Bert's Alerts—April 6, 2018
In the Spotlight
The annual SkillsUSA Idaho State Leadership and Skills Conference for high school and college students was in high-gear this week with activities across the state and several skills competitions right here at CWI. The College hosted competitions at both the Ada County Campus Pintail Center and the Nampa Campus Micron Education Center in areas such as Information Technology Services, Robotics, Automotive Services, and more.
News Highlights
Big Win at the Steelheads
Thank you to all who supported CWI Night at the Idaho Steelheads this past Friday, March 30! Congratulations to Louisa P., who was awarded the $1,000 SCORE Big Scholarship during the sold out game against the Utah Grizzlies.
One hundred seventy-four CWI group tickets were sold for the event – almost double than last year! Thanks to generous support from employees, students, alumni, and members of the CWI community, group ticket sales raised $870. The funds, presented to CWI Foundation by Idaho Steelheads Senior Account Executive, Steven Anderson, will go directly back to the SCORE Big Scholarship fund.
Join us this July for CWI Night at the Boise Hawks—stay tuned for more information!
Students Published by Award-Winning Independent Journalism Site
Twelve students from the College of Western Idaho (CWI) were published this week on the award-winning, independent journalism site, Project Censored. They are students in Michelle Mahoney’s Introduction to Mass Media online class.
Students were instructed to find, evaluate, and summarize an under-reported news story from an independent news organization that has gone largely unnoticed by major corporate media outlets. The goal of this assignment was two-fold: to show students they have a voice in the vast media landscape and to expose them to independent news organizations.
Students, Logan Adams, Molly Peterson, Payton Gibbs, Scott Keene, Tim Stanton, Zaynah Almaaita, Cody Wiggins, Courtney Hale, Devon Harris, Kevin Nielsen, John White, and Ky Tucker were selected for publication.
“It is empowering for students to have a voice. I am so proud that our students have been published, but more than that, I hope they realize that their voice matters,” said Michelle Mahoney, Media Arts faculty at CWI. “We live in an unprecedented era and I firmly believe that solid journalism is a much needed and integral part of our democracy.”
Student articles:
John W. White: Welcoming the Decline of US Empire
Devon Harris: Lakota Activists Fight Back Against Alcoholism
Cody Wiggins: Civil Rights Groups Protest Passage of "Foreign Law" Bill by Idaho Legislature
Courtney Hale: New Michigan Prison Mail Policy Disregards Inmates' Rights
Ky Tucker: US Air Force Seek to Control 70 Percent of Nevada's Desert National Wildlife Refuge
Kevin Nielsen: The Coalition of Immokalee Workers' "Proven Model" for Ending Sexual Harassment and Empowering Workers
Payton Gibbs: Establishment Media Downplay Democrats' Farrakhan Scandal
Scott Keene: Attacking All Masculinity is Not the Solution for #MeToo; It's Just Another Barrier
Logan Adams: Ngcobo, South Africa, Police Station Assault
Molly Peterson: News Publishers Seek to Challenge Google and Facebook's "Digital Duopoly"
Tim Stanton: Widow of Wildlife Expert Not Allowed to Leave Iran
Zaynah Almaaita: Big Pharma and Biostitutes: Corporate Media Ignore Root Cause of Opioid Crisis
Project Censored was founded in 1976 by Dr. Carl Jensen at Sonoma State University and aims to educate students and the public about the importance of a free press for democratic self-government. Their mission is to promote independent investigative journalism, media literacy, and critical thinking.
Business Professionals Triumph Over Competition
Congratulations to members of Business Professionals of America (BPA) who competed at the BPA State Leadership Conference hosted at College of Western Idaho (CWI) March 3, 2018. Eight CWI students are headed to Dallas, Texas, May 9-13 to represent the College at the 2018 BPA National Leadership Conference.
