Press releases

Press Announcements March-June 2019

For more information contact Mark R. Johnson, Staff Writer, College Relations.

June 27, 2019

COCC AND CITY OF BEND SIGN AGREEMENT FOR COLLEGE RESOURCE OFFICER
Central Oregon Community College (COCC) and the city of Bend, through the Bend Police Department, have signed an agreement for a college resource officer (CRO) to operate at the college's Bend campus beginning this September.

"This is an important step in our continued partnership with the city of Bend and the Bend Police Department," said Laura Craska Cooper, chair of COCC's board of directors. "We look forward to having the officer work with our campus public safety staff."

This agreement follows an earlier memorandum of understanding in which the college and the city clarified the respective roles COCC's campus public safety and the Bend Police Department relating to security, safety and law enforcement on the college's Bend campus.

"In 2019, Central Oregon Community College has devoted significant staffing and finances to bring their security staff into compliance with Kaylee's Law, improving communications with the Bend Police Department, and rebuilding the trust between the college and the city of Bend," said Chief Jim Porter. "It was the commitment and focus of President Shirley Metcalf and board Chair Laura Craska Cooper that have made these positive changes possible."

The CRO will be an employee of the city, recruited and selected by the Bend Police Department, with input from the college. The CRO will serve full-time on the Bend campus with the cost of the position split equally between the city and the college.

June 21, 2019

COCC PROFESSOR TO HELP GUIDE NATIONAL TEACHING INSTITUTE
Central Oregon Community College (COCC) English professor Stacey Donohue, Ph.D., will serve as a facilitator at a weeklong Modern Language Association teaching institute at the University of Washington's Seattle campus, June 25-30. The institute is designed to educate new educators, from around the country, on teaching English at access-oriented colleges.

A $1 million grant from the Mellon Foundation paved the way for three, one-week institutes over the next three years—also taking place at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst—that will put special emphasis on the needs and requirements of first-generation college students. The grant will ultimately allow 144 doctoral students and instructors from throughout the U.S. to participate in the teaching institutes.

"This is an incredible program and a huge honor for one of our own to be selected to help launch this national institute," said Jenni Newby, Ph.D., instructional dean at COCC.

In recent decades, two-year colleges have bucked the trend of declining humanities programs at their four-year counterparts. According to data from the American Academy of Arts and Sciences' Humanities Indicators, the number of liberal arts associate degrees tripled between 1987 and 2015; some 40 percent of community college students nationwide took a humanities class in 2015.

June 6, 2019

COCC BOARD MEETING–JUNE 12, IN PRINEVILLE
The Central Oregon Community College (COCC) board of directors will meet at the COCC Crook County Open Campus (510 SE Lynn Blvd.) in Prineville, beginning at 6:15 p.m. on Wednesday, June 12.

The meeting opens with an executive session on labor negotiations, then shifts to a formal public hearing regarding the college's 2019-20 budget. Agenda topics for the meeting include a legislative report, an update on The Broadside student newspaper and a presentation on program accreditation.

For more information, contact Ron Paradis, executive director of College Relations, at 541-383-7599.

May 30, 2019

COCC-REDMOND HOLDS INFO SESSION ON HEALTH DEGREES, CERTIFICATES
Central Oregon Community College's (COCC) Redmond campus is hosting an information session on its Allied Health programs from 5:30-6:30 p.m. on Monday, June 10, in Building 3, Room 305. The health programs covered will include dental assistant, massage therapy, medical assistant, pharmacy technician and veterinary technician.

The session will include a description of each occupation, the typical clinical and administrative duties, as well as the certification or licensing required. There will also be a review of the structure, length and cost of each of the programs. It is not necessary to be enrolled at COCC to attend this session. Reservations are not required. For information, call 541-383-7420.

May 22, 2019

CERAMICS SALE AT COCC MIXES FORM, FUNCTION
Functional and sculptural ceramics converge at the Central Oregon Community College (COCC) Spring Ceramics Sale from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, June 6, and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, June 7, at the Bend campus in Pence Hall, Room 226. The large selection includes stoneware and porcelain items made by students and faculty alike.

For more information, contact COCC ceramics instructor Shin Yeon Jeon at 541-383-7510 or sjeon@cocc.edu.

COCC FUN RUN FOLLOWS AN EPIC FLIGHT OF STAIRS
What goes up must come down—but mostly go up—at Central Oregon Community College's (COCC) annual "Storm the Stairs" 2-mile run/walk event starting at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 6, starting at the Bend campus's track and incorporating some 450 stairs.

