UCC Art Gallery Presents “To Watch The Moon Move” (Photo) - 02/13/26

ROSEBURG, Ore. — The Art Gallery at Umpqua Community College will present “To Watch the Moon Move,” a series of photographs by Parker Reinecker exploring the American South and how the region’s roots in agrarian community, textile production, and class and racial segregation connect to the current social landscape of the Central Piedmont.

The exhibition will be on display Feb. 9 through March 11, 2026, at the Whipple Fine Arts Center at UCC. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

A reception and virtual artist talk will be held from 2 to 3 p.m. Feb. 18 in Whipple Fine Arts, Room 22. Admission is free.

Parker James Reinecker is a visual artist and educator based in central North Carolina. He earned a Master of Fine Arts degree from Savannah College of Art and Design. His work has been exhibited nationally and internationally at institutions including High Point University, Marshall University, the Colorado Photographic Art Center, the Academy Art Museum and the National Center for Civil and Human Rights.

About the Art Gallery

The UCC Art Gallery is located in the Whipple Fine Arts Building at Umpqua Community College, 1140 Umpqua College Road, Roseburg, OR 97470. The 1,100-square-foot exhibition space presents six exhibitions annually, showcasing a variety of media by emerging and established artists. The gallery’s primary focus is to exhibit high-quality artwork for the educational and cultural benefit of UCC students and Douglas County residents.

UCC Board Of Education Meeting - 02/06/26

The Umpqua Community College Board of Education will have a work session and regular board meeting on February 11, 2026. The work session will begin at 4:00pm and the regular board meeting will begin at 5:00pm. They wil be held at the Woolley Center Downtown (Classroom 4 – downstairs), 729 SE Jackson Street, Roseburg, OR. Pertinent meeting information can be found at umpqua.edu/board-meetings.

Jazz Singer Halie Loren In Concert With The Umpqua Chamber Orchestra And Umpqua Singers On January 30 (Photo) - 01/28/26

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Dr.  Jason A. Heald, Director of Music, Umpqua Community College, 541-440-4693

Jazz singer Halie Loren in concert with the Umpqua Chamber Orchestra and Umpqua Singers on January 30.

WHEN: January 30 at 7:00

WHERE: Jacoby Auditorium on the Umpqua Community College Campus

ROSEBURG, OR - The Umpqua Community College Performing and Visual Arts present Halie Loren in concert with the Umpqua Chamber Orchestra and the Umpqua Singers in Jacoby Auditorium on the UCC Campus. The concert will feature Halie Loren and pianist Matt Treder performing jazz standards and original selections with the UCO and Umpqua Singers.  Admission is at the door, $15.00 general admission, $10.00 seniors; students are admitted FREE. For more information, contact music@umpqua.edu.

Halie Loren is an international, award-winning jazz singer/songwriter. She brings a fresh and original perspective to time-honored musical paths, channeling her innate understanding of connectedness across musical boundaries to forge bonds with diverse audiences in North America, Asia, and Europe. Her multi-genre and multi-lingual musical blend across her ten albums to-date has earned several national and international awards in multiple genres as well as significant critical and chart success along the way, with her albums consistently reaching #1 on the Billboard Japan, iTunes (Canada and Japan) and Amazon jazz charts.

About Umpqua Community College

Nestled in the beautiful North Umpqua River Valley, Umpqua Community College is the regional center for higher education in Douglas County, Oregon. UCC provides high quality college degree programs, workforce development, and community learning opportunities. For more information, please visit us online at www.umpqua.edu.

UCC Opens Newly Renovated Advanced Manufacturing And Forestry Hub (Photo) - 01/22/26

ROSEBURG, Ore. — Umpqua Community College (UCC) hosted a community open house on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., celebrating the opening of its newly renovated Advanced Manufacturing & Forestry Hub. The event showcased a reimagined learning space designed to support high-demand workforce training in advanced manufacturing, forestry, and emerging technologies.

This milestone represents the culmination of a multi-year effort that began in 2023, when UCC undertook a comprehensive review of its academic programs related to advanced manufacturing, the forest products industry, and forestry. That process was guided by extensive input from major manufacturing and forestry employers across Douglas County, as well as smaller businesses that regularly hire UCC graduates.

The result was a bold re-envisioning of how these programs are delivered—placing greater emphasis on cross-curricular collaboration, alignment with industry needs, and future-focused skill development. As part of this effort, UCC launched two new programs: Mechatronics and Artificial Intelligence, expanding opportunities for students to prepare for highly technical, well-paying careers.

Industry partners consistently emphasized the need for high-skilled workers who can design, maintain, program, and service automated machinery that drives modern manufacturing facilities, along with highly competent forestersequipped to support the management and long-term health of forest lands. While Douglas County’s manufacturing sector remains anchored in wood products and mill operations, it is increasingly shaped by automation, advanced software, and AI-enabled systems—requiring a workforce with strong mechanical, engineering, and digital competencies.

