Bert's Alerts - March 24, 2017
In the Spotlight
The big game is next Friday, March 31! CWI Game Night with the Idaho Steelheads will be featured during the last regular home season game with a special CWI section and group ticket offer. The best part – $5 from every $15 ticket will be donated to support CWI students and dinner is included in the price of the ticket. Finally, the game will feature an on-ice presentation of the new SCORE Big Scholarship to be awarded to a future CWI student. Join the fun and get your ticket today:
Visit: www.igrouptix.com/idahosteelheads
Username: CWI
Password: STEELHEADS
News Highlights
CWI Media Arts Students Published
Seven students from College of Western Idaho (CWI) were published this week on the award-winning independent journalism site, Project Censored. They are all students in Michelle Mahoney’s Introduction to Mass Media online course.
The assignment was to find an UNDER-reported story and research it. Students were instructed to find, evaluate, and summarize a 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 we know, a free and open press is one of the cornerstones of our democracy. Our students have the power to effect change and become leaders of a media literate society. This work is vital and I am so proud of the diligent efforts students made on this project”, said Michelle Mahoney, Communication Department faculty member.
Here are URLs for the stories as posted:
“Kellyanne Conway: Making History?” Student Researcher: Diana Costanzo
“Thousands of NHS Patients in Harm’s Way; Considered Less Important than Financial Targets” Student Researcher: Johnathan Exparza
“21st Century Slavery in Sicily” Student Researcher: Sam Barrientos
“China Beating us in Green Energy” Student Researcher: Lily Adcock
“Half of Somolia’s Population may Feel Effects of Impending Third Famine” Student Researcher: Corey Starr
“Children Make up Half of the World’s Refugees” Student Researcher: Candace Huffman
“Rising Violence Against Immigrants in South Africa” Student Researcher: McKenzie Young
Project Censored educates students and the public about the importance of a truly free press for democratic self-government. Their goal is to expose and oppose news censorship and promote independent investigative journalism, media literacy, and critical thinking.
“Thanks to hundreds of students and professors at dozens of college and university campuses across the country, including the College of Western Idaho, Project Censored is able to hold corporate news media accountable when they fail to provide the public with the kind of news reporting we need to be informed, engaged community members and citizens,” said Andy Roth, Associate Director of Project Censored.
CWI Media Club Records Radio Commercial with Townsquare Media
The College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Media Club had the opportunity to write and record a radio commercial for Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt at Townsquare Media.
The commercial features two Media Club members, Tessa Prejeant and Michael Lonergan. Michal Cruz, also a CWI student, is the manager at Menchie’s frozen yogurt and asked the Media Club to be involved. Cruz said, “There is a wealth of talent at the school.” Some members of the Media Club were able to go to the radio station and learn more about the process. It was a great experience for all who attended.
The Production Manager for Townsquare Media, Mark Long, said, “It’s always fun to see people who are new to radio and get excited about it, everyone came in here with their eyes glowing which was cool to see.”
“It was very exciting and felt very right. It sparked a fire inside of me which was very inspiring. It felt so natural how everything flowed. I enjoyed being there and seeing how it was done. It was nice getting my feet in the water,” says Tessa Prejeant, CWI student and talent for the commercial.
“I was entirely pleased and incredibly happy with what happened. How it came together was almost magical” says Michael Lonergan, CWI student and talent for the commercial.
Michelle Mahoney, advisor for the CWI Media Club and Communication faculty said, “I was so proud of their commitment to this project. From writing, adding sound effects, to bringing the vision to life, these students really worked hard. Plus, we had a blast in studio!”
The commercial is about a Menchie’s frozen yogurt celebration. The event is on March 11 and 12 at Menchie’s and there will be 50 percent off yogurt. The commercial will be aired on KCIX/ MIX106 which is channel 105.9 FM.
CWI Showcase - Science and Healthcare Programs April 7
College of Western Idaho (CWI) will showcase Science and Healthcare programs on April 7 to the community, future and current students. The CWI Nampa Campus Academic Building will be hopping with experiments, activities, learning experiences, and more as faculty showcase their programs with help from industry and alumni.
Not only can attendees experience some of the great educational opportunities available at CWI, there will also be information sessions on financial aid, healthcare careers, introduction to college, and more. This is a don't miss event for anyone interested in a future in science, healthcare, or similar fields!
CWI will also be introducing new programs that will be starting Fall 2017.
CWI Showcase - Science and Healthcare
Friday, April 7
4-7 p.m.
Nampa Campus Academic Building (NCAB)
For questions or more information please email communications@cwi.edu
First Annual SuperSmashBros Fest a Success
Students declared the Career and Technical Education (CTE) SuperSmashBros Fest a resounding success. On Friday, March 10, CTE Learning Community Coordinators and the Center for New Directions held an event which drew several participants. Those who signed up for the competition participated in a single elimination Super Smash Brothers playoff on the Wii U. First, second, and third place players received trophies created by CWI’s Welding and Metals Fabrication Program’s own Malcom McDonald. All players received an original piece of art created by the CWI’s Machine Tool Technology Program. Winners were as follows: third place, Christopher Ash; second place Cameron Fowler; and i first place Dallen Jensen.
