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.
Feb 21, 2024 | Community, Curry Campus, Curry News, News
Coos Bay, OR – Southwestern Oregon Community College Veterans Center presents “VA S.A.V.E. Training,” Friday, March 1, 2024, from 5:30pm to 6:30pm, with time for questions after the presentation.
This free training will be held on Southwestern’s Coos Campus (1988 Newmark Ave., Coos Bay) in the Eden Hall lecture room, and will be streamed live on the College’s YouTube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/@SouthwesternOR/streams.
Curry County residents can join us for a watch party in the Community Room on the Curry Campus, 96082 Lone Ranch Parkway, Brookings.
What is VA S.A.V.E. Training?
VA S.A.V.E. Training will help you act with care and compassion if you encounter a Veteran who is in crisis or experiencing suicidal thoughts. The acronym S.A.V.E. helps you remember the important steps involved in suicide prevention: S – Signs of suicidal thinking should be recognized; A – Ask the most important question of all: “Are you thinking of killing yourself?”; V – Validate the Veteran’s experience; E – Encourage treatment and expedite getting help.
Our presenter is Ariana Ryzebol, MSW, LCSW who is a Suicide Prevention Coordinator for the United States Veteran’s Administration, based in North Bend, OR. She has been in this position for three years. Ariana is from California’s Bay Area and has been in Oregon since 2014. Ryzebol completed her master’s in social work from California State University, East Bay in 2014 and has been licensed as a clinical social worker in the State of Oregon since 2020.
For more information, please contact Shana Brazil, Southwestern’s Veterans Service Coordinator at 541-888-7236 or email sbrazil@socc.edu.
For information regarding Veterans at Southwestern visit: www.socc.edu/veterans.
Feb 13, 2024 | Curry Campus, 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. To learn more about Southwestern’s Curry Campus visit www.socc.edu/curry.
Feb 12, 2024 | Community, News
Coos Bay, OR – Southwestern Oregon Community College invites 7th to 12th grade students to join us for “STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) for TEENS” on March 5, 2024. This science-immersion event will be from 5:30 – 8:00 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 hands-on activities in Physics & Engineering, Chemistry, Geology/Paleontology, and Art. 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. 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.
Feb 8, 2024 | Community, Curry Campus, Curry News, News
Coos Bay, OR – Southwestern Oregon Community College is excited to launch our new Chemistry Lecture Series, presenting a lecture by Dr. Cory Brooks, Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Fresno State, who will discuss “Cancer Immunotherapy – Does the Science Match the Hype?”. Please join us on Friday, March 15, 2024, at 6:00 pm. This is a free event; all ages are welcome.
Coos County residents can join us in-person in the Umpqua Hall lecture 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.
About the lecture:
At the end of the 19th century German physician Paul Ehrlich dreamed of a “magic bullet” that would specifically eliminate disease without harming the body. More than a century later, this dream has become a reality. Scientists have harnessed the incredible ability of the immune system to destroy disease. Monoclonal antibodies are immune proteins that bind and eradicate disease using a variety of mechanisms. In 1986, the first monoclonal antibody was approved for human treatment. Now in 2024, with approximately 250 billion dollars in sales last year, more than 160 monoclonal antibodies on the market, and hundreds more in clinical trials for the treatment of everything from arthritis to cancer, we may be on the cusp of a new era of antibody-based immunotherapy. By drawing on examples from the literature and research in the Brooks lab at Fresno State, this talk will explore what basic research can tell us about the promise and flaws of antibody therapy.
About the presenter:
Dr. Brooks obtained a Ph.D. from the University of Victoria (2005-2010) and was a postdoc at the University of Alberta (2010-2013). He has been a faculty member at Fresno State since 2013 and his research program at Fresno State uses structural biology to understand fundamental aspects of antibody-antigen recognition. Dr. Brooks also teaches a variety of biochemistry courses.
For those unable to attend in-person, the talk will be streamed live through Southwestern’s YouTube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/@SouthwesternOR/streams.
For more information about the lecture series contact Derek Morrelli, Assistant Professor of Chemistry, at 541-888-1507, derek.morrelli@socc.edu.
For information about studying chemistry at Southwestern visit: https://www.socc.edu/chemistry/.
Jan 29, 2024 | News, Student Success
Coos Bay, OR – Southwestern Oregon Community College wishes to congratulate our S.P.E.A.R. (STEAM Pathways Experimental & Academic Research) Team Member Cameron Miller for being selected for a 2023-24 Oregon NASA Space Grant Consortium (OSGC) Student Academic Research Review (STARR) award in the amount of $3,000 for Nuclear Propulsion research. Cameron is currently a sophomore Mechanical Engineering student at Southwestern and plans to transfer into the Nuclear Engineering program at Oregon State University (OSU) after he graduates. For his research project, Cameron will be investigating the current state of research into nuclear propulsion systems with particular applications to aerospace.