Registration forms for the $5 event (which includes a T-shirt) are available from the COCC Sports and Recreation office or at local running outlets and athletic clubs; day-of-race registration takes place from 4:30-5:15 p.m. at the Mazama Gym. Following the race, the college's Sports and Recreation department will hold a dinner for all entrants, along with a prize drawing for participants. For information, or to request an entry form, contact Bill Douglass, COCC's director of Sports and Recreation, at 541-383-7794.

May 17, 2019

SEN. RON WYDEN TO DELIVER COCC'S COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS
U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., will serve as commencement speaker at Central Oregon Community College's (COCC) graduation ceremony at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 15, at the Bend campus's Mazama Field. For the 2018-19 academic year—fall through summer—the college will ultimately award some 708 degrees and certificates, including those presented at commencement.

Elected to the U.S. Senate in 1996, Wyden is the ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee and a senior member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. He also serves on the Senate Budget and Intelligence committees.

During his time in office, Wyden, known for his non-partisan approach, has authored more than 150 bipartisan bills. He has introduced legislation for infrastructure financing (bonds that came with tax credits) and led congressional efforts to bring down prescription drug costs and ensure a free and open internet.

In Oregon, he has helped designate roughly 400,000 acres with protected wilderness status and championed the designation of nearly 2,000 miles of wild and scenic rivers. He also co-wrote the "Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act" to assist communities impacted by a reduction in timber harvesting on federal lands.

"We are honored and excited to have Senator Wyden speak to our graduates and our community," said Shirley I. Metcalf, president of COCC. "One of the things that seems to define him is his openness—he holds town hall meetings for every county in Oregon every year, open to anyone—and I think that's a wonderful message to send to our students, that open doors can help affect positive change."

For information on COCC's commencement, contact Ron Paradis, executive director of College Relations, at 541-383-7599.

NATIVE AMERICAN SALMON BAKE AT COCC A FREE COMMUNITY FEAST
The annual Salmon Bake at Central Oregon Community College (COCC), an event organized by the college's First Nations Student Union (FNSU), is scheduled from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 1, at the Bend campus's athletic field. This is a free community event with entertainment for the whole family.

In addition to a silent auction of Native American arts and crafts to support the FNSU scholarship program, the Salmon Bake features dancing and drumming and includes a number of vendor tables. The meal is made possible by a generous donation of salmon from the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs' Fish and Wildlife Committee. For COCC's 2017-18 academic year, more than four percent of the college's students were American Indian or Alaska Native.

For more information, contact Michelle Cary, Native American program coordinator, at 541-318-3782 or mcary@cocc.edu.

CHEMISTRY STUDENTS AT COCC DISTILL RESEARCH
The Central Oregon Community College (COCC) annual chemistry poster session, where students distill and present the findings of researchers, is scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., on Friday, May 31, at the Bend campus's Science Center, staged in the first floor lobby. This educational event is free and open to the public.

Students base their posters on known chemistry research and discuss connections between the chemistry and everyday life, the environment, medicine and technological advances. Poster topics this year include the impact of natural disasters on air quality, how effective land management can lead to accelerated carbon storage, and the usage of charcoal as a successful soil amendment in place of chemical fertilizers.

For more information, contact Carol Higginbotham, COCC chemistry professor, at 541-383-7552.

COCC HOSTS GUADALUPE MCCALL, ACCLAIMED YOUNG ADULT NOVELIST
Award-winning young adult author and poet Guadalupe McCall, known for her coming-of-age tales that blend fantasy and history, will discuss her work at Central Oregon Community College (COCC) from 5:30-7 p.m., on Thursday, May 30, at the Bend campus's Children's Literature & Equity Resource Center in the Barber Library. This event is free and open to the public. McCall is also speaking at the High Desert Education Service District in Redmond, 10-11:30 a.m., on Friday, May 31.

Born in Mexico, McCall was raised in Texas, a state that serves as the setting for much of her work. Her titles include "Shame the Stars" and "Under the Mesquite." Among numerous awards and recognitions, she has received the Pura Belpre Author Award (co-sponsored by the Association for Library Service to Children) and was a finalist for the American Library Association's William C. Morris Award. An assistant professor of English at George Fox University, McCall was recently an artist-in-residence at the Arne Nixon Center at California State University in Fresno.

Amy Howell, Ph.D., professor of Early Childhood Education at COCC, together with Barber Library staff, helped establish the Children's Literature & Equity Resource Center—a collection of equity-focused and culturally responsive children's literature—and has sought to make it a place where children's authors can inspire others with their words. "Having Guadalupe visit us is incredible," said Howell. "Not just because she's a fantastic storyteller, but for the cultural voice and connection she brings to her readers."

