Bert's Alerts—July 12, 2019
In the Spotlight
College of Western Idaho (CWI) announced a new partnership last week focused on empowering educators with knowledge to teach SWIFT coding to students across the Treasure Valley. The Onramp Program, a partnership between CWI, Boise State University, Idaho Digital Learning Academy, and Apple, will be piloted in the Boise and Wilder school districts. The College is excited to be involved in this innovative program and looks forward to the opportunities it will provide to students.
10-Year Celebration
Listen as faculty, students, and graduates – each with a unique story of determination, desire, fear, motivation, and accomplishment – share how CWI has empowered their lives.
CWI in the News
Boise Weekly: Idaho Commission on the Arts Names Malia Collins Writer-in-Residence
KTVB: You Can Grow It: How to plant firewise landscapes around your home
Idaho Business Review: A word with Wayne Hammon, Idaho AGC CEO
News Highlights
Students SCORE Big at the Ballpark
Thank you to the students, alumni, family, and friends of the College of Western Idaho (CWI) community who joined us at the ballpark for a night of baseball and fundraising during CWI Night at the Boise Hawks Thursday, June 27. The evening kicked off with a ceremonial first pitch thrown by CWI student, Juan Gurrola. Gurrola, a Computer Science major, returned to school to learn new skills and create more opportunities for advancement in his career.
Congratulations to Zach Douglas, winner of a $1,000 SCORE Big Scholarship awarded during the game. Douglas recently graduated from Borah High School and plans to attend CWI this fall to study Psychology. Nine additional students who attended the event will each receive a $500 scholarship as part of the SCORE Big 2.0 Scholarship giveaway.
"I'm very excited about this scholarship," Douglas said. "It means so much and will help me fund my education. Go CWI!"
Group ticket sales for the event raised nearly $350. The funds, presented to the CWI Foundation by the Boise Hawks mascot, Humphrey the Hawk, will go directly back to the SCORE Big Scholarship fund.
Join us next February for CWI Night at the Idaho Steelheads – stay tuned for more information!
Collins Named Idaho Writer in Residence
Malia Collins, an Assistant Professor of English and Creative Writing at College of Western Idaho, was named Idaho Writer in Residence by the Idaho Commission on the Arts.
“Collins writes splendid prose full of warmth and vivid imagery," said a panel of judges who reviewed her work.
According to a press release from the Idaho Commission on the Arts, Idaho’s Writer in Residence is the highest literary recognition accorded an Idaho writer and those selected embody preeminent quality in the literary field, complemented by the ability to deliver compelling readings.
Collins joins literary luminaries such as Diane Raptosh (2013), Brady Udall (2010), Anthony Doerr (2007), and Kim Barnes (2004). She will receive $10,000 and serve a two-year term, beginning July 1.
Introducing CWI Mobile
Put CWI in your pocket with our new app! Curated from months of on-campus research, the CWI mobile app offers features to make navigating locations, courses, events, and all aspects of CWI convenient.
Currently being introduced through New Student Orientation, a campus-wide campaign will kick off fall semester to officially launch the app to the CWI community. In preparation for this launch, faculty and staff are encouraged to download the app to familiarize themselves with its features in order to better assist and promote this tool to students.
Watch your email for additional information regarding app features and instructions on how to download. Contact Communications and Marketing at 208.562.2222 or communications@cwi.edu with questions.
Application for 2019-2020 Scholarships Open
The College of Western Idaho (CWI) Foundation scholarships application period is open once again for the 2019-20 academic year. One application makes applying for scholarships at CWI easy and provides students with a number of scholarship opportunities in the College’s academic and career-technical programs. More than 200 students received scholarships through the Foundation last year.
New scholarship opportunities are available for the 2019-20 academic year including the new Nagel Foundation Scholarship for second-year Career Technical Education students. Students interested in applying for scholarships must have the CWI admission application completed, be accepted, and have myCWI login information. The application closes July 31, 2019.
Visit the Grants and Scholarships page to learn more or apply.
