Bert's Alerts—Dec. 21, 2018
In the Spotlight
We wish you happiness and joy this holiday season! Be sure to read President Glandon's holiday message and watch this year's holiday video. Enjoy the holiday break!
News Highlights
Happy Holidays from President Glandon
2018 CWI Holiday Greeting
With the holiday season in full swing, this is a great time to look back and celebrate the year! I would like to thank the Treasure Valley for the support of College of Western Idaho (CWI) as we continue to grow to meet the needs of our vibrant community.
We experienced tremendous success in 2018 — serving more than 31,000 students, ensuring they receive the skills and career training needed to be workforce ready.
CWI’s Speech and Debate team won a sixth national title, and our award-winning Beta Sigma Pi Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society continues to dominate the Rocky Mountain-Cascade Region as one of the top 100 chapters! Additionally, the College’s Business, Nursing, and Dual Credit programs received accreditation status.
I wish you a joyous season and hope you have an opportunity to spend time with family, friends, and loved ones before we start a new semester in January.
Happy Holidays!
Donations Help Warm the Community
Members of our community will have warm toes, fingers, and heads this winter thanks to College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) third-annual Holiday Sock Drive, hosted by One Stop Student Services. Nearly 250 pairs of socks, mittens, and hats donated by the CWI community were collected at each of the College’s One Stop location over the past few weeks, exceeding donations from previous years.
At the conclusion of the drive, the winning One Stop location chooses an organization to donate to. Chris Matthies, a One Stop Representative at the Canyon County Center location, chose to donate this year’s items to the Valley Women and Children’s Shelter in Nampa. The items were delivered to the shelter on Wednesday, Dec. 19.
“There are so many great things about this shelter,” said Matthies. “They are aware of the unique challenges homeless women and children face and work to empower their occupants by providing the tools needed to not only envision, but to create a better future for themselves. I am glad the College was able to collect so many items to donate this year!”
Thank you to all who made this year’s Holiday Sock Drive a success!
Veteran Receives Award
Daniel VanRenselaar, a veteran and Business major at College of Western Idaho (CWI), was recognized for going above and beyond this semester by helping fellow students.
VanRenselaar is the recipient of the John McCain Memorial Award for Veterans Service. He demonstrated key characteristics of this award by organizing student study groups both in and out of the classroom.
“I might not have passed my statistics course without Van’s help outside of the classroom, he really helped me grasp the materials,” commented one of his classmates.
The John McCain Memorial Award for Veterans Service, inspired by the late U.S. Senator and Navy veteran, John S. McCain III, whose military service included five and a half years as a prisoner during the Vietnam War, acknowledges the commitment and sacrifice CWI’s veterans make to meet their educational goals and continue contributing to society and their communities following military service.
Associate Professor, Joe Welker, said of this year’s recipient. “Dan’s ability to gather and lead his peers is a skill we learn in the military and it doesn’t always translate to civilian life, this is a major asset. I am proud to see veterans serving their community after service!”
One Stop Holiday Hours
One Stop Student Services will be open reduced hours Dec. 17 – 28.
| Date | Time |
|---|---|
| Monday, Dec. 17 | 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. |
| Tuesday, Dec. 18 – Thursday, Dec. 20 | 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. |
| Friday, Dec. 22 | 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
| Monday, Dec. 24 – Tuesday, Dec. 25 | CLOSED |
| Wednesday, Dec. 26 – Thursday, Dec. 27 | 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. |
| Friday, Dec. 28 | 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
Visit One Stop Student Services online to view additional hours and locations.
Cybersecurity Awareness: Wire Transfers
Are you buying or selling a home? If so, make sure your money is going to the correct place.
Read more about wire transfer scams in this article published by Forbes: The Shocking New Scam You Need to Know About: Money Transfers
Additional wire transfer scams include:
Utilities: A scammer tells the consumer that their utility (power, water, cable, etc.) will be shut off if they do not send money or gift cards.
Relative in Need: A scammer poses as a consumer’s family member, often a grandchild, and claims that they need money for an emergency.
Lottery or Prize: A scammer tells the consumer that the consumer won a lottery or prize and must send money to claim it.
Debt Collection: A scammer poses as a debt collector and uses threats to make the consumer settle the fake debt.
Employment Related: A scammer poses as an employer, gives a consumer a fake offer of employment, and tells a consumer to send money in connection with the offer of employment.
Online Dating Related: A scammer poses as an online dater, contacts a consumer who is dating online, and asks for money as a gift or to help with an emergency.
Secret Shopper: A scammer sends a consumer a check with a letter telling the consumer to deposit a check. The scammer then tells the consumer to go to various stores and purchase items, to wire money to the scammer, and not to tell the money transmitter why they are wiring money.
Advance Fee Loans: A scammer poses as an online lender and after the consumer submits a loan application, the consumer is directed to wire processing payments to the lender. Once the consumer wires the money, the loan is never received.
Transmitting money through licensees like Western Union or MoneyGram is a secure option for consumers as these companies have anti-fraud materials at each of their locations and online.
Contact Mike Wilson at mikewilson@cwi.edu or 208.562.3193 with questions or for more information, and stay tuned for more tips and information on cybersecurity awareness in future issues of Bert’s Alerts.
