Bert's Alerts - May 16, 2014
In the Spotlight
On Saturday, May 17, the College of Western Idaho (CWI) will honor its 2014 graduating class in a comprehensive commencement ceremony hosted at Taco Bell Arena in Boise. The ceremony, which is scheduled for 7 p.m., will recognize degree and certificate graduates, as well as GED completers. CWI is celebrating two milestones this year with a record number of degree and certificate candidates as well as the most graduates with honors ever.
News Highlights
Join the Commencement Celebration #cwigraduation
College of Western Idaho (CWI) will host its 2014 Commencement Ceremony on May 17 to honor this year’s graduates and, for the second consecutive year, CWI is launching a social media celebration. Everyone is invited to participate in sharing in the celebration by utilizing the graduation hashtag and following the festivities online. In addition, CWI will be sharing photos and celebratory messages on arena screens prior to the ceremony. To join the conversation, simply include #cwigraduation on:
CWI Honor Society Leads Regional Recognitions
College of Western Idaho (CWI) enjoyed the spotlight at the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society Regional Conference in Hood River, Ore. last weekend (May 9-10), as CWI Beta Sigma Pi took home the most awards of any chapter in the region. CWI received six Most Distinguished (first-place) awards, including top Officer and Advisor honors. The region includes thousands of members from 26 chapters in Oregon, Idaho, and Utah.
College Project
Most Distinguished
Distinguished Chapter Officer Team
Most Distinguished
Distinguished Chapter Officer Awards
Most Distinguished - Alycia Dickman
First Runner-up - Jessica Bain
Distinguished Advisor Awards
Most Distinguished - Matthew R. K. Haynes
Competitive Edge
Most Distinguished
Honors in Action
Most Distinguished Theme - Theme 10 - Wait Until Next Year: History/Future of Competition
CWI Volunteer Tax Program Provides Nearly $40,000 in Assistance
College of Western Idaho (CWI) hosted its fourth-annual Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program this spring as CWI students and alumni joined forces to give back to the community. Incredibly, the group helped complete just over 150 tax returns that equated to nearly $40,000 worth of savings, based on average return rate calculated by the Internal Revenue Service. This year also included an opportunity to provide tax assistance to a women’s shelter in Caldwell. The group was led by Online Chair for Business, Education and Exercise and Health Sciences, Joe Welker, and included students from CWI Academic Transfer and Professional Technical Education programs as well as Boise State University.
“Every year the students enjoy a great take away in a couple of aspects,” says Welker. “Not only do they get to apply the knowledge they gained in class, but they also get to provide a professional service for students and community members. It is really great to see them assist so many individuals.”
Thank you to everyone that participated in this great project and thanks to Joe for helping coordinate this valuable learning experience and community resource once again.
2014 Mike Rowe Scholarship Recipients Named
On May 6, the College of Western Idaho (CWI) Diesel Technology programs recognized two students who have been selected as recipients of $1,000 tools scholarships from the mikeroweWORKS Foundation. Each year the Foundation awards a pair of scholarships to Diesel Technology programs affiliated and accredited by the Associated Equipment Distributors. The 2014 honor went to second-year Heavy-Duty Truck Technician students Jeff Waters and Jake Arkoosh.
Waters, of Nampa, completed the program this spring and is currently employed with Thermo King Intermountain. Arkoosh, a Gooding, Idaho native, is also graduating this spring and plans to utilize his training at his family’s farming operation.
The mikeroweWORKS Foundation is named for TV personality, creator and host of Discovery Channel’s “Dirty Jobs”, Mike Rowe. For more information on the Foundation visit www.profoundlydisconnected.com.
College of Western Idaho Outstanding Business Students Announced
College of Western Idaho (CWI) has announced the winners of the third-annual CWI Pearson Business Student (s) of the Year Award: Katreece Hattaway, Shane Turner, and Herman Anthony Berlin. The students are being recognized for their accomplishments in and out of the classroom.
STUDENT BIOS
Katreece Hattaway
Hattaway is a 24-year old Kuna native. She has a strong interest in logistics and is currently working toward a degree in operations management. Hattaway says she is also striving to speak fluent Spanish and Mandarin by the time she is 30. She is the youngest of 10 children in her family. In her free time, Hattaway enjoys hiking, outdoor adventures, watching Netflix, and learning and reading about the universe and human optimization. Her goals are to be successful, happy, and hopefully make change in the world.
Shane Turner
Turner is a fourth generation Nampa High School graduate. This spring he completed his first year at CWI with a 4.0 cumulative grade point average. He is pursuing a Business degree and plans to transfer to Boise State University to complete a bachelor’s in both Business Management and Entrepreneurial Business, with a minor in Theater. Turner has experienced numerous career paths from teacher/coach, to traveling POS specialist, thespian, stockbroker, director, sportswriter, color radio announcer, photojournalist, among others. He is currently president of the CWI Golf Club and treasure of the College’s United Registered Clubs and Organizations group. Turner has also participated in the Entrepreneur's Club and the Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society.
