Jan 6, 2025 | Curry Campus, News
COOS BAY, OR – Southwestern Oregon Community College (SWOCC) is the only state college and one of only 18 colleges nationwide to receive a prestigious federal Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grant from the U.S. Department of Labor. SWOCC will receive $1.5 million to expand workforce training to meet the growing demand for skilled workers, leveraging partnerships with local businesses to offer targeted training in the Transportation and Manufacturing Sectors.
“This grant will support the creation of a diesel mechanic program, training for Commercial Driver’s Licenses, the expanded operation of our pre-apprenticeship program in heavy equipment, as well as the establishment of a millwright registered apprenticeship program,” said Dr. Ali Mageehon, Vice President of Instruction at Southwestern. “We estimate serving over 300 students in these programs over the next four years.”
The Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grant program is part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s broader efforts to invest $65 million in workforce development and close the skills gap that many employers face. The initiative is designed to provide workers with the skills they need to secure stable, well-paying jobs while supporting the broader regional economy.
“This funding also supports our mission to provide equitable educational opportunities for all our students, especially those from underrepresented communities,” Mageehon said.
The grant program is designed to ensure people from rural areas, women, Hispanic individuals, and veterans have equal opportunities to train for these fields.
“Southwestern Oregon Community College is committed to providing our students with the skills they need to succeed in today’s fast-changing job market,” said Dr. Patty Scott, President of Southwestern. “This grant will allow us to partner with local businesses and industries to ensure that our training programs meet the specific needs of employers in our region, while also improving access to high-quality education for all of our students.”
The Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grant program is administered by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration. Since its inception, the program has provided millions in funding to colleges nationwide, helping to expand and improve workforce training and educational opportunities in critical sectors such as healthcare, information technology, and infrastructure.
Jan 2, 2025 | Community, Foundation, News
Coos Bay, OR – The Southwestern Oregon Community College Foundation in collaboration with the Oregon Coast Culinary Institute (OCCI) invites guests 21 years and older to attend Uncorking Opportunity! on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025. The event featuring fantastic food, fun and friends takes place from 6-8 p.m., at OCCI, 1988 Newmark Ave., Coos Bay.
This is the Foundation’s annual scholarship fundraiser and biggest event of the year. Enjoy an evening of conversation and delectable hors d’oeuvres prepared by student chefs and specially paired with Oregon wines provided by well-known wineries from the Rogue, Umpqua and Willamette Valleys. The event also features both a silent and small live auction of adventures and fun learning opportunities.
Tickets are $95 per person, available at www.socc.edu/give. Thanks to sponsor support, 100 percent of ticket proceeds and funds raised go to scholarships for culinary students and others pursuing degrees and training at Southwestern’s Coos and Curry campuses.
This year’s sponsors to-date include: Al Peirce Co., Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, Coos Bay Vision Center, Umpqua Bank, NW Natural, Scott Partney Construction, Bradford McKeown Financial Advisor and The Mill Casino-Hotel. Participating wineries include: Elk Cove Winery, Kriselle Cellars, Abacella Winery, Dobbes Family Winery, Willamette Valley Vineyards and King Estate.
Examples of some of the auction adventure items include:
- Tickets to an exclusive Winemaker’ Dinner featuring King Estate Vineyards and the college’s culinary competition team in April 2025
- Private OCCI Group Cooking Class
- Hot Air Balloon Ride for Two
- A night at the Ashland Springs Hotel with a Shakespeare play
- One-Week Stay in Hawaii
- “Name Your Own” Scholarship
…and so much more!
Space is limited! It is highly recommended people secure tickets in advance. Reservations are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. To purchase tickets, go to www.socc.edu/give. For more information, contact the Southwestern Foundation at 541-888-7209 or email foundation@socc.edu.
SWOCC Foundation Uncorking Opportunity! Event Overview:
**Important: Guests must be 21+ years old**
- Date/Time: Friday, January 31, 2025 from 6-8 p.m.
- Location: OCCI, 1988 Newmark Ave. Coos Bay, OR
- RSVP: Reservations are highly encouraged as space is limited. Secure your spot by purchasing at socc.edu/give. Call 541-888-7209 or email foundation@socc.edu.
- Cost: $95 per person – Includes 6+ wine & hors d’oeuvre pairings; access to silent/live auction and an evening of fun conversation with OCCI student chefs. 100% of ticket proceeds goes directly to student scholarships.
