Mar 19, 2024 | Community, News
Girls High School 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 inaugural Ballin’ In The Bay Showcase, a premier varsity girls basketball tournament set to take place June 20-22, 2024, at the College’s Coos Campus located 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 $400 by registering online HERE. Furthermore, teams registering and submitting their rosters by May 31, 2024, will receive complimentary t-shirts. Hurry, as the tournament will cap at 16 teams.
Tournament Details:
- Dates: June 20-22, 2024
- Location: Southwestern Oregon Community College’s Coos Campus (1988 Newmark Ave., Coos Bay)
- Registration: $400 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 the 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.
Mar 19, 2024 | Community, News
COOS BAY, OR –Southwestern Oregon Community is pleased to invite the community to celebrate the planting of a Moon Tree at 3 p.m., Wednesday, April 3, 2024, on its Coos Bay campus, 1988 Newmark Ave.
The ceremony will be held next to upper Empire Lake, at Tioga Hall. The area is accessible from Parking Lot 2 at the back of campus. Tasha Livingstone Davison, associate professor of Forestry and Natural Resources at Southwestern, will lead a tree walk after the ceremony, with a focus on the unique tree genera and species found on campus. The walk will be low impact and remain on flat ground. This is a free event. All ages are welcome.
Southwestern’s second-generation Moon Tree is a Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) grafted from trees grown from seeds that orbited the moon during NASA’s Apollo 14 mission. Southwestern received the tree in collaboration with Oregon State University and Oregon Department of Forestry to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the mission.
Each second-generation tree is named after an astronaut and Southwestern’s Moon Tree is “Gene”, in honor of Gene Cernan (Apollo 17) – the last astronaut to walk on the Moon. Southwestern’s hope is that the moon tree will inspire students to think big. Will a SWOCC student be the next astronaut to walk on the moon?
There is more to the Moon Tree connection to Coos Bay, though, dating back to Apollo 14 and astronaut Stuart Roosa. He was the mission’s command module pilot. He also had lived in Oregon in the 1960s and was a former U.S. Forest Service smoke jumper. Because Roosa loved Oregon’s forests and wanted to honor the Forest Service, he chose to carry hundreds of fir seeds into space as a scientific experiment.
Image of The World Newspaper, May 6, 1971
Roosa also loved Coos Bay. While learning about geology and prepping for the Apollo mission with other astronauts in Central Oregon in 1966, Roosa happened to meet Bob Perkins and Phil Waters, from Coos Bay. In a story from The World on May 6, 1971, Waters told the reporter that on that day in 1966 he and Perkins were exploring in the high desert terrain. They had not brought lunch. Roosa noticed them nearby and invited them to join the astronauts for a snack. That started a great friendship between Perkins and Roosa who visited Coos Bay several times.
The Apollo 14 mission to the Moon launched Jan. 31, 1971, sending Roosa, Alan Shepard and Edgar Mitchell into space until splashdown on Feb. 9, 1971. Perkins called the Roosa family after the mission and invited them to come back for a visit. NASA made it an official visit and when Roosa returned to Coos Bay on May 7, 1971, the city declared it Stuart Roosa Day. The community hosted a parade with the astronaut as grand marshal, while the College’s bagpipe group McLoughlin Highlanders and the SWOCC Stage Band played in the procession. (See attached image from The World Newspaper, May 6, 1971)
For more information about the event contact Tasha Livingstone Davison at Tasha.L.Davison@socc.edu.
For information about studying forestry or natural resources management at Southwestern visit www.socc.edu/forestry.
Mar 15, 2024 | Alumni, News, OCCI News, Student Success
From Coos Bay USA to Stuttgart Germany, eight student chefs and Executive Chef Randy Torres brought the award-winning spirit of Southwestern’s Oregon Coast Culinary Institute to the IKA/Culinary Olympics in February.
OCCI students joined other aspiring chefs from across the country on the USA Junior National Team. The excitement was intense with this being the first major competition for most students. “This event is amazing! It connects young chefs with people who can help further their careers for the rest of their lives,” OCCI student chef Brooklyn Hansen said.
The 26th international culinary sport competition featured teams from 55 nations and more than 1,200 participants. It’s the oldest, largest, and most international culinary competition in the industry.
The USA National Team, comprising professional chefs from across the nation and coached by OCCI Executive Chef Randy Torres, brought home an overall Silver Medal.
“It’s wonderful being involved in the camaraderie that IKA fosters. This competition is a unique adventure for students and SWOCC is proud to be a part of it. It’s a pivotal experience that changed the direction of my life when I participated on a team in 2008.” – Chef Torres
The USA Junior Team, all 25 or younger, participated in two competitions. They earned a Bronze Medal in the “Restaurant of Nations,” a three-course menu for 110 people, and brought home Silver in the “Junior Chef’s Table,” a five-course menu for ten people.
OCCI hosted both teams’ practice sessions as they prepared for Stuttgart. It was extremely valuable training for our students to work alongside and learn from the finest professional chefs from around the country.
Congratulations Chef Torres and OCCI students!