Faculty of Distinction—April 2019
Mindy Young has been named College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Faculty of Distinction for April 2019. Young began teaching Network and System Administration at CWI in fall of 2009. Before coming to CWI, she taught for Boise State University and several industry education centers. The majority of her workplace experience as a Network Administrator was gained while working for Intermountain Health Care in Utah. Young earned her bachelor’s degree in Mathematics at Utah State University in 1994. She thoroughly enjoys helping her students learn new skills and find employment that ultimately changes their lives.
When not in the classroom, Young enjoys spending time with her family. They enjoy outdoor activities together like boating, camping, and snow skiing.
Faculty of Distinction—May 2019
Robert Harbaugh has been named College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Faculty of Distinction for May 2019. Harbaugh is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the College and President-Elect of the Pacific Northwest Political Science Association. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Concentration in Public Service from the Gerald R. Ford Institute at Albion College in Michigan and a Master of Arts in Political Science from Western Michigan University. His graduate training focused on American Politics, with a special emphasis on Congress and interest groups.
Prior to embarking on his teaching career, Harbaugh spent nearly eight years working professionally in politics in Washington, D.C. He had the opportunity to spend a number of years as a legislative assistant to a member of the United States House of Representatives where he was the primary advisor on a number of legislative issues including; agriculture, judiciary issues, and government oversight. Prior to working in the House, he also worked for one of the largest policy think tanks in the country and worked on a number of political campaigns.
In his free time, Harbaugh enjoys cooking, theater, and beekeeping. He is also an avid fan of the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Red Wings, and can often be found at an Idaho Steelheads home game.
Staff of the Month—June 2019
Julie Gibson has been recognized as College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Staff of the Month for June 2019. Gibson graduated from Boise State University in 2012 with her Bachelors of Accounting. Hired as an Accountant I in CWI’s Business Office in 2017, she currently holds the position of Accountant II.
Gibson was nominated for her unwavering dedication to colleagues and students. Her nomination noted, “She regularly demonstrates great team work behavior by helping co-workers and filling in when we're short staffed, but on May 31, she went way above her usual greatness and helped out a group of students who were faced with a crisis at the airport when traveling to an event.” Gibson acted quickly to support these students who were not being allowed to board a plane due to a clerical error. Another colleague shared, “It's what people do when they are faced with these unknowns that counts. She is a shining example of what caring and serving our customers is all about. Way to go, Julie!”
Gibson and her spouse are celebrating 24 years of marriage. Together they have two children, a 22-year old son who is ready to transfer from CWI to Brigham Young University-Idaho this fall and a daughter who recently graduated with plans to attend Idaho State University. When not working, Gibson is preparing an empty nest with the help of her two dogs, Cooper and Fitz.
Please join us in congratulating Julie on this accomplishment!
2019 Step-Up Challenge Winners
Thank you to those who participated in the annual, employee Step-Up Challenge hosted by College of Western Idaho’s Culture and Employee Engagement Committee (CEEC)! We hope you were inspired to become more active, explore new places, and discover new activities to meet your fitness goals.
2019 Step-Up Challenge Winners
Overall Winner
- Fred Illa, Facilities
461,761 steps – enough steps to walk to Pocatello!
Additional Winners
- Caroline Brode, Student Affairs – 392,027 steps
- Colin Perry, Assessment – 382,126 steps
- Kristin Cook, Mathematics – 340,803 steps
- Heather Grayson, Student Affairs – 339,027 steps
- Claire Cowan, Accounts Receivable – 328,742 steps
- Russell Hills, Facilities – 289,492 steps
- Elaine Holmes, Dental Assisting – 281,592 steps
- Jennifer Dudley, Student Affairs – 248,693 steps
- Liz Otterness, Basic Skills Education – 179,213 steps
- Julia Kaufmann, Business Office – 176,554 steps
- Lazaro Martinez, One Stop Student Services – 123,199
Each of this year’s winners will receive a backpack full of goodies including jump ropes, sweat bands, nutrition bars, drink packets, and more to sustain them as they continue to Step-Up!
