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The Voice of OCCC Students Since 1978

The Pioneer

The Pioneer

The Pioneer

OCCC student Elyas Anderson gives a heartfelt presentation on his poem, "I Am Me," and the process of stream of consciousness that went into its creation.
OCCC Students Present Academic Research Alongside Ivy League Peers
Jonas McGee, Managing Editor • May 12, 2026

A group of five students from OCCC – four current students and one alum –...

A recent tornado crushed the western entrance of the OCCC Recreation and Fitness Center, which remained under repair even after campus reopened for normal operations.
Springtime F1 Tornado Strikes OCCC, Shutting Campus for Entire Week
Jonas McGee, Managing Editor • April 27, 2026

OCCC has resumed normal operations following a week-long closure caused by an...

The cast of "Red Dirt Rainbow," a television script written by Professor of English Kelly Cochran-Yzquierdo, gathers in front of a neon-lit club on the cover of the official pitch deck for the original drama series.
OCCC Professor of English Wins Award for TV Pilot at Cannes Script Festival
Masooma Rizvi, Staff Reporter • May 13, 2026

At OCCC, English professor and screenwriter Kelly Cochran-Yzquierdo is doing...

Many animals come by to bathe in the waters funneled down into the campus aqueducts, similar to how they would have when waters slowly moved through the wetlands this area once was.
Construction of OCCC on Wetlands Impacts Campus Drainage System
Trey Brite, Editor-in-Chief • May 12, 2026

All over the world, people battle water cycles to maintain infrastructure. One...

Commanding the stage at "OCCC's Got Talent," Nathaniel Carel dances to the tune of "Billie Jean" - and comes dressed for the occasion!
OCCC Talent Show Attracts Wide Assortment of Entertaining Performers
Jonas McGee, Managing Editor • May 12, 2026

OCCC recently hosted its “OCCC’s Got Talent” showcase in the Visual and Performing Arts Center, featuring a variety of performances ranging from vocal acts to instrumental...

All decked out in their finest, members of Students Connecting with Mentors for Success – including Jonas McGee (far right) – pose with their beloved leader, SCMS Director Bryon Dickens (center), at the Rosewood Gala.
How SCMS Set Me Up for Future Success
Jonas McGee, Managing Editor • May 12, 2026

August 2023 was a month that changed my life forever. It was the month when,...

Illustration by Kylie Orthman
Finding My Voice
Jonas McGee, Managing Editor • April 27, 2026

What do you do when you lack a voice with which to express yourself? This is...

OCCC Chair of Political Science Laura Halstied, who recently won Outstanding Recognition as New Full-Time Faculty at the recent Faculty and Staff Recognition Luncheon, is an avid gardener whose recent focus involves creating a way station for monarch butterflies in her backyard.
Chair of Political Science Recognized as Outstanding New Faculty Member
Jonas McGee, Managing Editor • May 12, 2026

OCCC Chair of Political Science Laura Halstied received the first-ever Outstanding...

OCCC Faculty Save Students Millions Through Free Textbook Initiative
OCCC Faculty Save Students Millions Through Free Textbook Initiative
Masooma Rizvi, Staff Reporter • April 29, 2026

At OCCC, a growing number of faculty members are rethinking how students access...

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The Voice of OCCC Students Since 1978