Bert's Alerts—Jan. 12, 2018
News Highlights
Connections Logo Contest Winner
College of Western Idaho (CWI) student, Emma Obendorf, is the winner of the 2018 Connections Project logo contest. Obendorf, a student in the Studio Art Program, has a passion for graphic design and was excited to design a logo.
The logo will be distributed in marketing materials such as t-shirts, websites, and flyers. Obendorf also received $100 for her winning design — which she plans to put into savings.
“It’s a bit surreal! I don’t think it’s hit me that this will be seen at the event,” she said while describing the strong contenders she competed against.
CWI’s Connections Project celebrates culture, collaboration, education, innovation, and achievement. The contest gave students an opportunity to showcase their skills in design, while incorporating the event’s mission statement in the logo.
“I like the simplicity, figuring out what people see first and how it all goes together,” Obendorf said.
Fifteen students submitted PDFs of their proposed designs. Twenty faculty and staff judged the logos, without access to students’ names, and chose their favorites. Assistant Professor of Art, Karen Brown, said Obendorf is a professional student who is easy to work with. Brown was impressed with her logo design.
“I like that it clearly connects to our visual identity and branding,” she said.
In addition, Brown stated she enjoyed the honeycomb design in the logo, reminiscent of a structure bees are always building and rebuilding, a similar process the College goes through as students graduate.
Obendorf is appreciative the College asks students to design the logo for the event as it helps her feel more involved.
“I went to a really small high school, so I kind of like the community aspect. I think it’s cool the College asked students to participate in the contest and helps to get our work recognized,” Obendorf said. “It is very tight-knit, it’s easy to get to know your professors and classmates and get involved in stuff.”
Save the date for this year’s Connections Project April 26, 2018.
Learn more about the event and find a link to submit projects by March 23 at cwi.edu/current-students/connections-project.
Join #mightyCWI!
Are you following CWI on social media? If not, you are missing out! CWI social media is a fantastic way for staff and faculty to:
- Connect with the student and college community
- Experience CWI awesomeness
- Contribute to the #mightyCWI conversation
- Share your mighty moments
Join the #mightyCWI movement by following us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Contribute to the conversation by sharing and liking CWI posts, or using the #mightyCWI hashtag and tagging CWI in your posts and tweets! CWI staff and faculty are involved in so many awesome things! This is a great way to share the CWI story!
For questions about CWI social media, please contact Ashley Smith at ashleysmith5@cwi.edu or Jessica Argyle at jessicaargyle@cwi.edu. Let’s keep the momentum going!
Paid Summer Research Opportunity
College of Western Idaho (CWI) is excited to offer paid summer research opportunities for students through the Idaho INBRE Research Program.
This is a great opportunity for motivated students interested in a career in the biomedical sciences! Students will earn $6000 for ten weeks of full-time work (40 hours per week) over the summer. Two fellowships are currently available for CWI students.
Students will work with and learn from biomedical scientists in Idaho and will have the opportunity to choose a research program and faculty mentor; a list of potential research programs and mentors can be found on INBRE's website.
Please note: This is a full-time, ten-week commitment. Participation in this program may preclude additional employment between the hours of 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.
The application deadline is Jan. 31, 2018. Visit inbre.uidaho.edu/student-programs/fellows/ to apply.
For more information contact Dr. Brian McClain at brianmcclain@cwi.edu.
Vegetable Gardening Class
Dan Schults, a professor in College of Western Idaho’s Horticulture Program, will give you all the tips and tricks you need for managing the perfect garden during an event later this month at Idaho Botanical Garden in Boise.
The class, held Jan. 30, will focus on a variety of edible gardening topics. Participants will learn about the value of soil amendments, proven companion plantings for pest management, differences between hybrid and heirloom plants, and extending the gardening season.
Instructor: Dan Schults, Assistant Professor, College of Western Idaho
Cost: Idaho Botanical Garden Member: $12, Non-Member: $17
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: Idaho Botanical Garden, Garden Classroom
For more information and to register for the class, visit the Idaho Botanical Garden website.
CWI Partners with CapEd
College of Western Idaho (CWI) is excited to partner with CapEd Credit Union for the new Matched Education Savings Account (MESA) program. The announcement was made, to a full house, during the Nampa Chamber of Commerce Luncheon on Dec. 14. For every dollar a student saves in the MESA program, CapEd will match $3. Students can save up to $500, receiving $1,500 from the credit union, for a total of $2,000!
Students attending CWI, willing to save a minimum of $25, are employed, and whose income is under a certain level, are eligible to participate!
Learn more and apply at https://nwcuf.org/mesa/.
CWI Giving Tree Contributions
Thanks to everyone who contributed to the 300 gifts collected for the College of Western Idaho (CWI) Giving Tree! Representatives of the Third District Guardian ad Litem Program (TDGALP), Janet Caufield and Nikki Kiesel, both former CWI students, gathered the gifts to make the holiday season magical for 112 children in foster care across six counties in the Third Judicial District. Caufield is employed by the Idaho State Supreme Court as Third Judicial District's Guardianship and Conservatorship Monitoring Coordinator. Kiesel developed a Legal Advocacy Service practicing child custody mediation and court appointed visits for minor guardianships, as well as elder care guardianships. Without the generous spirit of CWI’s Psychology Club, Criminal Justice Club, Horticulture Club, and Veterans Association who facilitated this opportunity, these children could have gone without this holiday season.