About the Southwestern Oregon Community College Foundation
Since 1962, the Southwestern Foundation has supported the College to improve people’s lives – socially, culturally, economically and educationally – through friend-raising and fundraising. The College serves Curry, Coos and western Douglas county residents’ needs for transfer degrees, high-skill job training and community classes. For more information about the foundation, visit www.socc.edu/foundation.
Jan 2, 2025 | Community, Curry News, Foundation, News, OCCI News, Student Success
Coos Bay, OR – Southwestern Oregon Community College Foundation is accepting scholarship applications to help students achieve their educational and career goals. Any credit-seeking student—those pursuing a degree or certificate—planning to attend Southwestern during the 2025-26 academic year is encouraged to apply. Applications are open January 1 – March 1, 2025, at www.socc.edu/scholarships.
With one simple application, students can be considered for multiple scholarships. Students who apply by 11:59 p.m. on February 1, 2025, will be eligible to be considered for a $1,000 Early Bird Scholarship. The final deadline for all applications is 11:59 p.m. on March 1, 2025. Late submissions will not be accepted.
Thanks to the generosity of community donors, Southwestern Foundation awards more than $300,000 in scholarships annually. These funds are available to students pursuing nearly every field of study at the College’s Coos and Curry campuses and at the Oregon Coast Culinary Institute (OCCI).
Workshops to Help You Succeed!
Need help with your scholarship application? Have questions about the FAFSA/financial aid? Join us at one of our FREE workshops!
Scholarship Writing Seminar – Build confidence and learn tips for writing strong essays.
Coos Campus, Empire Hall Lakeview E (above cafeteria)
- Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025:
- Session 1 = 11:00 a.m. – Noon
- Session 2 = 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Financial Aid and Scholarship Drop-In Workshops – Get personalized, in-person help from financial aid and scholarship experts. Bring your specific FAFSA or scholarship questions, or use this time to work on your application with representatives on site. Computers will be available for use.
Coos Campus, Tioga 301 (1988 Newmark Ave., Coos Bay):
- Monday, Jan 27 @ 1:00 – 3:00pm
- Friday, Feb 7 @ 3:00 – 5:00pm
- Thursday, Feb 13 @ 10:00 – 12:00pm
- Wednesday, Feb 26th @ 4:00 – 6:00pm
Curry Campus, Room 232 (96082 Lone Ranch Parkway, Brookings):
- Tuesday, Jan 28th @ 10:30 – 2:30pm
A Legacy of Support for Students
Since 1962, the Southwestern Foundation has helped thousands of students achieve their educational and training dreams by breaking down financial barriers. Scholarships make it possible for students to focus on their education, build skills and prepare for future career success.
Interested in supporting Southwestern students? Visit www.socc.edu/give to learn how you can contribute.
Contact Information
For more information about Southwestern Foundation scholarships, visit www.socc.edu/scholarships, email foundation@socc.edu or call 541-888-7209.
Dec 30, 2024 | News, Statements, Student Success
At Southwestern Oregon Community College, we believe in the power of second chances and the potential for personal growth and rehabilitation. Recently, questions have been raised about our decision to hire an employee with a prior criminal record. We want to address these concerns directly and transparently.
Our hiring process is thorough and considers a wide range of factors, including the individual’s qualifications, experience, as well as a thorough state and federal background check. In 2010, when hiring this individual in our Adult Learning Skills Program, we carefully reviewed the circumstances of the individual’s past and their efforts towards rehabilitation. In addition, we worked with their probation officer to ensure that employment as an adjunct faculty member in our Adult Learning Skills Program was a positive step for all concerned. Given that the individual was not deemed to be an active safety threat by the State of Oregon criminal justice system once the sentence was complete and did not have restrictions related to teaching in our program at the College, we made the decision to move forward with employment.
This individual thrived in this role and has gone on to hold several positions at our College without issue; including Technical Resource Assistant and Laker Learning Commons Coordinator and becoming the classified union president in 2018, representing the hard-working staff members of SWOCC. In 2021, this employee applied for, interviewed, and was hired as the Director of Adult and Pre-College Education and Tutoring Services. This position provides leadership for Adult & Pre-College Education and tutoring programs on campus. The Director manages the College’s Federal Adult Education and Family Literacy Act Title II grant, while overseeing the tutoring center for our College students. In addition, the Director supports and advocates for the continuing education of students from the Adult Basic Skills (ABS), GED, and English as a Second Language (ESL) programs. The Director supervises full- and part-time staff and faculty, classified staff, and college student workers. The Director does not provide tutoring to students, but does lead the tutor certification course for our peer tutors employed by the College each term. While our GED program does have students from our K-12 partners from time to time, the Director does not provide instruction. All instruction is provided by full time or adjunct faculty members employed by the College.