For information, contact Amy Howell at 541-383-7784 or ahowell@cocc.edu.

SEE AT COCC: EXHIBIT AWASH IN TIDAL ZONE INSPIRATION
Central Oregon Community College (COCC) is exhibiting the work of Doug Anderson, May 23 through June 28, at the Bend campus's Health Careers Center, with an opening reception from 4:30-6:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 23. The exhibit was inspired by items—both natural and manmade—discovered along Pacific Northwest beaches.

Anderson, a Hillsboro-based artist, is a professor and chair of the art department at Pacific University. His award-winning work has shown widely throughout the U.S.

May 7, 2019

SNAKES KEEP RACERS GUESSING DURING COCC JUNGLE RUN
Having snakes on the course is generally not a favorable thing for track events, but in Central Oregon Community College's (COCC) four-mile "Jungle Run" (or two-mile run or walk), recovered rubber snakes are redeemable for prizes. The annual trail event—featuring mud pits and log crossings—is slated for 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 23, beginning at the college's track. Registration forms for the $5 event are available from the COCC Sports and Recreation office or at local running outlets and athletic clubs; day of race registration takes place from 4:30-5:15 p.m. at the Mazama Gym. According to organizers, the course is fun, challenging, and includes singletrack, mud bogs, several steep ascents and descents, and numerous log crossings. Post-race refreshments. All finishers receive an event T-shirt.

For information, or to request an entry form, contact Bill Douglass, COCC's director of Sports and Recreation, at 541-383-7794 or bdouglass@cocc.edu.

COCC HOSTS NURSING PROGRAM OVERVIEWS
Central Oregon Community College (COCC) is holding nursing program overviews at its Bend and Redmond campuses:

Bend campus: 5-6 p.m. on Wednesday, May 22, in the Boyle Education Center, Room 155
Bend campus: 9-10 a.m. on Wednesday, May 29, in the Boyle Education Center, Room 155
Redmond campus: 10-11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 29, in Building 3, Room 306

Nursing orientations are information sessions designed for students interested in COCC's associate degree in nursing. Sessions cover minimum requirements to apply to the program, how applicants are selected, deadlines and more. The formal presentation usually runs 45 minutes with plenty of time for questions during and after. Prospective nursing students are strongly encouraged. Reservations are not required. Contact: Kara Rutherford at 541-318-3741.

May 3, 2019

PLAY AT COCC ILLUMINATES IMMIGRANT PATH OF OREGON JUDGE
The story of how an undocumented immigrant from El Salvador ultimately became an Oregon judge is the inspiration for "Judge Torres," a bilingual play showing at Central Oregon Community College (COCC) at 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 16, in Pioneer Hall's Hitchcock Auditorium. Tickets are $10, available at cocc.edu/mcc-events.

Xiomara Torres arrived undocumented in the U.S. at age nine. A child abuse survivor who was raised in foster care, Torres overcame much adversity to become a circuit judge for Multnomah County. Her life story moved Salvadoran playwright Milta Ortiz to develop the play, who brings her own immigrant experiences and Mayan folktales into the work. Players from Teatro Milagro, a Portland-based Latino theater group, will stage the production at COCC as well as another production at Redmond High School's auditorium (Wednesday, May 15, at 7 p.m.).

Also on May 16, Teatro Milagro is hosting two free, bilingual arts-integrated community workshops at COCC-Bend (2-3 p.m.) and OSU-Cascades (noon-1:30 p.m.) to address bullying and isolation by using themes of identity and community support. To participate in the COCC workshop, call Evelia Sandoval at 541-318-3726; for the OSU-Cascades workshop, call Erin Rook at 541-322-2044.

COCC-BEND HOLDS INFO SESSION ON ITS HEALTH DEGREES, CERTIFICATES
Central Oregon Community College's (COCC) Bend campus is hosting an information session on its Allied Health programs from 5:30-6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 15, in the Health Careers Center, Room 140. The health programs covered will include dental assistant, massage therapy, medical assistant, pharmacy technician and veterinary technician.

FESTIVAL AT COCC A CULTURAL SLICE OF PACIFIC RIM
With a slack key guitar performance by Bill Keale and a dance by the Filipino American Association of the High Desert among its festive lineup, Central Oregon Community College (COCC) is holding its annual Asian-Pacific Islander Festival, from 1-4 p.m. on Saturday, May 18, at the Coats Campus Center. This event is free and open to the public. The Hokule'a Ohana Central Oregon hula dancers will perform and participants can sample a range of ethnic cuisine. Hands-on arts and crafts include origami, flower crafts and Chinese calligraphy. For information about this event, contact Gordon Price at 541-383-7256 or gprice3@cocc.edu.

