Central Oregon Psychology Enthusiasts (COPE) Psychology Club held their annual Student Showcase this past Wednesday on the Bend Campus of Central Oregon Community College (COCC).

The Student Showcase is a campus wide event that occurs each term at the Bend upper campus quad. It is a community wide celebration for students and the various departments and clubs at COCC.

Ray Barram, a COPE leader and club volunteer, spoke on the intention of COPE’s Student Showcase. 

“It’s entirely student put on, with professors acting as guides. COPE acts as a connecting point, and then students take it on themselves to connect the community to the campus”, Barram said.

“I started just doing cleanup, and then as I took on more leadership I got into running it,” said Barram. “This term was 80% freshman/high school students in charge. They’re taking on leadership and I’m so proud of them.”

“I’m proud to have had such a role in an event centered on staff-to-student connection, and I know it’s in good hands for the years to come” shared Barram. 

The theme for the Student Showcase this term was “Nostalgia”, and each building resembled a different decade in time.

Oscar Tovar, a student leader of the Psychology Immersion Experience, spoke more about the intention of picking this theme in a previous interview, mentioned in an earlier article regarding de-stressing for finals.

Tovar had shared that the theme of “Nostalgia” was chosen to create an environment where celebrating each decade from the 1950’s onward could be possible. 

Tovar highlighted the theme of celebration and the inclusionary aspects of bringing COCC clubs, faculty, students and community members together for a fun and inclusive event.

The schedule of events for the Spring Student Showcase were advertised to include “Pet-A-Pup” therapy dogs, karaoke to commemorate the various genres across time, trivia related to each decade, various faculty giving presentations about thematic social, economic and cultural elements of the last few decades in U.S. history, and club tables set up for individuals to join and learn more about COCC resources.

The Showcase began at 4 p.m. this past Wednesday June 1, and went until 7 p.m.

There was a bouncy house for kids to play in, various student presentations showing their coursework and projects, and a student art exhibition in Pickney Theater inside of Pence. These were presented to highlight and honor student artists on campus. 

Sociology professor Tom Barry was the DJ for the event, playing music from the various decades for each building. 

There did not end up being Karaoke at the showcase, and it did rain on and off throughout the evening.

There were snacks for all attendees. The Clothing Connection, the COCC and OSU partnership shop which includes donated clothing for students to obtain free of charge, was open during the Student Showcase as well.

The next Student Showcase through COPE will occur during Fall term of 2022. 

Volunteers and new club members can join into the weekly COPE meetings that occur in Modoc Hall of COCC’s Bend campus.

Students are encouraged to join and participate whether they are involved in the psychology program or other academic interests at COCC. 

To be involved in COPE, students can contact Andrea Woodell at [email protected] or Dr. Matthew Novak at [email protected] to learn more about meeting dates and ways to participate.

Click here for more information: https://www.cocc.edu/employees/awoodell/cope/default.aspx