In this role, the individual has received accolades from state and federal partners for their work with adult students working to receive their GED’s and the break the cycle of generational socioeconomic poverty. This employee has worked hard to overcome their past while contributing meaningfully to our campus community and continued to have background checks and monitoring as required by the State and College. The individual is no longer required to register with the Oregon Parole Board and has been employed since 2010 without issue.
We understand that this employment decision has raised concerns, and we are committed to maintaining an open dialogue with our community. We believe that providing opportunities for those who have demonstrated a commitment to turning their lives around aligns with our mission of fulfilling the educational and cultural needs of our diverse communities by providing equitable access to exceptional teaching and learning in a collaborative, engaging, sustainable environment, which supports innovation, lifelong enrichment, and contribution to global society.
We appreciate your understanding and support as we continue to create a welcoming and supportive environment at Southwestern Oregon Community College. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out at publicinformation@socc.edu.
Sincerely,
President Patty Scott
Dec 17, 2024 | Community, Curry Campus
Brookings, OR – Southwestern Oregon Community College Curry Campus invites the community to join us on Thursday, January 9, 2025, 12:00 to 1:00 pm for: Discover the Natural World of Costa Rica!
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.
Take a photographic journey into the natural world of vibrant Costa Rica. Discover the amazing and diverse bird life, mammals, amphibians and flora that populate the rain forests and beaches of this beautiful country.
Vicki Gorham will present photos, and a lecture based on a recent trip to Costa Rica. Vicki and her husband Bill have traveled extensively over the past several years and they enjoy sharing Vicki’s photos and love of nature.
Explore the canals full of wildlife in Tortuguero (where no cars are allowed) to the hanging bridges in the Monteverde Cloud Forest and the steaming rainforest known as the Rainmaker Reserve. Several volcanos dot the landscape through the middle of Costa Rica, including Arenal, considered to be one of the most active volcanos in the world. The beaches in Manuel Antonio National Park are a favorite for swimming and spotting all three monkeys indigenous to Costa Rica, along with iguanas, parrots, sloths, and much more.
Vicki’s previous presentations on Australia and Africa in this lecture series were rich with stories of animal encounters. Please join us for a journey into a warm rainforest on a January day.
Stay tuned for upcoming talks in the Friends of Curry speaker series. For more information contact the Curry Campus at 541-813-1667.
Dec 9, 2024 | Community, Curry Campus, News
COOS BAY, OR – Southwestern Oregon Community College invites the community to join us on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at 6:00 pm, for “Solar PV Panels: Salvation or Snake Oil?” with local Electrical Engineer and part-time instructor at Southwestern, Frazier Pruett, owner of Bespoke Power, LLC in Coos Bay.
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 in the Community Room 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:
Solar power has been touted as one of the many green energy options to help our country and the world produce more environmentally-friendly power. However, design and efficiency constraints limit just how effective solar panels can be at providing the clean energy promised to match demand. Frazier Pruett provides a deep dive into the design and array of Solar PV panels while addressing a few of the ongoing challenges and concerns with Solar PV systems.
About the Presenter:
Frazier Pruett graduated from the University of Florida in 1984 with a degree in Electrical Engineering after spending over a decade as a professional electronic technician and hobbyist. He has worked as a professional design engineer since then in various types of power conversion designs. These power conversion systems have a wide range of applications across many fields and sectors. His specialty is lighting drivers for incandescent, fluorescent, HID, UHP, LEDs, and LASERs. He holds more than 25 patents in various fields. Frazier currently owns Bespoke Power and co-owns Emgen Engineering, two local engineering consulting firms. He is also part-time engineering faculty at Southwestern Oregon Community College.
For more information about the lecture series contact Dr. Aaron Coyner, Associate Professor, Physics and Engineering at aaron.coyner@socc.edu or 541-888-7244.
For more information on upcoming lectures contact Krystal Hopper Meyers, STEAM Pathways Assistant, at 541-888-7416, or krystal.hopper@socc.edu.
To learn more about STEM degrees at Southwestern visit: https://www.socc.edu/programs-classes/stem/.