COCC BOARD MEETING: MAY 8
The Central Oregon Community College (COCC) board of directors will hold its monthly meeting starting at 7:15 p.m. on Wednesday, May 8, in the Christensen Board Room on the second floor of the Bend campus's Boyle Education Center, 2600 NW College Way. The budget committee will meet first, at 5:45 p.m., in the same location.

Among the meeting's topics: a campus village update, a presentation regarding the role of a college resource officer, a report on dual-credit accelerated learning and an update on the college's Allied Health programs. The meeting includes an adjournment to executive session to focus on labor negotiations. For more information, contact Ron Paradis, executive director of College Relations, at 541-383-7599.

April 29, 2019

COCC HOSTS NY TIMES BEST-SELLING AUTHOR OF "THE AMERICAN DREAM IN CRISIS"
When Robert Putnam, Harvard professor and New York Times best-selling author, set out to study and chronicle the opportunity gap that exists for today's American youth, he uncovered some compelling case studies across the nation—including one in Bend. Putnam will be speaking about the resulting work, "Our Kids: The American Dream in Crisis," as part of the Central Oregon Community College (COCC) Foundation's Visiting Scholar Program, at 6:30 p.m., on Monday, May 13, at the Bend High School. Tickets are $15 and available at cocc.edu/foundation; the event will also be livestreamed, free, at COCC's Redmond, Madras and Prineville campuses.

The concept of the American dream—how a good education and hard work can lead to prosperity and success—has undergone a disturbing trend in the past 25 years, Putnam illustrates in his work: It no longer seems available to all. The author will discuss the implications across economic, social, political and moral lines, as well as the many factors that are now predicting life success for young people.

A series of book discussions, held at COCC's four campuses, will take place at various dates from May 2 to May 22. Visit cocc.edu/foundation/vsp for details.

The Malkin Research Professor of Public Policy at Harvard University, Putnam was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 2001, and, in 2006, received the Skytte Prize, the world's highest accolade for a political scientist. He was awarded the National Humanities Medal, the nation's highest honor for contributions to the humanities, in 2012.

For more information on this event, contact Charlotte Gilbride, coordinator for the Foundation's Nancy R. Chandler Visiting Scholar Program, at 541-383-7257 or cgilbride@cocc.edu. The event is sponsored by the Oregon Community Foundation with additional support from United Way of Deschutes County, TRACEs CO, Vic Russell Construction, Mid-Oregon Credit Union, Mt. Bachelor Rotary, the Maybelle Clark Macdonald Fund, Associated Students of COCC and Associated Students of OSU-Cascades.

COCC HOSTS NURSING PROGRAM OVERVIEWS
Central Oregon Community College (COCC) is holding nursing program overviews at its Bend and Redmond campuses:

Bend campus: 5-6 p.m. on Wednesday, May 8, in the Boyle Education Center, Room 155

Redmond campus: 9-10 a.m. on Tuesday, May 14, in Building 3, Room 306

Nursing orientations are information sessions designed for students interested in COCC's associate degree in nursing. Sessions cover minimum requirements to apply to the program, how applicants are selected, deadlines and more. The formal presentation usually runs 45 minutes with plenty of time for questions during and after. Prospective nursing students are strongly encouraged. Reservations are not required. Contact: Kara Rutherford at 541-318-3741.

April 10, 2019

COCC NAMES FOUR STUDENTS TO ALL-OREGON ACADEMIC TEAM
Central Oregon Community College (COCC) students Josiah Cruikshank, Linnea Lane, Rachel Williams and Donna Witmeyer were selected to represent the college on the Oregon Community College Association's (OCCA) 2019 All-Oregon Academic Team, an honor that includes an awards banquet and visit to the Oregon Capitol on April 26 to meet with Governor Kate Brown and state legislators.

To be chosen for the distinction, COCC students must maintain a minimum 3.5 cumulative GPA and have completed at least 54 credits. Nominated by a faculty member, finalists undergo a review process by the college's committee for Academic Excellence.

Donna Witmeyer, 37, of Prineville, set to receive her dental assisting certificate at commencement, is a dean's list student who left a successful but unfulfilling career in banking to follow her goal of helping people in a health care field. One of Witmeyer's long-term goals is to go on mission trips to help people in developing countries gain access to dental care.

