Reflecting on 2025–2026: A Year of Distinction, Growth, and Community Excellence
As we reflect on the 2025–2026 academic year, College of the Siskiyous has achieved remarkable milestones across academic performance, athletic success, program innovation, and campus development. Together, our students, faculty, and staff have demonstrated extraordinary dedication to institutional excellence and student success.
Key Highlights from 2025–2026:
Thank you to our entire campus community for making 2025–2026 an outstanding year!
Fall 2026 Convocation Day Keynote Speaker: Dr Temple Grandin
I don't know about you, but I’m still thinking about Dr. Grandin’s fantastic keynote presentation. Her presentation made quite an impression, and many individuals from the community were in attendance and genuinely excited to hear from Dr. Grandin. The strong community turnout made the event especially meaningful and memorable.
In alignment with the sentiments she shared, August is National Wellness Month. It is time to give ourselves permission to slow down, de-stress, and nurture habits that brought out our brightest, healthiest selves. We were even encouraged to consider committing to 120 pushups every day, as Dr. Grandin mentioned!
Dr. Grandin was born in Boston, Massachusetts. Her achievements were particularly remarkable because she was an autistic child. At age two, she had no speech and displayed all the signs of severe autism. Fortunately, her mother defied the advice of doctors and kept her out of an institution. Many hours of speech therapy and intensive teaching enabled Dr. Grandin to develop speech and social skills.
As a teenager, life was difficult, and she experienced constant teasing. Mentoring from her high school science teacher and her aunt on their ranch in Arizona motivated her to pursue her interests in science and livestock equipment design.
Dr. Grandin earned her B.A. from Franklin Pierce College and her M.S. in Animal Science from Arizona State University. She received her Ph.D. in Animal Science from the University of Illinois in 1989. Throughout her career, she taught courses on livestock behavior and facility design at Colorado State University and consulted with the livestock industry on facility design, livestock handling, and animal welfare.
Dr. Grandin appeared on numerous television programs, including 20/20, 48 Hours, CNN’s Larry King Live, Prime Time Live, 60 Minutes, and The Today Show. She was also featured in publications including People Magazine, The New York Times, Forbes, U.S. News & World Report, Time Magazine, The New York Times Book Review, and Discover Magazine. In 2010, Time Magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people.
Her work was also featured on National Public Radio, and she delivered a 2010 TED Talk titled "The World Needs ALL Kinds of Minds." She has authored more than 400 articles in scientific journals and livestock periodicals covering animal handling, welfare, and facility design.
Her books included Visual Thinking: The Hidden Gifts of People Who Think in Pictures, Patterns, and Abstractions, Thinking in Pictures, Livestock Handling and Transport, Genetics and the Behavior of Domestic Animals, Guide to Working with Farm Animals, and Humane Livestock Handling. Her books Animals in Translation and Animals Make Us Human appeared on The New York Times bestseller list, while Animals Make Us Human also appeared on the Canadian bestseller list. Her book Calling All Minds became a New York Times bestseller for middle school students.
Dr. Grandin’s life story was also portrayed in the HBO movie Temple Grandin, starring Claire Danes. The film won seven Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe and highlighted Dr. Grandin’s life as a teenager and the beginning of her career.
Her many accomplishments continued to inspire audiences, and her Convocation keynote provided our campus and the community with an engaging and memorable start to the academic year.
Reminder…Siskiyous Publicity (Creating Flyers, Programs, Digital Ads, and more)
Beginning April 24, 2027, all newly created digital content representing College of the Siskiyous must comply with ADA Title II regulations related to accessibility, specifically for content posted on the college website and social media platforms. To support campus compliance efforts, we are currently meeting with individuals and departments who regularly post on social media to review the new requirements and provide helpful guidance, examples, and best practices.
In addition, all publicity, promotional, and marketing materials must be submitted to the Public Relations Office (pio@siskiyous.edu) prior to being posted, printed, or distributed on campus or within the community. This includes images used in social media posts and other printed publications. This review process helps ensure that all materials meet both college branding and accessibility standards.