Dec 9, 2024 | Community, Curry Campus
Brookings, OR – Southwestern Oregon Community College Curry Campus invites the community to join us on Thursday, December 12, 2024, 12:00 to 1:00 pm for: Christmas Markets of Europe.
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.
What if you could wander through the streets of the most beautiful old cities of Europe, drinking mulled wine and filling your basket with Christmas gifts and décor? Marilyn Hart, has made this trip four times since 2007 and describes herself as a Christmas crazy person. Hart will share these experiences during her talk. She will display Christmas glassworks, carousels, embroidery and quilts, as well as share photos of Vienna, Nuremberg, London, York, and cities in Germany, Slovenia, and Hungry.
Christmas is a favorite time of year for Hart and each trip has been a learning experience, that is, learning about ethnic Christmas traditions, food, art and architecture. Hart’s travel includes seven trips to London as well as travel to all 50 states. Hart is a Professor Emeritus of University of Wisconsin and teaches Statistics at the Curry Campus of Southwestern Oregon Community College.
Stay tuned for upcoming talks in the Friends of Curry speaker series. Talks during fall term have focused on travel. Winter term lectures will feature more travel and creating beauty in our own backyards. Watch for these lectures in the College News publication coming to you soon in your mailbox. For more information contact the Curry Campus at 541-813-1667.
Dec 9, 2024 | Alumni, News, Student Success
Southwestern’s newest degree program, Associate of Applied Science in Human Services, will graduate its first cohort of students this spring. Already, they are planning their future careers and how they want to serve the community. What draws people into the Human Services field? Some answers might surprise you.
Anna (Carder) Perry – Coos Campus
Anna Perry once thought she’d like to be a teacher. She tried college in 1989 enrolling in fall term at SWOCC. But life just didn’t cooperate for her to continue. It was after working for many years in the school districts, assisting children dealing with disabilities and behavior challenges, that she took the leap. Those years spent at the South Coast Educational Service District and the North Bend School District fueled her hunger to figure out what a child needs. “Behavior became my curiosity!” Perry said.
Born in Japan to an American dad and Japanese mother, at 10 Anna immigrated to Oregon. She ended up in the foster care system. She would spend the next seven years bouncing between eight different homes. Sometimes she was removed from a living situation without any explanation. A case worker would pick her up from school and take her to a new home. “I felt a lot of embarrassment. Wondering what was wrong with me that people didn’t want me,” she remembers. “But as I matured, I tried to take with me one positive lesson learned from each home situation and use it in my life.”
Ultimately, these experiences led Anna into a career working to understand and help children.
“My degree is a goal I finally see coming to light. Now I want to go back to working with kids locally and bringing all that I’ve learned to the community I love.”
“I’ve been really impressed with how my schoolwork and classes have organically complimented each other. From my Interpersonal Communications class with Dr. Ali Mageehon to Psychology with Cheryl Davies, and my Human Services classes with Dr. Lewis. They really have this curriculum figured out! They have the right people with the right experience sharing their knowledge.”
“My education at SWOCC has given me confidence. I understand so much more, and I have grown with new skills, knowledge, and experience all centered around mental health and behavioral issues.”
Ashley Cook – Curry Campus
The day we interviewed Ashley Cook for this feature coincidentally happened to be a significant milestone in her life. Nine years ago, she got clean, after spending more than half of her life struggling with addiction. To get away from a bad situation in California, family members helped her start over in Brookings.
Homeless, with only a backpack and a skateboard, it’s here she found St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church – which proved to be a pivotal connection for her. She started engaging at the church, getting meals, showers, and volunteering for whatever needed to be done. Eventually, she landed a job cleaning hotel rooms.
Slowly, slowly she got her life back: a driver’s license, a place to live, her kids! Narcotics anonymous was her main support resource. One of their mottoes resonated with her, “we only keep what we have by giving it away.” After losing both her father and brother in drug-related deaths, Ashley gained a new perspective and felt compelled by a desire to give back and be of service to others.
So, she signed up for school. “I knew I wanted to do something useful, but I was scared to change. I’m too old. It’s too hard, I would think.”
“I want to be the person for struggling teens that I wish I had when I was their age.”
Eventually Ashley met with Val Cowan, the Curry Campus Academic Advisor. When Val learned about Ashley’s background, and desire to become a drug and alcohol counselor, she knew the Human Services degree would be a perfect match.