Josiah Cruikshank, 17, of Bend, has maintained a 4.0 grade point average while studying engineering at COCC. A student in the Baker Early College program, Cruikshank is earning an associate degree while still in high school. Upon graduation this year, his aim is to continue his undergraduate engineering path at Colorado State University, with career aspirations in the field of mechanical engineering.

Linnea Lane, 18, of Bend, is pursuing chemistry studies at COCC through the Baker Early College program and plans to graduate with an Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer degree in June. Having presented original work on microbial research at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, and maintaining a 4.0 grade point average at the college, the singer and musician hopes to fuse both health care and music into her career.

Rachel Williams, 35, of La Pine, is soon to graduate with a degree in Health Information Technology and intends on transferring to the University of Cincinnati's online program this coming fall to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management. Her ambition is to offer consulting services to start-up health care practices. A busy mom to two foster children, she also provides volunteer services at an addiction recovery center in Central Oregon.

For more information, contact Alicia Moore, COCC student services dean, at 541-383-7244 or amoore@cocc.edu.

The All-Oregon Academic Team is part of the All-State Community College Academic Team program that launched in 1994 in the states of Mississippi and Missouri. Today, 38 states host All-State Academic Team programs each year, focusing on two-year colleges and recognizing exceptional students. The OCCA sponsors the annual event, in partnership with the Phi Theta Kappa honor society, which awards some $37 million in scholarships nationally to community college transfer students.

COCC VISITING SCHOLAR OFFERS INSIGHT, ANALYSIS OF SUPREME COURT
The U.S. Supreme Court has the power to sidestep public opinion, upend federal legislation, constrain state governance and even bring down the president—wielding a force that's a far cry from its original intended design. Alison Gash, Ph.D., a University of Oregon political science associate professor, will discuss the Supreme Court's history and present-day capacity during "The Supreme Court: What's Next and Why it Matters," at Central Oregon Community College's (COCC) Coats Campus Center, from 6:30-8 p.m., on Wednesday, April 24. Tickets to this Nancy R. Chandler Visiting Scholar Program event are $10, available at cocc.edu.

Today's Supreme Court is one of the most powerful policymaking institutions in the United States. Gash will discuss the court's humble beginnings, its skirmishes with legislative and executive branches during the New Deal era, and its foray into areas of privacy, intimacy and expression. The presentation will share how the court's makeup—its personalities and relationships—can make or break American public policy.

An expert in U.S. courts, gender, race, sexuality, constitutional rights and public policy, Gash is the author of "Below the Radar: How Silence Can Save Civil Rights" and has been a contributor to Washington Monthly, Politico, Slate, Huffington Post, Newsweek and Fortune. Her research explores how advocates work to overcome contentious policy debates and help influence "facts on the ground."

For more information on this event, contact Charlotte Gilbride, coordinator for the COCC Foundation's Nancy R. Chandler Visiting Scholar Program, at 541-383-7257 or cgilbride@cocc.edu. This program is sponsored by Brooks Resources Corporation, the Maybelle Clark Macdonald Fund, Associated Students of COCC, Associated Students of OSU-Cascades and Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott.

LOCAL FARMS, FOODS ON DISPLAY AT COCC "FAIRE"
The annual Farm & Food Spring Faire at Central Oregon Community College (COCC) will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 4, at the college's Coats Campus Center in Bend. Organized by COCC's Sustainability Committee, and held in partnership with Central Oregon Locavore and the High Desert Food & Farm Alliance, the free event is a chance to taste and talk about locally raised food.

Some 15 farmers, ranchers and producers, from Terrebonne to Prineville, will be on hand to show their wares and connect with community members. Attendees can purchase early-season crops, honey, eggs, meats and seed starts or sign up for community-supported agriculture (CSA) and "herdshare" raw milk memberships.

The COCC Sustainability Committee promotes sustainability education and practices among students, faculty and staff. For more information, contact Owen Murphy at omurphy@cocc.edu or 541-383-7766.

April 5, 2019

COCC BOARD MEETING: APRIL 10, AT ELEVATION RESTAURANT
The Central Oregon Community College (COCC) board of directors will hold its monthly meeting starting at 5:45 p.m. on Wednesday, April 10, at the Cascade Culinary Institute's Elevation restaurant, 2555 NW Campus Village Way, where the board will first meet for dinner at 5 p.m. The college's budget committee will also convene during this meeting.

Among the meeting's topics: a legislative update, financial statements and a report on North Lake county's status with COCC's district. The meeting includes adjournments for executive sessions to focus on legal counsel and labor negotiations. For more information, contact Ron Paradis, executive director of College Relations, at 541-383-7599.

