Southwestern’s “Night of Thank Yous” Honors Area Organizations and Businesses, Nov. 11

Southwestern Oregon Community College (SWOCC) recently honored 88 businesses and organizations at a “Night of Thank Yous” for supporting internships during 2013 – 2014, as part of the state of Oregon’s Career Pathways Grant program. “Interns bring fresh eyes and ideas to the workforce and add additional resources to projects,” said Coos County Health Department’s Cynthia Edwards. “Interns also have been instrumental in jump-starting projects that have been on the back burner.” The event was held at the Oregon Coast Culinary Institute on the Coos Bay campus, with 49 organizations participating. Southwestern President Dr. Patty Scott opened the celebration with reflections on how a college internship helped shape her career. “I was fortunate in college to participate in several internships. Those experiences helped focus me in career directions that have proven rewarding,” Dr. Scott said. “I also learned what jobs I didn’t want to do!” The Health Department and Coos Watershed Association received special internship awards for “Exemplary Partnerships to Help College Students Succeed.” Both organizations have expanded their collaboration with SWOCC and hosted the greatest number of internships, said SWOCC Internship Coordinator Trish McMichael. Partner companies and agencies filled out surveys each term ranking skills that they consider the most important for successful job performance. The top four skills were teamwork, listening, verbal communication and customer service. “For our agency, the internship was very helpful in assisting us with our project needs, and we hope that we provided valuable experience that the student will carry forward toward future employment,” said Mike Gray, Charleston District fish biologist with the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife. SWOCC internships have provided opportunities for medical assistants at Bay Clinic and North Bend Medical Center, welding at Southern Oregon Marine Inc., biology at the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology, criminal justice with the Coquille Indian Tribal Police and work in anthropology at the Coos Historical & Maritime Museum among many other sites. To explore an internship partnership with the College, please contact Trish McMichael at 541-888-7349 or trish.mcmichael@socc.edu.