About the research, Cameron says, “As a nuclear engineering student, gaining experience within my discipline can be challenging. Many professional opportunities are out of reach for undergraduates and are location exclusive. As for personal projects, things that combine “homemade” and “nuclear” are typically frowned upon by the government. To study within my discipline for an award backed by NASA is such an exceptional opportunity, and I’m incredibly thankful for it.”
The Oregon NASA Space Grant Consortium opens the Student Academic Research Review (STARR) program to give undergraduate STEM students the opportunity to familiarize themselves with ongoing research in their field of interest. Program participants are asked to create a 6-8 page research paper on the topic of their choice working with a faculty mentor. These papers will become a published document and will be made available to all the space grants across the U.S. The student research must be related to the research goals of NASA.
“Cameron will write a paper explaining what the current research is on his chosen topic. It’s literally a student academic review of research being conducted by NASA, and it’s counted as a published scientific article for NASA,” says Dr. Aaron Coyner, Associate Professor, Engineering and Physics at Southwestern, and Cameron’s instructor.
Students will be invited to present their findings at the spring OSGC student symposium held at Oregon State University. Southwestern will also present a symposium of student work during spring term.
“OSGC is pleased to support this unique opportunity to develop a more comprehensive understanding of the research review process to help students be better prepared for future hands-on research opportunities,” Catherine Lanier, OSGC Director shared.
About the Oregon Space Grant Consortium (OSGC)
The Oregon Space Grant Consortium, part of the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program, is a state-wide network of universities, colleges, museums, educators, researchers, students, and science professionals. OSGC promotes STEM education through cooperative and interdisciplinary programs while recruiting and training NASA’s next diverse workforce.
https://spacegrant.oregonstate.edu/
For the last seven years, Dr. Aaron Coyner, Associate Professor of Physics, and Krystal Hopper-Meyers, Oregon NASA Space Grant Consortium PRISMS Project Coordinator, have been Southwestern’s OSGC Affiliate Representatives. OSGC has been an incredible supporter and resource for the College.
For more information about the Oregon NASA Space Grand Consortium or physics and engineering degrees at Southwestern contact Krystal Hopper-Meyers at 541-888-7416, or krystal.hopper@socc.edu.
Jan 25, 2024 | Community, News
COOS BAY, OR – Southwestern Oregon Community College invites 3rd to 6th grade students to join us for “STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) FOR KIDS” on Tuesday, February 6, 2024. This science-immersion event will be from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm in the College’s health and science building, Umpqua Hall, on the Coos Campus, 1988 Newmark Ave., Coos Bay.
Students will engage with professors in hands-on activities in physics and engineering, chemistry, geology, art, and more. This includes working alongside the College’s S.P.E.A.R. (which stands for STEAM Pathways Experimental & Academic Research) student researchers, who are involved in various STEAM projects.
There will also be an opportunity to experience a show in our new Discovery Dome Planetarium. This digital theater space immerses students in a presentation 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 them grow ability in out-of-the-box thinking and collaboration.
Cost is $25 per person and limited to 15 spots. Scholarships are available. For more information on this and future events, registration, and scholarships contact Krystal Hopper Meyers, STEAM Pathways Assistant, at 541-888-7416, or krystal.hopper@socc.edu.
Jan 23, 2024 | Community, News
Coos Bay, OR – In celebration of Black History Month, Southwestern Oregon Community College’s IDEA Committee (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Access) is sponsoring a free showing of the film Malcolm X at the Egyptian Theatre, 229 S. Broadway, Coos Bay. The film will begin at 6 pm on February 22, 2024 with doors opening at 5:30 pm.
The critically acclaimed biography, directed by Spike Lee and featuring Denzel Washington’s Academy Award-nominated performance, shows the life of a man who played a central role in a time of significant social change. The film provides an excellent portrayal of an often-misunderstood leader in the U.S. Civil Rights Movement who has garnered both praise and fear in his time and beyond.
Although admission is free to anyone, money donations will be accepted and appreciated. Half of all donations for the film will go toward “THE SPOT,” Southwestern’s free student pantry where current students can get food, hygiene and personal care supplies, as well as additional resources, at no charge. Additional donations will go to the Egyptian Theatre.
Information on Southwestern’s programs and steps for admission to the College will also be available in the lobby of the theater from 5:30-6 pm.
For more information contact Forrest Akers, Assistant Director of International Recruitment, Admissions & Services, at 541-888-7185, forrest.akers@socc.edu.