In advance of college events, persons needing accommodation or transportation because of a physical or mobility disability, contact Joe Viola: 541-383-7775. For accommodation because of other disability, such as hearing impairment, contact the Office of Disability Services: 541-383-7743.

COCC-REDMOND OFFERS INFO SESSION ON HEALTH PROGRAMS
Central Oregon Community College's (COCC) Redmond campus is hosting an information session on its Allied Health programs from 5:30-6:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 18, in Building 3, Room 306. The health programs covered will include dental assistant, massage therapy, medical assistant, pharmacy technician and veterinary technician.

April 1, 2019

COCC ART INVITATIONAL A STUDENT SHOWCASE
The Pence Pinckney Gallery at Central Oregon Community College (COCC) is exhibiting a range of artwork by art students, from ceramic sculpture to jewelry, during the college's "Art Invitational," April 1 to May 3, with a reception from 4:30-6 p.m. on Thursday, April 4. The gallery is open 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday to Friday.

COCC offers art instruction in painting, graphic design, ceramics, photography, sculpture, drawing and metalwork, among other mediums. Students can earn an Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer degree with an art focus.

For more information on the exhibit, contact Moe Carolin-Anderson at 541-383-7510 or mcarolin@cocc.edu.

March 26, 2019

COCC WORKSHOP EXPLORES THE ELEMENTS OF AN EQUITY LIBRARY
The Children's Literature Equity and Resource Center (CLERC) at Central Oregon Community College's (COCC) Barber Library is hosting a free equity library workshop for the local early childhood education community from 6-8 p.m. on Monday, April 8, in Barber's CLERC reading room.

Educator participants will discuss books through an equity lens and learn how to start an equity library in their own classroom or learning facility. This event is co-sponsored by COCC and NeighborImpact. For information, contact Amy Howell at 541-383-7784 or ahowell@cocc.edu.

CLERC grew from a shared commitment between the Barber Library and the college's Office of Multicultural Activities and Early Childhood Education programs to support developing educators' understanding of equity and inclusion. The CLERC collection and reading room supports COCC students as well as educators and programs serving youth—from early childhood to young adults—throughout Central Oregon. COCC's Early Childhood Education program options include an Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer degree, an Associate of Applied Science degree and two certificates of completion.

"RESILIENT COMMUNITIES" IS FOCUS OF EARLY EDUCATOR CONFERENCE AT COCC
"Growing Resilient Communities" is the theme of the Oregon Association for the Education of Young Children's (OAEYC) regional Early Learning Conference at Central Oregon Community College (COCC), April 26-27, at the college's Bend campus. The conference runs from noon to 5 p.m. on Friday, April 26, and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 27. For registration and information, visit earlylearning.co.

The conference offers a range of educational sessions aimed at early learning development and child wellness and typically sees some 200 attendees, comprised of students, early learning educators, learning specialists, elementary educators, administrators and program directors from throughout Deschutes, Jefferson and Crook counties.

For more information, contact Amy Howell, Early Childhood Education program director, at 541-383-7784.

A CIRCUS OF NUMBERS, COCC'S MATH CONTEST GOES TO THE BIG TOP
The annual High School Math Contest at Central Oregon Community College (COCC)—where some 150 regional mathletes converge to compete in a series of events—will feel like a bit of a circus act this year when it comes to the Bend campus, held from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 11, thanks to this year's playful theme.

"We really wanted to highlight that this contest is as much about having fun as it is doing mathematics," said Kathy Smith, mathematics professor and department chair. "What better way to do that than by staging a circus?" Faculty, Smith said, will dress the part by coming as circus performers, while student participants each receive a T-shirt featuring the big top theme.

For more than 40 years, the college has hosted the game-styled competition, giving students a chance to test their math mettle while simultaneously taking them on a cross-campus tour of the Bend campus. There are seven events, from "Solve That Problem" in Hitchcock Auditorium, to a scavenger hunt starting in the Science Center, to a relay race in the Mazama Gym.

Students take quizzes corresponding to their mathematics course level and top scorers receive an invitation to participate in the annual Oregon Invitational Mathematics Tournament, scheduled for May 18 at Portland State University.

All students must be pre-registered. For more information on the event, contact Reneé Brazeau-Asher at rasher@cocc.edu or 541-383-7289.