At the open house, Allyn Ford, Roseburg Forest Products former CEO and president addressed the guests, “We’re looking to the future. Our industry and everything we’re doing is becoming increasingly complex. The change is taking place so quickly.”

To meet this demand, UCC aligned its Computer Science, Forestry, Virtual Welding, and Engineering programs through shared curricula and collaborative instruction. With the addition of Mechatronics and a certificate in Expert Systems: Artificial Intelligence, the college now offers a comprehensive suite of programs designed to serve the evolving needs of the regional workforce.

“Growing a workforce here has been a challenge in the last thirty years, but Umpqua Community College has really helped out with that challenge,” said Dave Larecy, Con-Vey CEO at the open house event.  “Having programs and facilities like this so you can graduate, continue your education locally and get exciting career opportunities all in your hometown is amazing.” 

More than 350 students are currently enrolled in these program pathways, and the newly renovated facility represents the final stage of this transformative initiative. By repurposing one of the college’s original campus buildings, UCC created state-of-the-art laboratory spaces, a multi-purpose advanced manufacturing learning lab, lecture-theater capacity, and a maker and innovation space open to the entire college community and beyond. The facility was upgraded to meet the significant power and data demands of modern manufacturing education and to inspire students to pursue careers in high-tech industries with strong local employment opportunities.

“This project reflects what’s possible when education and industry work together,” said UCC leadership. “The Advanced Manufacturing & Forestry Hub positions our students—and our region—for long-term success.”

The project was made possible through the generous support and partnership of industry leaders and donors, including:

Nordic Veneer; Roseburg Forest Products; Murphy Company; D.R. Johnson Lumber Company; Lone Rock Resources; Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians; Sierra Pacific Foundation; Con-Vey; FCC Commercial Furniture; The Ford Family Foundation; Great Northern Trailer Works; Douglas County Forest Products; Hal & Paula Ball; Swanson Group; and Lynn Engle.

For more information about UCC’s Advanced Manufacturing & Forestry programs, visit umpqua.edu.

Dave Stricklin Earns 1,000th Career Victory As UCC Defeats Portland Community College (Photo) - 01/20/26

ROSEBURG, Ore. — Umpqua Community College women’s basketball head coach Dave Stricklin recorded the 1,000th victory of his illustrious junior college coaching career on Monday, January 19, 2026, as the Riverhawks defeated Portland Community College, 89-60.

The milestone win comes during Stricklin’s 31st season at Umpqua Community College and his 39th year as a collegiate head coach, underscoring a career defined by longevity, consistency, and sustained excellence.

With the victory, Stricklin becomes one of only five coaches in the history of junior college women’s basketball to reach the 1,000-win mark and just the third active coach nationally to do so. His career record now stands at 1,000–220, good for an 81.9 winning percentage, one of the highest in the sport.

“This milestone is about the players, the assistant coaches, and the people who have believed in what we do here at Umpqua,” Stricklin said. “I’ve been incredibly fortunate to coach young women who are committed to excellence on and off the court.”

Among active junior college women’s basketball coaches, Stricklin ranks:

• 3rd in total wins
• 2nd in winning percentage

Among all-time junior college women’s basketball coaches with 1,000 or more wins, Stricklin ranks:

• 5th in total wins
• 2nd in winning percentage

Junior College Women’s Basketball Coaches – 1,000 Career Wins

Active Coaches

• Kim Muhl, Kirkwood CC (IA): 1,057–173 (.859)
• Bob McKinley, Weatherford (TX): 1,035–549 (.653)
• Dave Stricklin, Umpqua CC (OR): 1,000–220 (.819)

All-Time

• Kim Muhl, Kirkwood CC (IA): 1,057–173 (.859)
• Bob McKinley, Weatherford (TX): 1,035–549 (.653)
• David Kragel, Walters State (TN): 1,007–291 (.776)
• Gwyn Young, Copiah-Lincoln (MS): 1,004–306 (.776)
• Dave Stricklin, Umpqua CC (OR): 1,000–220 (.819)

Throughout his three decades at Umpqua Community College, Stricklin has built one of the most consistent and respected programs in the Northwest Athletic Conference. His teams are known for their high scoring offense, high basketball IQ, and a strong emphasis on academic achievement, player development, and community impact.

“Dave’s impact goes far beyond wins,” said Craig Jackson, Director of Athletics at UCC. “For 31 years at UCC and nearly four decades as a head coach, he has shaped generations of student-athletes and elevated Umpqua women’s basketball to a level of sustained excellence that is recognized nationally.”

Umpqua Community College will host a short on-court ceremony honoring Coach Stricklin’s career and historic achievement on Sunday, January 25, at 2:00 p.m. in the UCC Gymnasium. Fans, alumni, former players, and community members are invited to attend and celebrate one of the most accomplished coaching careers in junior college women’s basketball history.

Stricklin’s 1,000th victory further cements his legacy as one of the most successful and influential coaches in junior college women’s basketball.