College of Western Idaho (CWI) students shined at the 11th annual Connections Conference, showcasing their hard work and the strength of the college community. This annual event highlights student research, creative work, and academic excellence while fostering collaboration across disciplines.
Attendees explored presentations, viewed artwork, and connected with student organizations, culminating in an awards ceremony that celebrates outstanding achievements.
Winners of this year’s Connections Excellence Awards were recognized during the Connections Conference reception and CWI’s Student Leadership Banquet. A panel of judges selected the finalists, and each award recipient earned prizes ranging from $50 to $500.
Connections Excellence Award Winners
Posters
Humanities, Arts, & Social Sciences
- First Place – Kenzie Kringel
- Second Place – Rand Al Aayedi
- Third Place – Declan Campbell
Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math (STEM)
- First Place – Danny Wheeler and Pilar Cerecedes
- Second Place – Nicole Terry
- Third Place – Danny Wheeler
Recorded Mini-Talk
Humanities, Arts, & Social Sciences
- First Place – Jose Mendoza
- Second Place – Tayla Cline
- Third Place (tie) – Brooklynn Durant
- Third Place (tie) – Charles Page
- Third Place (tie) – Angelena Jimenez-Acosta
- Third Place (tie) – Riah Pittman
STEM
- First Place – Killian Lowery
- Second Place – Natalie Melvin
- Third Place – Davi DiBartolo
Live Mini-Talk
Humanities, Arts, & Social Sciences
- First Place – Grace Seeliger
- Second Place – Emilia Gregor
- Third Place – Hailey Hansen
STEM
- First Place – Kellan Brown
- Second Place – Pilar Cerecedes
- Third Place – Kaylene Cecil
Other Cool Stuff
- First Place – Shelby Dickard
- Second Place – Robert Bach
- Third Place – Kate Sweet
Clubs
- First Place – Anthropology Club
Enrichment Groups
- First Place – Speech and Debate
Chalk Art Competition
- First Place – Audrey Larson
Connections Logo Contest
- First Place – Ayla Taylor
Juried Art Exhibition
- First Place – Frank Ramirez
President’s Writing Awards
Creative Nonfiction
- First Place – William Spickelmire
- Second Place – Shaylee Bicknese
- Third Place – Julia McAllister
Critical Analysis
- First Place – Nika Parke
- Second Place – Maryann Gavin
- Third Place – Mason Murray
Fiction
- First Place – Houraa Alharbyah
- Second Place – José Mendoza
- Third Place – CJ Stetzel
First-Year Writing
- First Place – Julia McAllister
- Second Place – Kellan Brown
- Third Place – Fawn Perkins
Literature-Based Research
- First Place – Allyson Gray
- Second Place – Soren Ashcraft
- Third Place – Jessilyn Smith
Original Research
- First Place – Nika Parke
- Second Place – Jasmine Sherwood
- Third Place – Tayla Cline
Poetry
- First Place – Jenessa Branon
- Second Place – Daisy Beavers
- Third Place – Abigail Owen
Workplace Writing
- First Place – Tayla Cline
Thank you to the judges, instructors, and participants of this year’s Connection Conference, and congratulations, again, to the winners!
