The Student News Site of Central Oregon Community College

The Broadside

The Student News Site of Central Oregon Community College

The Broadside

The Student News Site of Central Oregon Community College

The Broadside

Matt Coito, Club Coordinator

“If students can get four people together, Matt (Coito) will be there to help them” ~ Gordon Price, Director of Student Life

Zachary Hunt

The Broadside

 

 

Hailing from the sunny beaches of Kona, Associated Students of Central Oregon Community College Club Coordinator Matt Coito sometimes seems just a little too chill to work on student government, though he is probably more fit than most for the job.

Coito spent the first 19 years of his life in Hawaii before traveling abroad. When his mom and a few friends moved to Bend from Santa Barbara, he thought it would be a great idea to see the Great Northwest for himself.

“I was traveling around a lot. I told my buddy I would just need to stay the night, and then I stayed a week. I got a job down at the Sunriver Marina and here I am, five years later,” said Coito.

Within a few months of working at the Marina and as a Stone Mason and Hot Carrier, Coito decided that going to school would be the best thing to do.

“After my first term here, I realized I really hate school. So I left for a term and hated life even more. After having to cut on a wet saw all day outside the entire winter, I realized school is definitely the best place to be,” says Coito.

When Coito was finally a regular on campus, he started joining different clubs, which led him to his seat as ASCOCC Club Coordinator.

“Being part of ASCOCC sounded like something cool to do. Something that’s bigger, you know? I just basically was there to do anything they asked. First, I was the hospitality coordinator, then the project coordinator, and now I’m the club coordinator,” Coito says.

“Matt has expanded the amount of clubs and participation in clubs,” said fellow student council member Terry Link.

Coito is the go-to guy for students who want to form a club or get assistance with running an existing club.

“If students can get four people together, Matt will be there to help them,” said Director of Student Life, Gordon Price.

Coito walks students through the process, providing paperwork and instructions to students on how to submit funding requests.

“Matt’s interests are everywhere. He carries the aloha spirit,” said Price.

“I think it’s a façade,” said Link of Coito’s laid-back rep. “He’s a hard working guy. He doesn’t let the b.s. get in the way.”

ASCOCC definitely does not define Coito, though. His complexity as an individual goes much deeper than his involvement with campus clubs. In addition to pursuing an education in General Science and Aviation, Coito loves to get outside and onto the water.

“I’ve been doing a lot of stand up paddling, it’s a blast and I have a lot of cultural ties to it as well. I love kayaking, white water rafting, camping, fishing, all that good stuff,” says Coito.

Coito is described by his co-council members as someone who tells it like it is and always seems to have a smile on his face.

As the Club Coordinator of ASCOCC, he has a big job, and most of the time he does it flip-flops.

You may contact Zachary Hunt at [email protected]

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