BPA State Leadership Conference Results:
Kayla Young
1st place – College Accounting
Evan Lewis
1st place – College Payroll
2nd place – Banking and Finance
Lori Clemens
2nd place – Basic Office Systems and Procedures
4th place – Fundamental Word Processing
Kristin Burbidge
1st place – Human Resource Management
4th place – Basic Office Systems and Procedures
John Nahlan
4th place – Database Applications
Corissa Wilderman
1st place – Computer Network Technology
1st place – Systems Administration Using Cisco
3rd place – Network Administration Using Microsoft
Kaj Forney
1st place – PC Servicing and Troubleshooting
1st place – Network Administration Using Microsoft
1st place – Computer Security
Melissa Harless
2nd place – Interview Skills
2nd place – Human Resource Management
C’line Duff
1st place – Ethics and Professionalism
1st place – Contemporary Issues
OSU and CWI Sign Pathways Agreement
College of Western Idaho (CWI) students will have an easier time transferring to Oregon State University (OSU) Ecampus, the university’s nationally ranked online education provider, thanks to an agreement approved this month by the two schools.
The presidents of both colleges signed a degree pathway agreement that will provide students advising on degree pathways at both institutions; expand student access to institutional services and curriculum; and may shorten the time to a degree, by helping students avoid taking courses that cannot be applied to their degree requirements.
“We are pleased to finalize this pathways agreement with OSU, which provides tremendous value for our students and employees,” said David Shellberg, CWI’s Executive Vice President of Instruction and Student Services. “We couldn’t be happier to facilitate transfer opportunities to OSU and the high quality online bachelor’s degree programs they offer.”
“This agreement is just the latest example of Oregon State and its Ecampus program providing access to a four-year college degree to the widest range of students that we can,” OSU President Ed Ray said.
In January, for the fourth straight year, Oregon State Ecampus was named one of the nation’s 10 best providers of online education by U.S. News & World Report. Ecampus ranked sixth out of more than 350 higher education institutions in the category of Best Online Bachelor’s Programs.
CWI and Bellevue University Announce New Partnership
College of Western Idaho (CWI) has joined the Bellevue University Premier Partner Network, the nation’s largest partnership network of community colleges.
The new partnership will offer CWI students the opportunity to continue their education beyond an associate’s degree at one of the nation’s leaders in preparing students for lifelong career success with career-relevant knowledge and skills. Students will be able to transfer all of their college credits, including full associate’s degrees, toward accelerated, online bachelor’s and master’s degrees in their chosen career field.
“Bellevue University is one of the nation’s top four-year universities for creating pathways to support community colleges,” said David Shellberg, Executive Vice President of Instruction and Student Services. Jim Grotrian, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships for Bellevue University, added: “We’re excited to make CWI a part of Bellevue University’s network of more than 50 community colleges. Our university is committed to helping CWI students achieve their educational goals and become leaders in the Treasure Valley and beyond.”
Young Students Take Tests at CWI
College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Assessment and Testing Center recently opened its doors to students from Tech Trep Academy, an online school that requires students to take the Idaho Standards Achievement Test (ISAT). CWI contracted with Tech Trep for exclusive access to testing facilities at the College’s Ada County Campus for 48 fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-grade students March 26-27, 2018.
CWI is proud to serve the public in this unique way, no matter the student's grade level.
Staff of the Month—March 2018
Erin Peterson has been named College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Staff of the Month for March 2018. Peterson joined the College in October 2013 as an Academic Advisor and continues her role as a Student Success Advisor in Enrollment and Student Services. Peterson relishes in her work at CWI because it fuels her passion for learning and feeds her enthusiasm for continual self- improvement. She loves to see when hope is realized and hard work produces miracles.
Peterson earned her Bachelor of Social Work from Lewis-Clark State College (LCSC) in Lewiston, Idaho, and is a licensed social worker. While at LCSC, Peterson participated in mock trial, speech and debate, theatre productions, and student government. She also wrote for the student newspapers where she was known, along with two other students, as the “Shakespeare Sisters”.
Peterson has a master’s degree in Forensic Psychology from Argosy University. She received her master’s in 2011 while working full time in adult mental health and as a single mother; what she reports is one of her greatest achievements. She looks forward to continuing her education, possibly with a doctorate in women and gender studies.
Peterson comes from a large family and was raised in a small community in Idaho. She is the proud helicopter parent of her 12-year-old daughter, who she loves binging on books and documentaries with. Peterson enjoys traveling. Her adventures have included singing Mozart’s Requiem in Innsbruck, Austria, with an international choir, surfing off the Gold Coast in Australia, hiking on a live volcano in Costa Rica, and riding an Elephant in the mountains of Thailand. She hopes to explore Africa next.
