Bert's Alerts—Oct. 5, 2018
In the Spotlight
More than 200 of the Treasure Valley’s top business leaders came together for the College of Western Idaho (CWI) Foundation's fifth-annual Opening Doors Benefit Event Wednesday, Oct. 3. The evening, hosted at JUMP in downtown Boise, raises funds to open doors to education by directly supporting scholarships and the CWI Foundation.
News Highlights
CWIdifference.com: A Great Resource for the Health Science Building
As the College of Western Idaho (CWI) enters the final stretch leading up to the plant facilities levy, for the proposed Health Science Building, you can visit CWIdifference.com to learn more about the facility.
With health and science professions in high demand, a state-of-the-art health science facility will provide student-centric training for nursing, natural and life sciences, medical and emergency responder professions, and additional healthcare careers. The Health Science Building will provide a critical increase in capacity to address the skills gap — an additional 2,500 students annually will have access to credit and short-term training in health and science programs.
CWI enjoys a strong partnership with Saint Alphonsus, St. Luke’s, Norco, as well as other medical organizations in the region. According to the Idaho Department of Labor, the state needs 10,000 more healthcare workers by 2024, and CWI’s new building will act as a conduit between skilled workers and the Treasure Valley’s healthcare industry shortage. A new Health Science Building also aligns with the College’s vision to transition away from leased buildings and increase owned facilities.
Students Published in Censored 2019
Zaynah Almaaita, a CWI Media Arts student, and Ky Tucker, a 2018 alumnus, were published in this year's edition of "Censored 2019: Fighting the Fake News Invasion". Project Censored is an award-winning, independent journalism site that educates students and the public about the importance of a truly free press for democratic self-government. The review of each year's stories is a rigorous, year-long process, involving dozens of researchers and international panel of 28 media experts; each story identified in this year's Top 25 list has undergone no fewer than five independent rounds of review, focused on the factual accuracy and trustworthiness of the story.
Associate Director and Co-editor of Project Censored, Andy Lee Roth, commented, "Each year we review roughly 300 candidate independent news stories; only the very best make it our annual Top 25 list of the most important but under-reported news stories."
Media Arts instructor, Michelle Mahoney, instructed students 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.
As the faculty evaluator, Michelle, edited and verified all sources before students submitted their stories. She said, “Media literacy is a vital skill in our ever-changing societal landscape. Consumers must be able to critically analyze content across platforms and assess the value of said material. Project Censored aims to highlight this need and help our students do the same.”
The group's founder, Carl Jensen, established Project Censored in 1976. He worked as a reporter, an editor, and was in advertising before he became a college professor. "He used to tell his students, 'Journalism needs more muckrakers and fewer buck takers.' Project Censored aims to support a new generation of journalists who are alert to the shortcomings of the corporate press, committed to reporting in service of the public good, and oriented to how good journalism is a cornerstone of democracy," Roth added.
To learn more about this year’s important, but underreported stories, check out the complete listing of the Top 25 stories online, or order a copy of "Censored 2019: Fighting the Fake News Invasion directly from the Project". You can also find a copy of this in the CWI Library.
“I am so proud of our Communication and Media Arts students," Mahoney said. "They truly are amazing and talented individuals!”
Congratulations, Ky and Zaynah!
Faculty of Distinction—September 2018
September 2018. Straub joined CWI in January of 2009 as an adjunct instructor and is currently an Assistant Professor in the Education Department. During his time at CWI, Straub has taught many courses including computer courses (CISA), student success courses (CWID, College Study Methods), as well as multiple Education courses. Helping people succeed in school has always been one of his main goals.
Straub created his own student success program when he taught middle and high school and continues to help students at CWI. Additionally, he created his own website where students can post and read school success and study tips from other CWI students.
Straub has spearheaded an ongoing school supply drive collecting school supplies for families who are in desperate need of the basic supplies to help their school-aged children. The supplies are distributed to City Light Home for Women and Children in Boise. City Light is affiliated with the Boise Rescue Mission. He also runs a COIL program (Collaborative Online International Learning) where students from his Education courses are paired up with students abroad to work on and solve issues affecting us all. This semester, Straub’s students are working with students from a university in Berlin, Germany.
Straub earned his Bachelor of Science in Geology through the Richard Stockton College in New Jersey, and a master’s in Education at Gratz College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He worked as a hydro-geologist for five years before accepting a position as a science and reading teacher.
Straub grew up in a rural town in New Jersey (yes, there are rural towns in New Jersey), but thinks Idaho is the best place in the country to live and play. He enjoys spending his time outdoors mountain biking, snow-boarding, playing tennis, and hiking. Him and his wife, Andrea, have been married for nearly three years, and the couple has one cat. A fun fact about Straub is he takes his cat on a walk every evening in his neighborhood.
Fazil Exhibited at King Street Gallery
Assistant Professor of Studio Art, Goran Fazil's, work is currently on display at King Street Gallery at the Cafritz Foundation Arts Center at Montgomery College located in Silver Spring, Maryland. Fazil, a practicing artist, received a Master of Fine Arts degree in Painting and Drawing from University of Idaho. His recent exhibitions include Boise Art Museum Triennial and Terrain 2018 in Spokane, Washington. His work deals with reoccurring themes of history, religion, nationality, and his home country of Herzegovina’s relationship with war and violence.
Fazil's work at King Street Gallery will be on display until Oct. 12.
Indigenous Peoples' Day
Mark your calendars for College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Indigenous Peoples' Day event Oct. 14, at 5;30 p.m. at the Nampa Campus Academic Building (NCAB), in room 102E. The featured guest speakers are Ron Sam, a Northern Paiute tribal member from Summit Lake, Nev., and Norm Cavanaugh, a Shoshone tribal member from Duck Valley, Nev. Cavanaugh will be presenting "Native American Beliefs and Contributions" and Sam will be sharing his artistic expression in the form of beading, leatherwork, and drumming. The event is free and open to the public and is co-sponsored by the Diversity Committee, Student Engagement, and the Department of Culture, History, and Politics.
Fall 2018 Transfer Fair
College of Western Idaho invites you to the Fall 2018 Transfer Fair on Tuesday, Oct. 9! College and university representatives will be on-campus to discuss programs, majors, and transfer requirements. This is a one-day event and the two times will be to serve the different campus locations:
9:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Ada County Campus Pintail Center (APIN)
Student Commons1360 S. Eagle Flight Way
Boise, ID 83709
12:30 – 2:30 p.m.
Nampa Campus Academic Building (NCAB)
First-floor Lobby
5500 E. Opportunity Drive
Nampa, ID 83697
For questions, please contact Brittney Hernandez brittneyhernandez@cwi.edu or Erica Compton ericacompton@cwi.edu in Student Advising and Success.
Made Here 2018 MFG Day Event
Students are invited to the annual event celebrating modern manufacturing. Made Here 2018 MFG Day, Wednesday, Oct. 17, at the Ford Idaho Center, is a national celebration of modern manufacturing meant to inspire the next generation of manufactures.
College of Western Idaho (CWI), along with 75 exhibitors, will be in attendance. Exhibits include Micron STEM Bus, a manufacturing- focused job fair, and manufacturer demonstrations including robotics, drones, and industrial equipment. CWI students, interested in attending this event, are encouraged to visit from 3 to 6 p.m.
Statistically, students exposed to manufacturing are twice as likely to pursue a career in the field. Join us for a day of networking with the manufacturing community and learning what opportunities are available.