All who attended enjoyed the evening playing board and card games, platform games, and online games in the Student Commons. The Learning Community Coordinators provided snacks and soda pop. Students requested a repeat event fall semester, so watch the Student Newsletter and calendar for a future CTE SuperSmashBros Fest.
STEM Wins March Madness
For the third year in a row, the College of Western Idaho (CWI) school of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) takes the March Madness trophy in the Center for Teaching and Learning competition! March Madness is a fun way for faculty and teachers to learn effective strategies from all areas of the college, through a head-to-head, bracketed competition where instructors are asked to choose their favorites. This year's competition included wonderful ideas from gathering student letters to future students and using specialized technologies to engage students. It also included our first overtime competition after a tie between Workforce Development and Basic Skills Education.
A big congratulations to STEM and a thank you to all of the faculty who shared and participated in the competition.
Amazon.com to Begin Charging Sales Tax
Amazon will begin charging Idaho’s six percent sales and use tax on purchases beginning April 1, 2017. The Business Office is currently working with Amazon regarding an Amazon Business Account to allow for tax exempt purchases for CWI use. Please contact the Business Office for further information, if you need to purchase from Amazon.
March Faculty of Distinction
Nikki Gorrell has been selected as the CWI Faculty of Distinction for March. After attaining both her B.A. and M.A. in Anthropology from Boise State University, Nikki began her teaching career at the College of Western Idaho in 2010. She became the sole full-time faculty member in the Anthropology Program in 2012. Nikki has worked hard to ensure Anthropology majors have had opportunities to collaborate with state and local partners such as ongoing urban archaeology research with the University of Idaho and participation at the Northwest Evolution, Ecology, and Human Behavior Symposium at Boise State University. In 2016-2017 the findings of the three-year Petroglyph Recording Project documenting the rock art at Celebration Park (near Melba) will be finalized with the publication of an extensive five-part volume. In April 2017 Nikki is looking forward to hosting the national conference for the Society for Anthropology in Community Colleges (SACC), an organization she is currently serving a three-year term as President. When she is not teaching, Nikki follows her research pursuits in the Basque Country (Spain and France) as well as indigenous communities in Mexico. Nikki’ s past times include bicycling, organic gardening, and camping with her partner, artist David Rudzinski.
Nikki was nominated by a colleague who appreciates her unselfishness in doing whatever needs to be done to support the mission of CWI, for giving students the opportunity to preserve culture and history in our local area, and maintaining the highest academic standards while doing all she can to help students meet their educational and professional goals.
Rob Healea named March Staff of the Month
Healea came to College of Western Idaho (CWI) in November of 2009 and has worked as a Technical Support Specialist at the Canyon County Center the entire time. He’s been in the computer field for 24 years and has held numerous positions at companies such as Micron PC, Hewlett Packard, and Capital One, but really enjoys helping people hands-on.
Healea demonstrates the core value, Serving All in an Atmosphere of Caring. Those who nominated him stated, “He is such a great asset to the Canyon County Campus. He is always there to help us in any way he can. It was also noted that, “…he’s always responsive to whatever the problem might be. He has been timely and efficient in fixing any issue I might have. Above all, he doesn’t make me feel inept, even when the solution ends up being something simple.”
"This position isn't just a job for me,” Healea says. “It is the job I really want to do; a job that makes me happy. Every day I go home feeling that I really made a difference." Healea goes on to say that “without the entire IT team backing me up I wouldn’t be able to achieve such success in this position. My success is a team effort.”
Healea graduated from Idaho State University in 1992 with a degree in Lasers. He enjoys spelunking and has climbed Mt. Borah, the tallest peak in Idaho. He has been married to Cherri for 18 years and has a 17 year old daughter, Kaetlyn. Cherri graduated from CWI in 2015 is about to graduate from NNU with a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education. Kaetlyn got a 4.3 GPA last semester, works at Boise Fry Company in Nampa, and has recently taken up golf.
Please join in congratulating Rob on his accomplishment.
Recognition Committee is Calling for Faculty Nominations
Summary: Nominate faculty that represent CWI’s Core Values for recognition.
The College of Western Idaho (CWI) Faculty Recognition Committee would like to remind employees that it is continuously accepting nominations for the monthly Faculty of Distinction award. Faculty, staff, students, and administrators are encouraged to nominate a faculty member that they feel is doing an outstanding job of meeting one or more of CWI’s Core Values:
- Acting With Integrity
- Serving All in an Atmosphere of Caring
- Sustaining our Quality of Life for Future Generations
- Respecting the Dignity of Opinions
- Innovating for the 21st Century
- Leaving a Legacy of Learning
Please submit nominations through the You Rock! form available at: https://goo.gl/forms/XcQLIjJFGSVLzNup1. You can also access this form through the Faculty Recognition Committee Page in MyCWI.
Please note: you do not need to fill out every field in the You Rock! form as nominees aren’t expected to necessarily meet every Core Value. Meeting one Core Value very well is sufficient.
