Bert's Alerts—Sept. 20, 2019
In the Spotlight
On Friday, Sept. 13, nearly 70 guests were delighted with a five-course meal during CWI’s Farm to Fork Dinner. The dinner featured food produced locally in the Treasure Valley including food grown in the College’s very own campus garden. The event raised more than $4,000 to support the campus garden benefiting CWI students who may be facing food insecurity.
10-Year Celebration
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CWI in the News
News Highlights
Culinary Exploration of the Treasure Valley
As visitors opened their car door at the Nampa Campus Academic Building last Friday they were greeted by the smell of locally produced prime rib and vegetables from the Farm to Fork Dinner.
Andrea Schumaker, Department Chair of Physical and Agricultural Sciences, along with more than a dozen helpers, hosted the dinner as a fundraiser for College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Campus Garden, and the event on, Sept. 13, raised more than $4,000.
Nearly 70 guests embarked on a culinary exploration of the Treasure Valley during their five-course meal. The first course was a delicious spoon of goodness with jalapeño, tomatillo, a blend of corn, red onions, and herbs. The rest of the menu featured an amazing squash soup, with summer squashes from the garden and Thai inspired flavors. Guests continued to enjoy a summer salad followed by braised Wagyu beef and finished the meal off with strawberry rhubarb ice cream.
“Farm to Fork was a fantastic educational and culinary experience,” said Executive Director of Facilities Planning and Management, Jeff Flynn, who attended the event with his wife. “It's always fun and interesting breaking bread with new friends. Most importantly, we were able to support students which made the evening that much more worthwhile.”
Kae Jensen, Dean of Math and Science, said she is thankful to work with such thoughtful people who generate brilliant ideas and bring them to life. “With Andrea as the leader, the CWI community, as well as the Treasure Valley, at large, came together to address the American food culture, food insecurity, and the success of the Agricultural program and Campus Garden at CWI.”
Be a Water-Quality Scientist for a Day
Interested in being a water-quality scientist for a day? Join College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Science students Saturday, Oct. 5, from 10 a.m. to noon for the annual Watershed Watch. CWI is proud to be a sponsor for this one-day, water-quality monitoring, educational event which aims to raise awareness of citizens about the health of the lower Boise River watershed.
During the Watershed Watch, individuals and groups will be assigned locations throughout the watershed from Lucky Peak to Parma. A knowledgeable trainer will lead the group in monitoring activities. Participants will get their feet wet using water testing kits and searching for water bugs that call the Boise River their home.
CWI students, faculty, and alumni have volunteered to help monitor water quality in the Boise River for the past several years. This year, Chemistry faculty, Rebecca Flock, and Biology student, Zack Szymczycha, will be co-leading a site at Martin's landing in Parma, where the Boise River meets the Snake River. Biology Club Vice-President, Mia Cinello-Smith, along with club members plan to meet at Ann Morrison Park in Boise.
All ages are welcome, and no experience is needed to participate. Register to take part in this year’s Watershed Watch by Sept. 25. For questions, please call 208.608.7300.
2019 Wishing Well Applications
The College of Western Idaho (CWI) Foundation began accepting Wishing Well applications Monday, Aug. 12. The fund, established in 2015, was created to support small items and student learning opportunities not typically funded through department budgets. Thanks to the generosity of employees, supportive community partners, and the CWI Foundation Scholarship and Grants Committee nearly $3,000 was awarded to two programs at the College through the Wishing Well Fund last year. These funds provided students an opportunity to paint with internationally-known deaf artist, Nancy Rourke, and allowed Animal Anatomy and Physiology courses and accompanying labs to purchase vital course materials essential for hands-on student learning experiences.
“I cannot state enough the important of the Wishing Well grant in taking this course to the next level,” said Biology faculty, Danielle Alba. “Students of the CWI Animal Veterinary Sciences program will now have access to the most important materials for mastering animal anatomy and physiology with the same quality, specialized materials offered to our Human Anatomy and Physiology students. I am extremely grateful for your investment in this course and its students.”
Do not miss out on this exciting opportunity! Applications for this year’s Wishing Well funds will be accepted through Friday, Sept 27. Visit the Wishing Well Grants page on myCWI learn more and to find the 2019 Wishing Well application. For questions, please contact Rena McKean at renamckean@cwi.edu or 208.562.3182.
2020 Connections Project Logo Contest
Make connections, educate others, and inspire innovation and creativity at the 2020 Connections Project – an annual event celebrating culture, collaboration, education, innovation, and achievement. The Connections Project committee is calling upon current CWI students to showcase their talents by designing a logo for next April’s event. Deadline for submissions is 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 30. The winner will be notified by Nov. 15. The winning logo will be used for marketing efforts surrounding the event, and the designer will receive a $150 cash prize!
Submission instructions and a style guide are available on Blackboard in myCommons/Engage/Connections Project. Contact Karen Brown at 208.562.3121 or karenbrown@cwi.edu for more information.
