it has gotten the attention of lawmakers and others around the state.
Every time I drive home after spending time with the other college presidents, I am so happy to be at SWOCC. We have an awesome college with awesome faculty and staff. I am so proud to be your leader. Sure, we have some challenges to sort through so let’s remember that we are a team of people who might have some different opinions on how we move forward to reach our strategic priorities. But let’s try to be mindful that it takes all of us to work together to improve student success.
Have a great weekend,
Patty
Patricia M. Scott, Ed.D.
President
Southwestern Oregon Community College
Mar 10, 2023 | Alumni, Community, News, Student Success
Tom, Deanna, Jack and Alan Prater
If you were to look among a crowd of Prater family members, just about every one you see works in health care. Husband and wife team Deanna and Tom Prater, Tom’s brother and sister-in-law, and Deanna’s mom worked in the profession.
Tom and Deanna met in the military. He grew up in Reedsport and she in Pennsylvania. When they finished service, they landed on the south coast in the late 1990s. Tom had it in his mind to go into nursing, having watched the timber industry crash while growing up. He knew it was a good pathway.
They enrolled at SWOCC.
“I was doing math, physics, and engineering. Tom definitely didn’t want to move out of the area. I thought what am I going to do with a math degree?” Deanna said.
It’s funny how things work out.
It wasn’t long before Deanna entered the nursing program. Today, the Praters have enjoyed nearly 25 years in the profession.
“There are so many avenues you can do in nursing. I feel like there is some avenue for anyone,” she said.
Tom worked at Bay Area Hospital for years, and now works in the ER at Lower Umpqua Hospital in Reedsport. Deanna works at Lower Umpqua, too, as Director of Infection Control, Employee Health and Safety.
Soon Deanna and Tom’s sons, Jack and Alan, will enter the profession. Both are first-year nursing students at SWOCC and living at home so they work their way through school debt-free.
“With nursing, you help people,” said Jack who’s 30 and ready for a new career. “And, you can make a living wage and own a home here.”
Alan had worked entry level jobs in health care, monitoring people’s hearts and then at the cancer center. He’s comfortable in a health care setting. He had the opportunity to take a free ride to law school in Salem, but turned it down for a career in nursing. Oregon desperately needs nurses and is among the top five states with the highest pay for RNs.
“This field is useful and helpful whereever you go, and wherever you are,” Alan said.
The brothers study together. Being able to work and go to school at the same time has been helpful, too.
“It’s convenient. I attend lectures remotely and in-person,” Alan said.
This winter, the brothers started their “clinicals” – the hands-on hospital work experience alongside a Registered Nurse.
“Seems like I know every fifth person. It’s cool taking care of people you live around,” Jack said.
Deanna and Tom didn’t pressure their sons to go into nursing. Their message to each son was simple.
“Be a good person. Enjoy life. Find a partner you can have a happy life with. Contribute to the world. Do something good.”
The next generation of Praters intends to follow that mission. Nursing will give them a start in that direction.
To learn more about our Nursing program text or call 541-240-8227; email: SWOCCbound@socc.edu.
Mar 6, 2023 | Alumni, Community, News, Student Success
Tasha Renard, Battalion Chief and Critical Care Paramedic with the Myrtle Point Fire Department, messaged us that she was going to be late to our photo shoot appointment. The reason? She received a text from a local waitress that one of their morning’s regular customers hadn’t shown up for a few days. The staff at the café were worried. That’s when Tasha jumped in her rig and headed over to do a Home Wellness Check on an older resident. He turned out to have been under the weather, nothing serious, but Tasha did a vitals check, visited for a bit, and then was back at the station.
“That’s a common occurrence in this job, and I love it. I love supporting our local people”, says Tasha. It’s been a long journey to get where she is now. As a younger person she didn’t think about her future, or even realize she had one. Dropping out of high school junior year and having a baby right before her 18th birthday limited her perspective. She later found support and encouragement from a SWOCC program at the Newmark Center and was able to complete her GED. After that, she landed a job doing clerical work.
Growing up in Coquille, Tasha developed respect for the Fire Chief there. “I used to go down to the station and bug Dave Waddington regularly because I wanted to become a volunteer Firefighter.” It was after volunteering for a while that Waddington encouraged Tasha to do a ride-a-long in the back of the ambulance. “That was it. I was hooked. I traded in my office high heels for Danner boots. My only regret is that I didn’t start sooner.”
Tasha went back to school. She worked for six years as a part-time Emergency Medical Technician, then quit her “day job” to go to school full-time and get her AAS in Paramedicine. Since 2018 she’s been full-time at Myrtle Point Fire and was promoted to Battalion Chief Jan. 1, 2023. Tasha credits the Fire Chief Willy Burris as playing a big role in her career advancement. “Willy has always been supportive of my career growth and training. He hired me, making me the first full-time female firefighter/paramedic in the county. He’s very progressive and an amazing mentor. He keeps us on the cutting edge of emergency medicine.”
“I was the first in my family to go to college and model that for my daughter who graduated from SWOCC’s nursing program. I’m very proud of her.”
In addition to her duties as Chief, Tasha also provides valuable training and mentoring to the next generation of paramedics currently enrolled in SWOCC’s EMS programs.
Anthony Gantenbein, Assistant Professor of EMT/Paramedicine says, “Tasha Renard is one of the best paramedics, and people, that I’ve ever known. She truly embraces what it means to be a patient advocate and is committed to doing what is right for people whether they are in the back of her ambulance or not. Our program is lucky to have alumni like her out in the world helping to advance the profession. SWOCC EMS wouldn’t be what it is without her, and the profession would be worse off if Tasha and Myrtle Point Fire/EMS didn’t push our students to have pride and ownership in their education.”
Tasha received advanced training to become a Critical Care Paramedic and is internationally certified to be a flight paramedic. One challenge of living in an isolated area means critical care flights are not generally authorized. Add to that the fact that often the ability to take care of critically ill people in our medical facilities is limited. “We do a lot of critical care transfers by ground. That’s why I got the certification. With my other certifications I could work for a fancy flight company as a paramedic, but I really love working on an ambulance, responding to a scene, stabilizing the patient, and starting the treatment plan.”
To anyone considering a career path similar to Tasha’s she wants you to know the EMS field needs people!
“Without us the community is at great risk. There are going to be bad days but there are more amazing, rewarding days.”
To learn more about all our EMS programs text or call 541-240-8227; email: SWOCCbound@socc.edu.