Herman Anthony Berlin
Berlin, who was born in Monrovia, Calif. and raised in Virginia, moved to Boise in 2001. After working in construction for nine years, he began taking classes at CWI in August 2011. Berlin graduated from CWI in December 2013 with a 3.74 cumulative GPA and an Associate of Arts degree in Business. He transferred to the University of Idaho in January and is currently working toward a bachelor’s degree in Accounting.
Students were nominated for the award by Business faculty and internship supervisors. Applications were reviewed by a faculty committee and winners were selected based on eligibility requirements, grade point average, and other honors, contributions, and achievements. For their selection, Hattaway, Turner, and Berlin each receive a personalized certificate and medal, their name added to an annual plaque, and a one-time scholarship contribution.
For more information regarding the CWI Business Student (s) of the Year Award please contact Joe Welker at joewelker@cwi.edu.
CWI Web Development Student Receives Internship
The College of Western Idaho (CWI) Web Development program is proud to share that first year student, Oscar Meza, has been selected for a full-time summer internship with the Idaho Department of Labor. Meza went through four interviews before being chosen for this tremendous opportunity.
“This year in CWI’s Web development program I have learned important skills that have directly transferred to meet needs in industry,” Meza says. “I have also gained the confidence to explore new options. This is such a huge opportunity to further my career because not only will I have the necessary knowledge to be an asset to any company, I will also have great professional experience when I graduate from the program.”
CWI Voice Class Performs at Spring Creek Manor
A group of students from College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) voice class performed at Spring Creek Manor on Overland Road in Boise on May 7, providing entertainment for residents. The program included both solos and group songs of a variety of styles: classical, music theater, and folk. Adjunct Faculty Bonnie Salewski says the residents of Spring Creek shared that they enjoyed the performance very much and asked the students to return and sing again.
Run, Hide, Fight Procedure Introduced
As part of ongoing efforts to provide a safe campus, College of Western Idaho (CWI) has adopted a procedure for responding to an active shooter situation. This “Run, Hide, Fight” procedure should be utilized as a guideline for CWI students, faculty, staff, and visitors who may become involved in an active shooter situation. Although this is not a likely scenario, CWI strongly believes in preparation and training to help people react to dangerous situations.
The CWI safety teams have worked closely with local law enforcement, and have received approval from President’s Cabinet and the Board of Trustees to implement this procedure. Each employee is asked to view the training module that can be accessed via the link below. The training module contains a 10-minute video and the procedure, which will continue to be available on myCWI. Please note that the video shows a simulation of an active shooter situation that may be upsetting to some people. Employees are encouraged to talk with their manager about details that may apply to different locations or situations.
View the Run Hide Fight module.
Anyone who has trouble accessing the module, please contact Victor Villanueva, Environmental Safety and Health Coordinator, at 208.562.3241 or victorvillanueva@cwi.edu.
Additional information, more directly related to the classroom setting, will be released soon to faculty.
Blackboard Upgrade Coming May 24
College of Western Idaho (CWI) will be upgrading the Blackboard Learn system on May 24 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Blackboard will be unavailable during the entire eight hour maintenance window. Normal service for Blackboard will resume after 5 p.m. on May 24. The upgrade will include test access logging, improved discussion boards, and test/survey options.
Conference Room Scheduling Moving to 25Live
The College of Western Idaho (CWI) Scheduling Department has announced that starting June 1 CWI employees will no longer be able to schedule a number of conference rooms using Microsoft Outlook. CWI currently uses scheduling software, 25Live, which centralizes management of space scheduling across all locations. As of June 1, the following conference rooms will only be available to schedule through 25Live:
- Nampa Campus Academic Building 107F and 312F
- Nampa Campus Administration Building 101
- Nampa Campus Micron Center for Professional Technical Education 1117
- Nampa Campus Multipurpose Building 210
Appointments will still be scheduled through Outlook but meeting organizers must first check space availability and reserve these conference rooms in 25Live. (N33) Employees are asked to wait until confirmation is received, which will typically occur within two hours, before finalizing appointments. It is important to remember that scheduled events take priority over nonscheduled events, in any space. Please contact Scheduling at scheduling@cwi.edu with any questions.
CWI Employees Support Race for the Cure
The College of Western Idaho (CWI) Fun & Culture Committee teamed up with CWI faculty and staff volunteers for the 2014 Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Boise on Saturday, May 10. The team of 12 volunteers, including four children, distributed packets, helped with traffic control, course maintenance, and shuttle directing, as well as awarding of survivor medals. (I17)