COCC HOSTS NURSING PROGRAM OVERVIEWS
Central Oregon Community College (COCC) is holding nursing program overviews at its Bend and Redmond campuses:

Bend campus: 9-10 a.m. on Friday, April 12, in the Boyle Education Center, Room 155
Redmond campus: 5:15-6:15 p.m. on Tuesday, April 16, in Building 3, Room 306
Bend campus: 5-6 p.m. on Friday, April 26, in the Boyle Education Center, Room 160

March 22, 2019

COCC FOUNDATION FUNDRAISERS LIFTED BY $337K IN COMMUNITY SUPPORT
The Central Oregon Community College Foundation's annual "Taste of the Town" and "Meal of the Year" fundraiser dinner events held in February raised more than $337,000 to support its scholarship fund for local students. With the support of its contributors, the Foundation offers $1.6 million in scholarships to COCC students each year; for the 2018-19 academic year, 425 students received assistance.

With a tradition that began in 1978 (the first Meal of the Year gala), the Foundation holds the pair of dinners back-to-back over two nights—one a casual event with bite-size samplings from regional restaurants, the other a formal four-course dinner prepared by the college's Cascade Culinary Institute–as its primary fundraisers.

Two former educators received a tribute at the Meal of the Year for their longstanding support of the Foundation. Retired COCC math professor Jack McCown and his wife, Barb, a retired Bend-La Pine School District teacher, helped put the evening's spotlight on education. "Education made us who we are today," said Jack McCown, "and we're honored to help others in pursuit of their own educational goals and aspirations. We are thrilled the event this year again raised critical dollars for COCC students."

The COCC Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization whose purpose is to further the educational and charitable activities of the college through financial assistance to students, fiscal support for college programs and in campaigns that support needed college capital improvements.

March 20, 2019

R. CARLOS NAKAI AND WILL CLIPMAN TO PLAY AT COCC
Grammy nominees R. Carlos Nakai and Will Clipman will perform an evening of Native American flute and percussion music at Central Oregon Community College's (COCC) Wille Hall from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, April 4. This event is free and open to the public.

The concert will combine the ancient tones of the Native American cedar flute with the vibrations of African, Native American and Asian rhythms. Students from COCC's First Nations Student Union will be selling CDs by the artists. For more information, call 541-318-3726.

Sponsored by the COCC Diversity and Inclusion and Student Life offices, the Native American program and Fairfield Inn & Suites.

March 19, 2019

OREGON POET LAUREATES IN MADRAS FOR NATIONAL POETRY MONTH
Kim Stafford, Oregon's poet laureate and the director of Lewis & Clark College's Northwest Writing Institute, is bringing his poetry to Central Oregon, together with Elizabeth Woody, past poet laureate of Oregon, and Madras poet Jarold Ramsey, as part of Central Oregon Community College's (COCC) focus on National Poetry Month, at the college's Madras campus from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 10.

The evening of readings and refreshments, free and open to the public, is the marquee event of COCC's month-long tribute to poetry. Stafford will offer an encore reading at the COCC Redmond campus from 1-2:15 p.m. the following day. For a complete listing of events, visit cocc.edu/library.

"We are calling our presentation ‘Honoring Family and Place,' because so often when I write a poem it is about my local experience—in a family, and in a place," said Stafford, who was named poet laureate of the state by Governor Kate Brown in 2018. "I remember family camping trips to Cove Palisades Park, to Warm Springs, to Fort Rock, to the Metolius River, and in each place, as a family, we experienced the magic of a special place. Poetry comes from those encounters."

Organized by the staff of COCC's Barber Library, the lineup of National Poetry Month events is held throughout the month of April and includes an Open Mic Poetry Jam (April 18), poetry workshops (April 9, 16 and 30; at the Bend, Prineville and Redmond campuses, respectively) and an "edible book" cake-and-reading finale (April 25).

For details on COCC's National Poetry Month events, contact Cat Finney at cfinney@cocc.edu or 541-383-7559.

March 13, 2019

NEW PRESIDENT OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCED FOR COCC
Dr. Laurie Chesley has been named president of Central Oregon Community College. The COCC board of directors voted on Tuesday to approve the hiring of Chesley as just the sixth president in COCC's 70-year history. She will assume the role on July 1, replacing Dr. Shirley Metcalf who has served as president since August 2014.

"We are thrilled to be welcoming Dr. Chesley to Central Oregon and to this college," said Laura Craska Cooper, chair of the COCC board of directors. "We were so impressed with her passion for the mission of community colleges and our role of promoting student success and community workforce development."

Chesley is the provost and executive vice president for academic and student affairs at Grand Rapids (Michigan) Community College. She taught English at a variety of higher education institutions for 14 years, including five years of full-time teaching at Northwestern Michigan College. She has 18 years of administrative experience, including as interim dean of learning at Northwestern Michigan, assistant vice president for academic affairs at Ferris State (Michigan) University, dean of humanities at Montgomery County (Pennsylvania) Community College, and then associate dean and dean of arts and sciences at Grand Rapids Community College, before becoming vice president in 2015.