Visiting Artist Series Welcomes Matthew Armstrong
College of Western Idaho’s Visiting Artist Series is proud to welcome illustrator, Matthew Armstrong, to campus April 12 and 13, 2018, for a lecture and hands-on workshop.
Armstrong illustrated the New York Times bestseller, “Chronicles of Narnia Pop-up”, and “The Return to Narnia” picture book. Armstrong also worked for The Walt Disney Company for nine years. His comics have appeared in the “Flight” series, “Explorer”, and “Reality Not Included”. He has also worked as a video game developer contributing concept art and story games such as “War of the Monsters,” “Warhawk,” and “Toy Story 3”.
Contact Goran Fazil at 208.562.2117 or goranfazil@cwi.edu for more information.
Celebrating the Class of 2018
College of Western Idaho (CWI) will be celebrating graduates at its annual Grad Fest on Wednesday, April 18, 2018, at the Nampa Campus Academic Building. The event, from 4 to 7 p.m., kicks off the countdown to CWI's Class of 2018 commencement.
Graduates are invited to come enjoy BBQ, dessert, complimentary massages, and entered for a chance to win a Dell Inspiron 11", 2-in-1 laptop!. Caps and gowns will be available for purchase or pick-up. Be one of the first 150 there to receive a cool gift bag and an alumni t-shirt.
CWI cannot wait to celebrate YOU!
#cwigraduation
Spring Skate 2018
Lace up your roller skates and join Associated Students of College of Western Idaho (ASCWI) for Spring Skate 2018! CWI students, employees, alumni, family, friends, and members of the community are invited to come skate with us, April 24, 2018, from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Nampa Campus Academic Building. The event is FREE, skates are provided, and food and drinks will be available for purchase on site.
Contact ASCWI President, Kerry Meredith, at kerrymeredith100@my.cwi.edu to learn more.
Scholar's Day
College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) third-annual Scholar’s Day is teaming up with the College’s annual Connections Project, April 26, 2018.
Scholar’s Day welcomes high-achieving, high school seniors from across the Treasure Valley and their parents to campus. The event showcases academic opportunities available at the College and highlights the benefits of being an honor student in a college setting.
Scholars will partake in a special session to engage with members of CWI’s President’s Cabinet, Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, and alumni. In addition, attendees will be eligible for great CWI gifts and prizes.
Pairing Scholar’s Day with student work displayed at Connections Project will highlight the dynamic educational opportunities CWI students have access to, both in and out of the classroom. Combining these two events will allow scholars to see some of the amazing work student’s at CWI have accomplished.
To learn more about Scholar’s Day, contact Nikki Houston at 208.562.2648 or nikkihouston@cwi.edu.
CWI’s Brand—What Do You Think?
As College of Western Idaho (CWI) approaches ten years as a comprehensive community college, Communications and Marketing is gathering data from students, faculty, staff, and community members to measure the current perception and reputation of the College. These perceptions ultimately define the College’s brand identity. When you think of brand, the College logo may instantly come to mind; however, a brand is more comprehensive than logos, color schemes, and fonts. While these are elements that make up the College’s visual identity and support the overall brand, CWI’s brand is the College’s promise to our customer. It tells them what they can expect from our products and services, and it differentiates our offering from our competitors. The College brand is derived from who we are, who we want to be, and who people perceive us to be.
In surveying various audiences through this brand development exercise, Communications and Marketing hopes to collect as much feedback as possible to help CWI plan for the future, ensuring the College maintains a strong, viable brand that continues to meet the needs of our growing community.
Email completed surveys to communications@cwi.edu. Information documented in individual’s responses will be combined with all other submissions for data analysis.
Please note: Responses will remain confidential as no personal or identifiable information will be included in our data analysis. Only data pulled from within the form itself will be used in reporting.
If you wish to remain completely anonymous in your submission, please print and mail your completed survey to:
College of Western Idaho
ATTN: Morriah Marks
MS 1000
P.O. Box 3010
Nampa, ID 83653
Responses must be received by Friday, April 27, 2018.
Thank you, in advance, for your participation and support of College of Western Idaho!
Professional Publications
McKenzie Wood
Journal of Criminal Justice Education, Assessing Student Attitudes Toward Sexual Assault by Using a Mock Trial
Rhonna Krouse
Research in Sports Medicine, Ultra-obligatory running among ultramarathon runner