To assist the campus community in learning more about the ADA Title II regulations, we have developed an Accessibility webpage for the institution. The webpage includes resources and guidance to help departments move toward compliance with the new accessibility standards. If you have questions, please send an email, call the office, or stop by for a conversation. We are happy to meet and discuss ways to support your department's compliance efforts.
Come Join Our Team
We are always looking for new volunteers to join the Eagle’s Nest team. Volunteers work as cashiers, screening items as they come in, price merchandise, repair items, research antiques, etc. There is never a dull moment at the Eagles Nest. We are also looking for student workers. If you know of anyone who may be interested in volunteering or working as a paid student worker, have them call (530) 938-4663 or stop by the Eagle’s Nest Shop to speak with Angel Keen, Shop Supervisor.
Upcoming Activities & Events:
Event dates, times, and locations based on information available at the time of publication and are subject to change.
August
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The Business Office is working hard to close out FY 2025-2026 while also moving forward into FY 2026-2027. The auditors will be returning to the Weed Campus in late October for their final site visit as part of the FY 2025-2026 audit. This is always a busy time of the year for the Business Office as we balance year-end close-out, audit preparation, and the start of a new fiscal year.
The Business Office was happy to participate in the Soar and Explore event held August 1, which coincided with athlete move-in. For the second year, our team was available to help students make payments on their accounts and set up Nelnet payment plans. The event assisted more than 90 students, many of whom were accompanied by parents and family members. We hope providing this support early will help make the first few weeks of classes a little less stressful for both students and staff.
The Business Office team is looking forward to supporting our students, faculty, and staff throughout the new fiscal year. We appreciate everyone’s continued patience and partnership as we work through this busy season.
Food Services is excited to begin the new academic year with a fully staffed team! After a year of significant staffing changes, having a full team in place is a great step forward for the department. We appreciate the patience and support shown by our students, faculty, and staff throughout the past year.
New menus have been developed for the Grill and Café and are now available on the college website. The Food Services team is looking forward to offering a variety of meals and new menu items this year and welcomes feedback and suggestions from our campus community.
As we begin the new academic year, we encourage everyone to stop by, check out the new menus, and see what Food Services has to offer. We are excited to have our students back on campus and look forward to serving everyone throughout the year!
Information and updates regarding the project is posted on the Construction Projects webpage as it becomes available.
Theater & McCloud Hall remodel project is currently undergoing full abatement of hazardous materials. Work to capture areas of the two buildings that were not identified as being refreshed during construction has now been added to the scope. This project gets better and more refined every single day.
The Student Housing project will reach the out-of-the-ground stage after this week. New cement foundation pouring took place August 13 and 14 beginning at 4:00 am to complete the building pad. Glulams are scheduled to arrive on August 17 and steel on August 18; within two weeks the structure will rise from the foundation very quickly. Planning for the additional 160 students should be on the committee’s hot topics.
The Timber Harvest Plan area was inspected on July 29; work is complete and is following the rules. The one-year prescribed maintenance period is set to end on July 16, 2027. As noted in the THP, much of the plan area did not have total removal of all trees and is still forested. There is a single burn pile remaining and will be treated prior to April 1, 2027.
The Welding Shop eyewash station project is complete, and a new sink has been installed in place of an older non-operational sink. The project was completed in-house by Maintenance staff and turned out great.
The electronic lock system has expanded to all Student Services-related doors in the Student Services wing. This project was completed in-house by our Maintenance team.
Look how those floors shine! You will see shiny floors in the Student Center and other locations that lend themselves to being waxed by our amazing Custodial staff.
Great work this summer team!
Dean Sims Engages Community Through Juneteenth and Economic Development Events
Earlier this summer, College of the Siskiyous’ CTE Dean, Dr. Jeremiah J. Sims, participated in two important community events that highlight the college’s commitment to civic engagement, cultural celebration, and regional partnership.
