Hometown: Nampa, Idaho
Major: Liberal Arts, Sign Language Studies
Graduation: 2019
“CWI empowered me to believe in myself and in a better future,” said 2019 graduate Edmundo Almanza.
Returning to school in his 30s was no easy feat, but Edmundo recognized the importance of education. Family responsibilities, working full-time, and coaching his kids’ teams while attending College of Western Idaho (CWI) certainly kept him busy.
“I said I would go to college after high school, and it has never sat right with me that I didn’t follow through on that goal. I came to the realization that without an education, you work harder for a lot more hours and receive very little compared to those who have degrees. It was difficult managing everything, but once I had a routine, it was fun and worthwhile.”
A highlight of Edmundo’s journey was a field trip his Geology class took to Reynolds Creek in southwest Idaho.
“The coolest part was seeing a fault from an earthquake and being able to go up and touch it. It was great to see how the rocks shifted in person.”
The first in his family to obtain a college degree, Edmundo plans to transfer to either Boise State University to study Psychology or Idaho State University to study Sign Language Interpreting following graduation. Ultimately, he would like to work as an adult counselor or interpreter for the Deaf community.
“I want to be a role model for my kids and lead by example. Because of CWI, I’ve gained a lot of knowledge – not just about stuff I will need to know at work, but in life. I hope to inspire everyone around me in furthering their education no matter what circumstances they might have in their life.”