Have there been challenges? Of course. “I would be feeling down on myself. This is hard. I’m not doing well . . . then I’d turn in a paper and get an A and think, ‘Wow, I can do this.’ I also struggled with using technology. I wasn’t tech savvy, so I had to learn all of that, too. But John and Val at the Curry Campus were always there for me. And Dr. Lewis is amazing!”
“Now I’m addicted to learning and I want to keep going, perhaps earn my bachelor’s so I can work with young adults or at-risk teens. I’m ready!”
Whether working with individuals facing mental health challenges, addiction, families in crisis, or marginalized communities, social workers and counselors play a crucial role in supporting and empowering people to overcome obstacles and build better futures. Southwestern is committed to educating these future professionals!
To learn more about the Human Services degree contact Dr. Jenn Lewis at 541-888-7249 or by email at jennifer.lewis@socc.edu.
Read what our featured students have to say about their instructor Dr. Lewis:
“Professor Lewis is the heart and soul of my decision to continue my education. Her kindness, caring heart, and dedication have surpassed my expectations. I want to thank her for her compassion as we’ve navigated many challenging subjects.” – Anna Perry
“She’s an amazing teacher bringing tons of experience with her. She’s very supportive and understanding. She’s always there encouraging me when I am struggling with an assignment or just in general. She makes everyone feel included and doesn’t want to leave anybody behind.” – Ashley Cook
Dec 9, 2024 | Community, Curry Campus, News
Jeremy Skinner never imagined himself volunteering on the SWOCC Board of Education. These days he is attending meetings, learning about fiscal policies and strategizing on community college issues and advocacy.
“I signed on because I believe in what the college is doing and believe it is doing a good job. I would like to contribute to that,” Jeremy said.
His path to SWOCC actually started in 1979. He was born in Gold Beach. A lot of people who have children here, just assume they will move away when they finish high school. Jeremy did. They hope their children will move back, but most never do, except Jeremy.
After high school and thinking he would go into science, as a botanist, he moved away for college. First to attend Portland State and then University of Washington, and there switched to a different science – library science. That led him to a job working with archives and rare books. He wasn’t particularly happy, and he and his wife, Phoebe, a teacher, decided to move closer to family. He got the job managing the Gold Beach Public Library.
When you live in a small town, you get asked to volunteer. He started on the College’s budget committee and before long agreed to fill a vacancy on the SWOCC Board. He believes the College is an economic driver, particularly in training the health care workforce.
“The demographics have changed a lot since I grew up. When I was growing up, the graduating class at Gold Beach High School was 70. Now it’s 30 or 35,” he said. “There are fewer families that have middle class jobs.”
He likes that SWOCC has a campus in Curry and provides a way for young people to train for better jobs that help them afford to live here. He wants to see even more connection between the College and high schools. It helps young people gain familiarity with college and job training, and be more confident.
Over time, more older people on fixed incomes have moved to the region, and Jeremy is one to ask: “How do we serve these folks? How do we include them?” He’s pleased to see the community education programs at the campus and in the future would like to see more engagement in arts and culture. He expects to have time to work on that. He’s not going anywhere.
“I want to have a job that impacts people on a daily basis. I want to give back to the community in the work I do. It’s not a chore. It’s fun. And, it’s a beautiful place, too.”
Dec 6, 2024 | Community, News
COOS BAY, OR – Southwestern Oregon Community College invites 5th to 12th grade students to join us for STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) Club for Girls “Go for Launch!” on Tuesday, January 28, 2025. This science-immersion event will be from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm in Umpqua Hall, on the Coos Campus, 1988 Newmark Ave., Coos Bay. This is a FREE program.
Students will engage with professors in hands-on activities across multiple scientific disciplines to explore how different fields of science work together to complete a mission to send astronauts into space.
Activities will include working alongside the College’s SPEAR Student Researchers, who are involved in various STEAM projects. There will also be an opportunity to experience the planetarium show “Apollo & Beyond – Conquering Gravity” in our new Discovery Dome Planetarium. This digital theater space immerses students in a show that takes them on an adventure.
The STEAM Club for Girls focuses on supporting and encouraging girls through their STEAM educational journey. We also share books, podcasts, and other helpful resources focused on girls in science. Girls who participate in this program can stay connected online where we continue to mentor and share quarterly news and activities with them.
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 ability in out-of-the-box thinking and collaboration.
Register soon as spots are limited. For more information on this event, registration, and other upcoming events, contact Krystal Hopper Meyers, STEAM Pathways Assistant, at 541-888-7416, or krystal.hopper@socc.edu.