On June 19, Dr. Sims was invited to serve as the keynote speaker for the City of Weed’s Juneteenth Celebration at Charles Byrd Park. In his address, Dr. Sims reflected on the enduring power of resilience, the importance of radical imagination, and the role that "freedom dreams" play in helping communities envision and build a more just future. He spoke about the history of Juneteenth not only as a commemoration of emancipation, but also as an invitation to continue the unfinished work of expanding opportunity, belonging, and hope for future generations. "Freedom is not simply the absence of chains," Dr. Sims shared. "It is the presence of possibility - the audacity to imagine a future more beautiful than the present and to work collectively to bring that future into being."
Earlier that same week, Dr. Sims attended the grand reopening celebration of the historic Yreka Carnegie Hall as an invited guest of the Siskiyou County Economic Development Team. The event brought together leaders from across the region to celebrate the restoration of an important community landmark and to recognize the partnerships that continue to strengthen Siskiyou County’s economy and cultural life.
The evening highlighted local businesses, regional collaboration, and the shared commitment to investing in spaces that foster connection, innovation, and community pride. Dr. Sims’ attendance reflects the College of the Siskiyous’ ongoing dedication to serving as an active partner in the economic, educational, and civic vitality of the communities it serves.
The keynote also reflected on the devastating impact of the Mill Fire, which destroyed much of historic Lincoln Heights. Despite the loss, Dr. Sims reminded attendees that communities are more than buildings and geography. They live on through memory, relationships, and a shared commitment to future generations.
Through participation in events like these, College of the Siskiyous continues to demonstrate that education extends beyond the classroom and that meaningful community engagement is central to building a thriving and resilient Siskiyou County.
Building Skills, Building Community by Samantha Worthington
What began as a construction class ended as something much bigger, a tangible example of how education can strengthen individuals and the community. This spring and summer, students in the free, noncredit "Basic Construction and Green Building" class held at the Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office Day Reporting Center in Yreka built a 10-by-12-foot shed that will be donated to Pallet Shelter, an organization dedicated to helping end unsheltered homelessness. Funded through Adult Education Pathways, the class provided students with practical construction skills while enabling them to make a meaningful contribution to the community.
The Day Reporting Center serves former offenders who are either on probation or assigned to work crews through the Jail and Probation Department. The class was also open to members of the public. For many students, the project represented more than learning how to frame walls or install roofing - it was a chance to demonstrate that they could create something of lasting value.
Day Reporting Center Director and Sergeant Frank Ward proposed donating the completed shed to Pallet Shelter, transforming the class project into a gift that will benefit people experiencing homelessness. The Sergeant is excited about the prospect of future classes at the Day Reporting Center that offer students hands-on opportunities to learn new skills. He noted that students were exceptionally engaged in the class as the shed provided them with tangible results for their work.
Throughout the course, students learned by doing. Working alongside instructor Jaime Angulo and Sheriff's Office staff, they gained confidence with every board they measured and every nail they drove. Deputy James Osterberg emphasized the importance of the hands-on experience. "Hands-on building a shed is what the value is," he said. "You are going to learn a lot."
While working on the shed the deputy remarked, "There's a lot of knowledge you can learn from Jaime by listening to him while you work."
Student Zach Belyeu shared his appreciation for taking a free class. "It's a great opportunity," he said. Student Teri Rabago said she appreciated how simple it was to enroll in her first College of the Siskiyous class, making the experience accessible from the very beginning.
"I never had any construction education prior to this," Teri said. "I love the thought of, if you can build this, you can build a bunch of different things like a tiny house."
Teri is excited about using the skills she learned in her personal life and plans to use her new skills on projects at home and helping her grandfather fix his deck. "Always measure three or four times and cut once," she said, while measuring wood to cut.
The completed shed amounts to far more than lumber and hardware. It is a symbol of what education can accomplish when paired with purpose. Students gained valuable workforce skills and experienced the satisfaction of giving back to their community. Their work will provide a resource for Pallet Shelter and serve as a reminder that education can open doors, create opportunities, and empower people to make positive contributions to society.
In the end, the students built more than a shed - they built confidence, skills, and a stronger connection to the community.
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