Bert's Alerts—Nov. 13, 2020
News Highlights
Shop Amazon, Help Students!
Did you know when you shop on Amazon, you can also help College of Western Idaho (CWI) students? Through AmazonSmile, 0.5% of your eligible Amazon purchases will be donated to student scholarships at CWI at no cost to you!
Contact the CWI Foundation at foundation@cwi.edu to learn more or with questions.
October 21-Day Challenge Results
Thank you to all who participated in October’s Mindfulness and Yoga 21-day challenge! Forty-two of our participants submitted their results totaling 651 days of mindfulness and yoga practices completed!
Mindfulness and Yoga Winners
Prize Package Winners:
Participants who completed a mindfulness or yoga during each of the 21 days of the challenge were entered to win a prize package including a yoga mat, towel, blocks, straps and more.
- Savanha Rodriguez
- Piper Skoglund
Participation Prize Winners:
Participants who completed a minimum of 10 days of mindfulness or yoga were entered to win a participation prize which includes a mindfulness coloring book and coupon for free juice or smoothie at Tree City Juice and Smoothie Café.
- Deidra Bowman
- Jan Hanson
- Sitlaly Escamilla
- Josee Ward
- Allison Molitor
- Liz Otterness
- Valerie Lee
- Chad Trisler
- Victor Villanueva
- Veronica Van Ry
Read what people are saying about October’s Mindfulness and Yoga Challenge
“I had always wanted to try yoga and meditation but just never took the chance to actually start,” said Lab Materials Specialist, Savanha Rodriguez. “This challenge helped me ease into mindfulness, and I appreciate that! I did more breathing exercises and meditation sessions than I did yoga, but in this experience, I learned how just taking 10 minutes can really help put you in a better mood! Moving forward, I'm going to continue to start my day with 10 minutes of mindfulness. It really has helped my outlook and mood throughout the rest of the day!”
“It was a great reminder to be mindful,” said Dean of Students, Chad Trisler. “It pushed me to find time when I could take a few minutes to focus, to reflect, and to examine myself and my thoughts.”
"It helped being a part of a mindfulness group online,” said Basic Skills Education Teacher, Joanne Matibag. “Thank you for providing this to CWI employees and caring about our health.
“It was great! I've used meditation and yoga both in the past, but it was really wonderful to return to it is a daily practice,” said Director of Advising, Allison Molitor. “I appreciated the 10-minute timeframe because it made it easy to fit in on some of my busier days. I am continuing the practice and found that the short breaks made me more mindful for the rest of the day as well. Thanks for putting it together!
“This challenge was a good reminder to stop and smell the roses,” said Assessment and Testing Specialist, Maggie Saye. “It made me realize that only 10 minutes of intentional mindfulness a day has numerous benefits. Each day I leaned into my practice, I felt calmer, less anxious, and more present with myself and those around me.”\
November's Goodnight Challenge
The November Goodnight Challenge is underway. Visit the Culture and Employee Engagement Committee site on myCWI for all the details on this month’s challenge and to get involved!
Spring 2021 Registration
College of Western Idaho (CWI) is excited to announce registration dates for the Spring 2021 semester. In addition, new options in course delivery will be available for Spring term. Students will have the choice to select a style that best fits their learning style and schedule. Learn more about options in course delivery styles prior to registering.
Continuing Students
Priority registration at CWI for the Spring 2021 semester begins Monday, Nov. 9. Priority registration allows continuing students a chance to enroll in classes ahead of open registration, helping students stay on track for graduation.
Following are some tips for current students:
- Be sure to meet with your Student Success Advisor prior to registering.
- Once advising is completed, students can register online any time on or after their assigned registration time.
- Assigned registration times
- Times are based on cumulative credits earned.
- Students can check myCWIand CWIemail for their assigned time.
- Continuing students are considered those who enrolled and attended classes any semester since spring 2019.
- Dual Credit students will register during open registration.
New and Returning Students
Open Registration for all students, including new and returning, begins Monday, Nov. 16.
- All new, degree-seeking students must participate in New Student Orientation prior to registering for classes.
Contact One Stop Student Services or visit us online to learn more about applying to CWI, orientation, and registering for classes.
Scholarships Open for 2020-2021 Academic Year
The College of Western Idaho (CWI) Foundation scholarships application period opens Nov. 1 for the 2020-2021 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 300 students received scholarships through the Foundation during the 2019-2020 academic year.
Students interested in applying for scholarships must have the CWI admission application completed, be accepted, and have myCWI login information. The application closes Nov. 30, 2020.