"I am humbled by the opportunity to serve as president of Central Oregon Community College," Chesley said. "It is exciting for me to be moving to an area that is so beautiful, so welcoming and, most importantly, so supportive of its community college.

"I approach this challenge with humility, knowing the great work that has already been done by Dr. Metcalf, the board of directors, and the faculty and staff, both past and present," she said. "COCC has a great history and I look forward to being part of its future."

Chesley was one of three candidates who interviewed for the position in February. Following the interviews, the board met with representatives of the faculty, staff and community and chose Chesley as its top choice. A group from COCC then visited Grand Rapids Community College to meet with faculty and staff there.

"Everything we heard on our visit confirmed that Dr. Chesley is the right person to be the next president of COCC," said Joe Krenowicz, a member of the COCC board who was on the trip. "Faculty, staff, students, her current president and board chair all shared their tremendous respect for the work she has done there and were unanimous in their support of her move into a presidency."

Grand Rapids Community College has been offering educational opportunities in West Michigan for more than 100 years. It is the oldest community college in the state, and one of the largest, with 13,000 students in credit courses and 17,000 in non-credit, workforce training programs. Classes are offered at GRCC's two downtown Grand Rapids campuses, the Thompson M-TEC in Holland, several locations throughout Kent and Ottawa counties, as well as through distance learning.

March 8, 2019

MICHELLE VAN HANDEL HELPS BRING THE JAZZ TO COCC CONCERT
Central Oregon Community College's (COCC) Big Band Jazz group will include the vocals of Michelle Van Handel when they present an afternoon of classic and modern big band jazz at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 17, in the Bend campus's Wille Hall, Coats Campus Center. Cash-only admission is $10; $5 for students and seniors.

Big Band Jazz is a community group of Central Oregon musicians dedicated to bringing artistry to the big band genre. Sponsored by COCC, it has been a part of the Central Oregon jazz scene for more than 30 years. Van Handel, who grew up in the Portland area and studied music at the University of Oregon, was a recipient of an Oregon Jazz Society's scholarship for Outstanding New Jazz Vocalist. She has performed with many local jazz ensembles.

For more information, contact Michael Gesme at 541-383-7516 or mgesme@cocc.edu.

March 1, 2019

SEE AT COCC: NATURE INSPIRES CONTEMPORARY WOOD SCULPTURES
The Barber Library gallery at Central Oregon Community College (COCC) is exhibiting "If Trees Could Dream," the juniper-and-willow modern sculptural works of Ted Gladu, Feb. 23 through March 21, with a reception from 4:30-6:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 7 (rescheduled from original Feb. 28 date due to snow closures). For library hours, visit Barber Library Hours.

Gladu, a designer and builder by trade, refers to the exhibit—a mix of freestanding sculptures and mural-style creations—as a tribute to Central Oregon nature and an envisioning of how trees might dream. "This is a reverie of many thoughts that I have had, an exploration of space and time, and most importantly, a tribute to the wild land that surrounds us in our environs," he said.

For more information on this exhibit, contact Marybeth Hamilton, COCC Barber Library, at 541-383-7425 or mbhamilton@cocc.edu.

FIRST NATIONS DOCUMENTARY AT COCC TACKLES FRACKING
Central Oregon Community College's (COCC) First Nations Student Union (FNSU) is presenting a free screening of "Fractured Land," a documentary film that examines the impact of fracking operations on First Nations people in British Columbia, on two dates: at the Bend campus from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 6, Boyle Education Center, Room 155; and at the Madras campus, noon to 2 p.m. on Monday, March 11, in the Community Room.

The film, made over the span of four years, follows the path of a young First Nations attorney, Caleb Behn, who faces off with destructive fracking operations and straddles two worlds that aren't always compatible.

For more information, contact Michelle Cary, Native American program coordinator, at 541-318-3782 or mcary@cocc.edu.

"GETTING STARTED" AT COCC
Central Oregon Community College (COCC) is offering "Getting Started" presentations in Bend and Redmond for prospective students:

Redmond campus: 4:30 p.m., Monday, March 11, Building 1, Room 128.
Bend campus: 5 p.m., Wednesday, March 13, Boyle Education Center, Room 156.

This is an opportunity for prospective students—seeking a degree or to take a few classes—to meet with a COCC admissions representative for guidance through time-sensitive steps for enrollment, federal funding, choosing appropriate courses and the use of academic support services. Bend RSVP: 541-383-7500. Redmond RSVP: 541-504-2900.