Pictured front row: Elena Smith, Liam T. O’ Brien, Jesone Khantikone, Brooklyn Hansen, Oliver Cowan, Chef Randy Torres
Back row: Maxwell R. Smith, Maddison Valdez, Paige Hoene
Mar 15, 2024 | Community, Curry Campus
Brookings, OR – Southwestern Oregon Community College Curry Campus invites the community to join us on Thursday, April 11, 2024, 12:00 to 1:00 pm for: Odd Creatures in Our Tide Pools.
Bill Gorham, a marine biologist who’s lived and dived around the world from Alaska and Australia to Hawaii and the Virgin Islands retired to Brookings with his wife, Vicki, in 2017. Bill’s passion for the ocean started as a kid in Illinois (huh?). In this talk, he’ll share stories and images from decades of diving, teaching, beach combing, and tide pooling. Discover what you can find when you slow down and look closely at the things on the beach, whether they live in or on it, traverse through it, or simply get washed up. Explore the weird animals and plants, both common and hidden, that find unique ways to make the intertidal home.
Bill wants to motivate the audience to take care of the ocean and all its resources whether from discarded trash, overfishing, marine heat waves, or acidification. And, he’ll provide some words of wisdom for safe beach combing or tide pooling by reminding you about slippery rocks, rogue waves, mean crabs, spiny fish, and other surprises.
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. Bring a friend and a brown bag lunch.
Stay tuned for upcoming talks in our speaker series. For more information contact the Curry Campus at 541-813-1667.
Mar 12, 2024 | Community, Curry News
Brookings, OR – Southwestern Oregon Community College Curry Campus invites the community to join us on Thursday, March 14, 2024, 12:00 to 1:00 pm for “Curry County Watersheds and You!”.
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. Bring a friend and a brown bag lunch.
The Curry Watersheds Partnership is a group of non-regulatory organizations working together to help local landowners and communities keep our shared lands and rivers healthy and sustainable. The Curry Watersheds Partnership includes the Curry Soil and Water Conservation District, the South Coast and Lower Rogue Watershed Councils, and the Curry Watersheds Nonprofit. Our staff and dedicated network of volunteers are focused on improving our watershed health through community-based restoration efforts, scientific monitoring, and educating the public through local schools and community presentations.
Guest Speakers Kelly Timchak, Robie Lascheck and Liesl Coleman:
Kelly Timchak always knew she wanted to work in creeks and rivers. She previously worked for the Port Orford Ocean Resource Team and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Biology from Southeast Missouri State University and a Master of Science in Fisheries from the University of New Brunswick, Canada. Kelly is the Lower Rogue Watershed Coordinator.
Robie Lascheck has a passion for mountain lakes and crystal-clear rivers. He received a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from the University of Oregon, and Master of Environmental Management from Portland State University. He has worked on a variety of natural resource monitoring projects. His tool set includes natural resource monitoring, data analysis, and GIS. He is the South Coast Watershed Council Coordinator.
Liesl Coleman is a happy and hardworking Manager at Curry Soil and Water Conservation District. One of the things she loves most about the work of the Curry Watersheds Partnership is building relationships that endure and create respectful stewardship of the watershed.
Stay tuned for upcoming talks in our speaker series. Talks this spring will focus on travel and tourism and the Wild Rivers Film Festival. For more information contact the Curry Campus at 541-813-1667.
Mar 12, 2024 | Community, News
Coos Bay, OR – Prospective students, families and community members of all ages are invited to join Southwestern Oregon Community College for the inaugural “Laker Day” at the College’s Coos Campus. This free, in-person event promises a day filled with informative activities, engagement, and opportunities to discover all Southwestern has to offer. Anyone eager to explore higher education possibilities is encouraged to RSVP and attend:
Date/Time: Saturday, April 20 from 10 am – 2 pm (check-in starts at 9:30 am)
Location: Check-in at Umpqua Hall (1988 Newmark Ave, Coos Bay, OR 97420); Activities will take place all-around campus
RSVP: RSVP for Laker Day HERE
“For anyone even remotely considering attending college, this is an excellent opportunity to connect and see what Southwestern might offer them,” said Katie Sifford, Director of Admissions and Enrollment Management at Southwestern. “It provides a firsthand look into campus life, academic offerings, and the supportive atmosphere we provide to assist students in achieving their goals.”
Highlights of Laker Day include:
Note: Programming for the day is subject to change up until the day of the event
- Meet Our Faculty and Staff: Engage with experienced and dedicated educators and staff who make Southwestern a dynamic learning environment.
- Learn More About the College: Discover the diverse academic programs, extracurricular activities, and resources that contribute to the college community.
- Free Lunch: Enjoy lunch prepared by our Oregon Coast Culinary Institute students.
- Tour the Coos Campus: Check-out the campus surroundings with guided tours showcasing some of our renovated facilities and beautiful landscapes.
Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to explore, connect, and envision your future at Southwestern Oregon Community College. Be sure to RSVP today!
For more information, contact Katie Sifford, Director of Admissions and Enrollment Management at Southwestern via email (katie.sifford@socc.edu) or by calling 541-888-1595.
We hope to see you there!
