Refusing to give up, Alex Nava overcame extraordinary challenges to earn his degree and start a new chapter in accounting.
Firefighters often talk about trust. For Khye Montoya, that feeling of trust was familiar long before he stepped onto a fire engine.
Marquez Arredondo turned a life-changing experience into a career dedicated to helping others through CWI's Fire Service Technology program.
After stepping away from firefighting, Hunter Stephenson rediscovered his passion for the profession and found his way back through CWI.
As the first in his family to attend college, Ismael Garcia used his CWI education to launch a career, a business, and new possibilities for others.
Gracie Young is preparing to begin her healthcare career after gaining real-world experience through the Occupational Therapy Assistant program.
CWI student LeAndra Onys connects classroom learning to real-world experience through technical training and exploring global cybersecurity issues.
Bronwyn Hitchcock credits CWI’s Studio Art program with helping her build confidence, explore new mediums, and pursue a future in art.
Physical Therapist Assistant student Austin Davis is turning personal challenges into a career helping others heal.
From Adult Education to Apprenticeship at Micron, Feliciti Huarancca Mesicano found her path at CWI and launched a career in semiconductors.
Lorivern Saycon found confidence, community, and her voice at CWI, leading to a gold medal in SkillsUSA.
After returning to school at CWI, Jay Berry found his calling in computer science and a path toward his future.
As a full-time Registered Nursing student, mom, and wife, Jessica Smith is pursuing her dream at CWI with hard work and support from her family, cohort, and scholarships. Through hands-on
After enrolling at CWI, ShanDale Youmans has gained hands-on experience, mentorship, and opportunities that helped turn her passion for the outdoors into a clear biology career path.
Congratulations to Studio Art student, Ayla Taylor, winner of the 2026 Connections Conference Logo Contest!
Through CWI’s Advanced Mechatronics Engineering Technology program, Cesar Rodriguez pairs classroom precision with real-world industry experience.
Alexus Hill turns caring for kids into a career, advocating for children and supporting families through Early Childhood Education.
Frank Ramirez combines skill, creativity, and confidence at CWI, turning welding into a path to personal and professional growth.
Amalie Bolinder turned a passion for plants into a path at CWI, gaining hands-on experience, leadership roles, and industry recognition.
Amy Miller returned to college after two decades, turning her passion for art into a path for teaching and helping kids.
After retiring from the Coast Guard, Ryan Agre found renewed purpose at CWI, earning a management degree and launching a new career through support and community.
Robert Bach transformed his life at CWI, finding purpose in machining and welding and continuing on in his studies to shape a career he once struggled to imagine.
Drafting Technology graduate, Audrey Cabrera, turned her passion for design into a successful drafting career and now inspires the next generation as a CWI instructor.
After a major injury sidelined his training, Fire Service Technology student Kaden Bryant fought back stronger. Now he is steps away from achieving his dream of becoming a firefighter.
At the Idaho Mining Conference, CWI highlighted student experiences, partnerships, and workforce-ready skills shaping the future of mining and geoscience in Idaho.
Cody Phelps’ journey comes full circle as he returns to teach at CWI, the same place that helped launch his education and career.
General Studies student, Jen Campbell, is proving it’s never too late to chase your dreams, balancing family, work, and school with support from CWI scholarships.
Kemper Hessing is pursuing his passion for firefighting through the Fire Service Technology program, where hands-on training, mentorship, and scholarships like the Metallica Scholars
College of Western Idaho student Angie Prado makes history as the College’s first OTA recipient of the national AOTA scholarship, honoring her resilience, dedication, and inspiring journey
College of Western Idaho (CWI) alumnus, Jose Magdaleno Nava, has built a life defined by perseverance, hard work, and the courage to pursue new opportunities. Nava went from living
Jessica Gillmore turned a childhood passion for firefighting into a career path through College of Western Idaho’s Fire Service Technology program, where she’s now preparing for a future
Aaron Potter discovered his passion for software development at College of Western Idaho, gaining confidence and hands-on skills that led him to pursue a career in artificial intelligence
In her own words, College of Western Idaho graduate Alejandra Whynman recounts how, after arriving in the U.S. alone at age 15 with only a fifth-grade education, she overcame incredible
Juanita Hernandez, a first-generation college student and single mother, overcame significant challenges to pursue her dream of working in law enforcement. With support from her family and
Jessica Crowly, CWI graduate and executive at one of the largest paint companies in the world, shares her story of success.
In her own words, College of Western Idaho graduate Cassandra Conner shares how she overcame years of doubt to return to college and find both success, support, and self-worth at CWI.
Joey Zumwalt, a graduate of College of Western Idaho’s Fire Service Technology program, is continuing his family’s firefighting legacy with support from the Metallica Scholars Initiative.
Carson Baker, a graduate of the College of Western Idaho’s Fire Service Technology program, is now a full-time firefighter with Donnelly Fire Department thanks to hands-on training
College of Western Idaho graduate Ash Shipley shares her story of loss and perseverance — and how, with a deep calling to support the Deaf community and the support of her instructors, she
Justin Zieska, a second-year Fire Service Technology student at the College of Western Idaho, is preparing for a career in firefighting with support from the Metallica Scholars Initiative
After facing isolation and uncertainty during the pandemic, Karter Stuckey found purpose and community through the Psychology program at College of Western Idaho. Now preparing to graduate
Jose Martinez, a second-year student in Automotive Technology program, turned his lifelong passion for cars into a promising career path.
Kathleen Burns-Wick transformed her career path by pursuing Mechatronics at College of Western Idaho, trading art and optics for automation and innovation. Now preparing to graduate, she’s
Andy Del Toro Obeso, a Political Science student at College of Western Idaho, is a 2025 Coca-Cola Academic Team Bronze Scholar, driven by his passion for creating meaningful societal
Kimi Jenkins, a graduate of College of Western Idaho’s Registered Nursing program, turned a lifelong dream into reality after years of working in insurance and raising her son. Inspired by
Reagan Heffelfinger’s journey to becoming a machinist at College of Western Idaho was shaped by resilience, overcoming health challenges and career detours to discover her passion for
By studying accounting through CWI’s Business program, Beta Sigma Pi member, Alex Duran, hopes to one day establish an accounting firm and dance studio.
“CWI empowered me with a world-class education from great professors.”