Visit the Grants and Scholarships page to learn more or apply.
McNair Scholars Program: Dream, Prepare, Achieve
College of Western Idaho students looking for opportunities to enhance their personal and professional development in preparation for graduate school, may want to look closely at the McNair Scholars Program.
The Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program is one of eight TRIO programs federally funded by the U.S. Department of Education. Designed to support students from disadvantaged backgrounds, the McNair Program is the only TRIO grant focused on helping college juniors and seniors prepare for admission into graduate schools and successfully attain advanced degrees.
Paired with faculty mentors in their field of study, McNair Scholars design and implement an independent research project for presentation at regional, or national conferences. Other benefits to participation include:
- $2,800 stipend to support research internship during at least one summer
- enhanced career planning and personal guidance from McNair staff
- paid tuition of McNair courses
- scholarship application assistance
- Graduate Record Exam (GRE) preparation courses and exam fee reduction waivers
- assistance in applying to graduate schools along with cost offsets
- funded travel to regional and national research conferences
- paid travel to visit prospective graduate schools
- graduate school funding offered by several institutions specifically for McNair Scholars
The McNair Scholars Program is a unique learning opportunity for students who fit the eligibility criteria and are highly motivated to achieve success in their doctoral studies. Anyone interested in gaining a competitive advantage in their academic and professional careers should seize the opportunity. Application deadlines generally fall in October for the spring semester, and in February for the fall semester. However, dates are discretionary with some universities accepting applications on a rolling basis. It is important to track each school’s policy as qualified students who meet priority deadlines are given the most consideration.
Eligible participants must be low income, AND first-generation, OR come from communities historically underrepresented in higher education (African American, American Indian/Alaskan Native, Hispanic/Latino, or Pacific Islander). Transfer students planning to attend Boise State University, Idaho State University, or the University of Idaho can find additional information, instructions, and applications on their respective McNair Scholars pages. A list of all 187 universities currently partnering with the McNair Program can be found on the U.S. Department of Education Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program website.
Written by Lesah Ashton, a current CWI student who plans to graduate in May 2021.
Visiting Artist Series Welcomes Omer Halilhodžić
College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Visiting Artist Series is proud to welcome Bosnian automotive designer, Omer Halilhodžić, for a virtual lecture and Q&A Nov. 20.
A graduate of the University of Sarajevo with a degree in industrial design, Halilhodžić is currently a member of the designer team of Škoda. His work prior to Škoda included being a member of the famous design team of Ferrari, the exterior chief designer for the European styling center of Mercedes-Benz in Germany, as well as work with Mitsubishi Motors and Volkswagen. Halilhodžić considers Leonardo da Vinci to be the greatest designer of all time and looks to nature for his inspirations. He was responsible for the styling of the 2004 Mitsubishi Colt and the concept cars which preceded it including the CZ2, CZ3, CZ3 cabriolet, and CZT. He has since penned the Mitsubishi Concept Sportback and the Mitsubishi Concept X, which presages the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X production car.
Plan to join us Friday, Nov. 20, at noon, for Halilhodžić’s lecture, hosted via Zoom, as he discusses his career as an automotive designer and the roll of drawing and sculpture in contemporary automotive design.
Zoom Link: Visiting Artist Series Welcomes Omer Halilhodžić
Password: 836931
CWI’s Visiting Artist Series is made possible through a grant from Idaho Commission on the Arts, which is supported by National Endowment for the Arts. Visiting Artist Series workshops, featuring visual and performing artists, are free and open to the public.
Contact Goran Fazil at goranfazil@cwi.edu to learn more or with questions.
Giving Tree Gathers Gifts for Foster Children
Brighten the holiday season for children in the Treasure Valley by participating in College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) 12th annual Giving Tree. This year, CWI’s Criminal Justice department, Psi Beta Honor Society, Psychology Club, and Veteran’s Association have partnered with 3rd District Guardian Ad Litem Program, a non-profit program advocating for abused and neglected children, to gather gifts for children in foster care.
“This year more than ever, amidst all the uncertainty in the world, we are so happy to be able to brighten the holidays for children in need in our community,” said Stephanie Breach, Associate Professor of Criminal Justice.
Unwrapped gifts will be collected now through Dec. 11 at trees located near the security desks at the following campus locations:
- Ada County Campus Lynx Building
- Canyon County Center
- Nampa Campus Aspen Classroom Building
- Nampa Campus Administration Building
Sign up to participate in this year's Giving Tree
Contact Heather Schoenherr at heatherschoenherr@cwi.edu with questions.