Banned Books Week
Student Success Advisors and the Library at College of Western Idaho (CWI) are partnering this month to observe Banned Books Week on campus.
According to the American Library Association, Banned Books Week was born from a Supreme Court case from 1982. The case ruled that school officials cannot ban books in libraries simply because of the books’ content. While books are still banned and challenged today, Banned Books Week celebrates the fact that most banned or challenged books have remained available. Banned Books Week encourages all Americans to champion for the freedom to read.
CWI students, faculty, and staff are invited stop by the Advising and Library tables during the event to learn why books have been banned or challenged and to find out if one of their favorites has made the list of most commonly banned books. Students can also connect with Student Success Advisors and Librarians to inquire about the services they provide.
Banned Books Week at CWI:
Tuesday, Sept. 24
Nampa Campus Academic Building
1st Floor Lobby
9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 25
Ada County Campus Pintail Center
Commons Area
9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
To learn more about Banned Books Week, visit the American Library Association’s website.
Math and Science Fall 2019 Research Fair
College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Math and Science Hub invites you to join them for the third-annual Fall Research Fair on Wednesday, Sept. 25, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Nampa Campus Academic Building. Come out and see the amazing work students have accomplished through various internship and undergraduate research programs at CWI. Representatives from various programs including INBRE, Bridges to Baccalaureate (B2B), and Idaho EPSCoR will be available to provide information about ways to get connected to undergraduate research opportunities.
This is a terrific event to learn about science happening at CWI and to meet faculty and students in the CWI science programs. Contact Dusty Perkins at dustyperkins@cwi.edu or Stephanie Sevigny at stephaniesevigny@cwi.edu for more information.
Documentary, “Changing the World, One Wall at a Time”, Comes to CWI
Barred from higher education due to their religious beliefs, thousands of people have been forced to leave their home country of Iran in order to pursue their dreams. One such individual is now a student at College of Western Idaho (CWI) majoring in Business with plans to transfer to Boise State University to study Accounting.
“Access to higher education is a basic human right,” the student commented. “My dream is for people in Iran to have this freedom which is often taken for granted.”
To help educate others on the reality of the education discrimination this student and many others have faced, CWI’s Inclusive Excellence Committee, will be bringing the documentary, “Changing the World, One Wall at a Time”, to campus on Friday, Sept. 27. The showing, held in room 105 at the Nampa Campus Academic Building, will begin at 10 a.m. Students, faculty, staff, and members of the CWI community are invited to attend.
Learn more about the #notacrime campaign by visiting www.notacrime.me.
Wells Fargo to Host Financial Workshops
Wells Fargo will be hosting a series of workshops for College of Western Idaho (CWI) students during the month of October. Workshops will be held at the Nampa Campus Aspen Classroom Building in Room 127 from 2:30 – 3:30 p.m. on the following dates:
Oct. 2 – Let’s Talk Credit
Knowing how credit works and how it can help your specific needs and goals is a great way to build your financial confidence. In this workshop, we will help you understand credit so you can know if credit is an option for your needs.
Oct. 9 – Budgeting
Knowing how to better manage your money so you can reach your goals may boost your financial confidence. In this workshop, you can learn about budgeting tips and tools that can help you take steps for setting goals, and building your savings plan for reaching them.
Oct. 16 – Paying for College
Whether you want to help a child pay for college or are returning to school yourself, exploring options for funding higher education can be overwhelming. This workshop is designed to help you navigate the process from completing the FAFSA to applying for scholarships to considering private financing, with valuable tips to help you along the way.
Oct. 23 – First-Time Home Ownership
Wondering what it takes to buy your first home? This workshop will help answer your questions about finding, financing, and owning a home of your own. Come learn what to expect, and what will be expected of you, throughout the home-buying process.
Contact Shelly Moore at 208.562.3089 or shellymoore@cwi.edu with questions or to learn more.
Fall 2019 Transfer Fair
College of Western Idaho invites you to the Fall 2019 Transfer Fair! College and university representatives will be on-campus to discuss programs, majors, and transfer requirements. This one-day event will be held at two different campus locations:
Tuesday, Oct. 8
9:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Ada County Campus Pintail Center
Student Commons
12:30 – 2:30 p.m.
Nampa Campus Academic Building
First-Floor Lobby
For questions, please contact Brittney Hernandez at brittneyhernandez@cwi.edu or Erica Compton at ericacompton@cwi.edu in Student Advising and Success.
Willow Tree Removal at NCAB
Unfortunately, the globe willow trees located west of the Nampa Campus Academic Building are diseased and crews are in the process of removing them for safety.
In addition to a third-party arborist, experts from the College’s Horticulture program examined the willows and determined the trees exhibit deficiencies that are major risk factors for branch and tree failure.
The trees were planted when Boise State University developed the campus.
Crews are expected to complete the removal process by the end of Friday, Sept. 20. A diversity of tree species will be replanted in place of the willows.