Mar 6, 2024 | Community, Curry Campus, News
Coos Bay, OR – Southwestern Oregon Community College is excited to announce open house events for those who would like to learn more about our new SWOCC Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program.
CURRY COUNTY RESIDENTS: Join us Thursday, March 21, 2024 at the Curry Campus, Room 232 (906082 Lone Ranch Parkway, Brookings).
COOS COUNTY RESIDENTS: Join us Friday, March 22, 2024 at the Coos Campus, Tioga Hall, Fourth Floor, Rooms 409 and 410 (1988 Newmark Ave., Coos Bay).
These events are free and will run from 12:00pm to 7:00pm.
The open house provides an opportunity for anyone who is interested in obtaining entry-level construction skills to try out heavy equipment simulators, meet the instructors, and find out more about how to prepare for a career in the trades. We will also be set up to help people apply to the program.
The SWOCC Works program is tailored for individuals 16+ years old who are seeking the transferrable skills needed to enter apprenticeships, or to apply to jobs that may include operating equipment such as forklifts, loaders, bulldozers, graders, and cranes. In just two terms, participants will undergo 120 hours of FREE training under the guidance of industry-experienced instructors and earn a certificate of completion issued directly from the Bureau of Labor and Industry.
SWOCC Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program Highlights:
- No experience required
- High school juniors and seniors eligible
- Classes available at SWOCC’s Coos and Curry campuses
- Earn a BOLI-approved certificate
- Gain entry-level construction skills
- Obtain OSHA 10 certification
- Preparation for a career in the trades
For more information and to apply, please contact us via email at swoccworks@socc.edu or call 541-888-1545.
Mar 5, 2024 | Community, Curry Campus, News
COOS BAY, OR – Southwestern Oregon Community College invites 7th to 12th grade students to join us for an Earth Day themed “STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) for TEENS” on Saturday, April 6, 2024. This science-immersion event will be from 1:00 – 5:00 pm in the College’s health and science building, Umpqua Hall, room 184, on the Coos Campus, 1988 Newmark Ave., Coos Bay.
Students will engage with professors in Earth Day themed hands-on activities in Physics & Engineering, Chemistry, Geology, Biology, Art, and more. This includes working alongside the College’s SPEAR Student Researchers, who are involved in many STEAM projects. There will also be an opportunity to experience a show in the new Discovery Dome Planetarium on hurricanes and tornadoes called Force Five. This digital theater space immerses students in a show that takes them on an adventure.
STEAM education projects help students visualize career pathways in science, technology, engineering, and math. The “A” adds in the arts, such as humanities, dance, drama, visual arts, and design. When people learn in all these areas together, they gain soft skills that can help grow their ability in out-of-the-box thinking and collaboration.
There is a $25 registration fee paid through Community Education. Please email krystal.hopper@socc.edu to register today. Spots are limited to 15. Scholarships are available.
For more information on this event, registration, and scholarships contact Krystal Hopper Meyers, STEAM Pathways Assistant, at 541-888-7416, or krystal.hopper@socc.edu.
Mar 5, 2024 | Community, Curry Campus, News
Coos Bay, OR – Southwestern Oregon Community College is offering free GED® and Adult Basic Education classes spring term 2024. 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.
We will have three options for GED® and Adult Basic Education classes next term:
- Morning GED® Class – Monday through Thursday from 9am-11am
- Afternoon GED® Class – Monday through Thursday from 12pm-2pm
- Evening GED® Class – Tuesday through Thursday from 5pm – 8pm
All classes are live and in-person on the Coos Campus. The afternoon class will also be live and in person on the Curry Campus. For students who cannot make it to either campus, classes are offered via Zoom during all three sessions. Spring term starts April 1, 2024 and ends June 13, 2024.
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.
Feb 22, 2024 | Alumni, Community, News, Student Success
Coos Bay, OR – Southwestern Oregon Community College’s Hall of Fame Committee honors former athletes, teams, coaches, and those that have had a large impact on the school and its athletic program. One team and two individuals covering a wide range of Laker history will make up the Southwestern Oregon Community College Hall of Fame’s Class of 2024.
This year’s inductees are:
- First Softball Team (1994-95) including players: Sara Anderson*, Kylleen Campbell (Nipp), Kelly Chestnut (Coleman), Sandi Corum (Wayman), Katy Gibson*, Beccy Grenz (King), Casey Howard, Misty Ferry (Howerton), Shanen “Keg” Koegler, Jennifer “Bug” Mahan (Franklin), Cheri “Pumba” Spillman (Anderson) and Coach Charlie Christiansen
- First Softball All-Americans: Jennifer “Bug” Mahan (Franklin) and Dannett Johnson.
The Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place on Saturday, June 1, 2024 at 3:00 pm in Prosper Hall on the Coos Campus (1988 Newmark Ave., Coos Bay) during the annual sports awards. There will be food available following the ceremony. This event is free and open to the public.
The Hall of Fame Committee is seeking help in locating some of the team members. Anyone having information on the inductees marked with an asterisk (*) or have any other questions, please contact the Hall of Fame Committee at hof@socc.edu or 541-888-7452.
