Bert's Alerts - March 21, 2014
In the Spotlight
The College of Western Idaho (CWI) was full of St. Patrick’s Day spirit, Monday (March 17), as the Fun and Culture Committee’s (FCC) second-annual CWIrish Day returned to campus. The FCC awarded prizes to Brad Riker (Best Overall), Josee Ward (Ada), Morriah Marks (Nampa), and Joel Beesley (Canyon) for outstanding participation. Seen here (left to right) are Beesley, Christie Cremer, Sam Stone, Lindsey Zahller, and Andrea Shumaker at the Micron Center for Professional Technical Education. To view more photos from CWIrish Day, visit the FCC page on myCWI.
News Highlights
Dental Assisting Participates in Elementary School Presentation
On Tuesday, March 18, students from the College of Western Idaho (CWI) Dental Assisting program participated in a Lessons in a Lunch Box presentation at Heights Elementary School in Middleton to promote oral health literacy. Five CWI students, along with one instructor, were on-hand to demonstrate proper brushing and flossing techniques to the children.
Lessons in a Lunch Box: Healthy Teeth Essentials & Facts about Snacks is designed to empower children and their families with knowledge about routine dental care, oral health maintenance, and good dietary choices using a “dentally designed” lunch box. The lunch box contains a My Plate, a USDA nutritional diagram, along with instructions on how to brush and floss. The lunch box also provides children with their very own “Dental Care in a Carrot” case that includes a carrot-shaped toothbrush case, toothpaste, dental floss, and a rinse cup.
Dr. Maria Martinez, from Middleton Dental, organized the event and presented information to the children about healthy snacks and brushing and flossing. The event provided 180 lunch boxes for the children.
“This was a great event for our program to participate in,” says CWI Dental Assisting Program Chair and Assistant Professor, Elaine Laursen. “The children were very excited to receive a lunch box. Some children commented they don’t have dental floss at home. My hope is that those children go home and tell mom and dad about the importance of flossing and that dental floss becomes a regular staple in the home.”
Laursen also says she would like to thank Dr. Martinez for providing this tremendous opportunity, giving CWI students the chance to serve the community with the skills and knowledge they have developing in the Dental Assisting program.
College of Western Idaho to Explore Social Issues in a Digital Age
The College of Western Idaho (CWI) is excited to announce a dynamic event intended to engage the Treasure Valley in a thought provoking examination of some of today’s biggest social issues. On April 18 (Friday), the CWI Social and Human Relations Department will host a free public symposium, Social Relations in a Digital Age, to dive deep into the everyday impact of technology on relationships, education, crime, and more.
The symposium, scheduled to run from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the CWI Nampa Campus Academic Building, will focus on three themes: Social Relations in a Digital Age; Education in a Digital Age; and Technology and Society. Some of the event highlights include:
- Panel discussion with local high school students on Teen Relationships in a Digital Age
- Presentation by Dr. Eric Kellerer from Northwest Nazarene University on Education in a Digital Age
- Presentation by Nampa Police Detectives on Law Enforcement in a Digital Age
- Keynote by Idaho Deputy Attorney General Casey Hemmer on Internet Crimes Against Children
Various organizations will also be providing social technology demonstrations, resources to help the community stay informed, and updates on the social impact of technology. See the attached schedule for more details.
CWI Night at the Steelheads
College of Western Idaho (CWI) invites employees, students, alumni, friends, and family to support student scholarships by taking in CWI Night at the Steelheads, Friday (April 4), at CenturyLink Arena. CWI has partnered with the Idaho Steelheads hockey team to offer discounted $15 tickets, of which $5 will be donated to the CWI Foundation for student scholarships. The puck drops at 7:10 p.m. and the game is sure to provide a fun night in downtown Boise. To purchase tickets, visit:
www.igrouptix.com/idahosteelheads
Username: CWI
Password: TICKETS
Skills On Wheels Car Show Returns to CWI
College of Western Idaho (CWI) SkillsUSA will be hosting the second-annual Skills On Wheels Car Show, April 5, to fundraise for students to travel to the organization’s national competition this summer. The car show, which will be held at the CWI Micron Center for Professional Technical Education in Nampa, features modified, import, muscle, and stock cars, trucks, eighteen wheelers, and motorcycles.
Admission to the event is $5 for adults and free for kids 12 and under. All proceeds from the event go to CWI SkillsUSA.
To register a vehicle, become a sponsor, or reserve a booth space visit www.cwiintc.net. Please contact Alex Beal at alexbeal@cwi.edu or Michael Tamas at michaeltamas@my.cwi.edu with questions.
CWI Speech and Debate Eyes Fourth Consecutive National Title
College of Western Idaho (CWI) Speech and Debate will look to continue its incredible run of success, next week, with a trip to Indianapolis, Ind. to vie for the College’s fourth-consecutive national championship. CWI is set to compete in the Pi Kappa Delta National Comprehensive Tournament, March 21-23, which will feature 80 colleges and universities from around the country.
CWI is sending 12 students to represent the College with hopes of adding to its unbelievable run of first-place finishes in the Community College Division in 2011, 2012, and 2013. CWI is following up another top showing at nationals in 2013, which included a fourth-place overall finish out of 89 colleges and universities. The title was powered by 17 gold and silver finishes in individual competitions.
“Our students are very excited to see if all their hard work will translate into another national championship,” says Director of Speech and Debate, Johnny Rowing. “The competition continues to get better, so we know it won’t be easy. But we do believe our 12 competitors are among the best in the nation. If we keep our focus on us, being the best we can be, the awards will come as a result.”
Feedback Needed on Employee Giving
The College of Western Idaho (CWI) Marketing and Advancement Department is seeking feedback on the CWI Employee Giving program. A short survey has been created to allow faculty and staff to provide anonymous input, while helping ensure the upcoming drive is supporting causes that are important to employees.
Please contact Morriah Marks at morriahmarks@cwi.edu or 208.562.3238 with any questions, concerns, or to help with Employee Giving.
Employee Bingo Coming to CWI
The College of Western Idaho (CWI) Fun and Culture Committee (FCC) is excited to announce its next employee activity – an ongoing game of bingo which will use a Bert’s Alerts scavenger hunt to announce numbers each week. All CWI employees are invited to participate in the game, which will run throughout April and May. Starting April 4, three bingo numbers will appear randomly in Bert’s Alerts articles each week in the following form: (B20). Employees are allowed to play two cards each, which can be obtained from one of the following FCC members:
- Trisha Thomas - Ada County Center
- Lindsay Reynolds - Micron Center for Professional Technical Education
- Shannon Chapman - Nampa Campus Administration Building
- Shannon Cordova - Canyon County Center
For questions, help locating cards, or to confirm a bingo and claim a prize, email fcc@cwi.edu.
Continuing Staff Senate Members Introduced
The College of Western Idaho (CWI) Staff Senate election is rapidly approaching. Benefit eligible staff members will be able to vote for Staff Senators and Officers, April 15-30, via myCWI. To kick-off this year's election process, Staff Senate would like to introduce employees to the Senators who will be continuing their service for 2014-15. A biography of the following Staff Senate members can be found on myCWI under Staff Senate > 2014 Election folder.
2014 President: Brittney Kaercher, Project Manager II, Instruction
2014 Senator: Shannon Chapman, Accountant II
2014 Senator: Morriah Marks, Project Manager II, Advancement
2014 Senator: Connor McComas, Learning Community Coordinator
2014 Senator: Tony Tine, IT Tech Support Specialist II
2014 Senator: Josee Ward, Academic Advisor
Please email staffsenate@cwi.edu for general Staff Senate questions, to learn more about the election, or if you experience trouble viewing the Staff Senate myCWI page.
