Bert's Alerts—Sept. 6, 2019
In the Spotlight
Congratulations to Stacy Mowry, Senior Program Coordinator in CWI’s Law Enforcement program. Top of his class academically, Mowry successfully completed at 10-week EMT course at the College over the summer and is now a certified EMT. Having an on-site EMT will greatly benefit Law Enforcement students and instructors with an increased level of safety during hands-on training exercises experienced in the program.
“Stacy’s completion of an arduous and challenging EMT training course shows his commitment to student safety and well-being,” said Program Director, Brett Reid. “He is a great example of how our faculty can benefit from the awesome programs within our own institution.”
News Highlights
Farm to Fork Dinner
Get a taste of the Treasure Valley and College of Western Idaho (CWI) during the Farm to Fork Dinner hosted by CWI agriculture faculty and students. Proceeds from the five-course meal will support CWI’s campus garden, which provides students access to fresh produce and supports their agriculture coursework.
The garden was created in the spring of 2018, from a Wishing Well award by the CWI Foundation.
“When I found out that 40 percent of CWI students experience food insecurity, I wanted to take action,” said Andrea Schumaker, Department Chair of Physical and Agricultural Sciences, who worked on the team to start the garden. “My passion is to feed people and to better educate people on where their food comes from.”
Guests will experience a true farm to fork dinner from produce grown in the garden, within eyeshot of the dinner table, and delicious Wagyu beef from locally-owned Coats Cattle Company. Other partners include McCall Brewing Company, Stella’s Ice Cream, Koenig Distillery, Williamson Orchards and Vineyards, and The Tower Grill. All proceeds will go back to the garden to purchase plants for coming years, repair irrigation, purchase tools, and amend the soil.
SOLD OUT
Farm to Fork Dinner
Friday, Sept. 13, 2019
7 p.m.
Nampa Campus Academic Building, 2nd Floor Atrium
$75 a ticket
CWI Mobile App iPad Giveaway Winner
Congratulations to College of Western Idaho (CWI) student, Brandon Edralin, on winning a new Apple iPad during the College’s mobile app giveaway!
More than 2,200 people have downloaded the app and 888 entered the iPad promotion.
“I was really excited to win the iPad because the laptop I was using for school broke last week,” said Brandon.
A freshman at the College, Brandon is working on General Education classes and plans on transferring to Boise State University to pursue a radiology degree. Brandon learned about the mobile app from a post on CWI’s Instagram account. He mainly uses the app to find homework assignments and track his classes.
The design and implementation of the app was a collaboration between CWI's IT and Web Services teams over the past two years.
"The mobile app is a tremendous resource for our students and community," said CWI's Chief Information Officer, Michael Chacon. "I'm proud of CWI's team and the work they've done on this project."
Have you downloaded the app yet? It is a great tool for navigating schedules, events, and news at the College! Learn more and download the CWI Mobile App today!
BPA to Host Ice Cream Fundraiser
Join members of Business Professionals of America (BPA) Thursday, Sept. 12, at College of Western Idaho’s Ada County Campus Pintail Center from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for their Baskin Robbins Ice Cream Fundraiser. Choose from four flavors of ice cream – chocolate chip mint, pumpkin cheesecake, chocolate mousse, and chocolate chip cookie dough – and a variety of toppings. Cost is $3 per scoop paid by cash or card.
Proceeds from the fundraiser will help BPA students attend the 2019 State Leadership Conference in Boise this March. For more information about BPA, contact Michell Boldt at 208.562.2515 or michellboldt@cwi.edu.
Saint Alphonsus Hosts BBQ for CWI Healthcare Students
More than 60 first- and second-year Professional Nursing and Surgical Technology students at College of Western Idaho (CWI) participated in a barbecue sponsored by Saint Alphonsus on Monday, Aug. 27. The event, held outside the Nampa Campus Micron Education Center, provided students an opportunity to enjoy food and music as well as meet fellow students and talk and network with recruiters for Saint Alphonsus.
“Saint Alphonsus has been intricately involved in CWI’s Nursing program since its inception providing clinical rotations in Boise and Nampa, sponsoring a cohort of students, and members of their team serve on the College’s Advisory Committee,” said Allison Baker, Department Chair for Nursing.
“Thank you so much to Saint Alphonsus for hosting this barbecue,” commented Professional Nursing student, Melissa Johnson. “It was such a great opportunity to mix and mingle with managers and recruiters for Saint Alphonsus and added a level of excitement knowing there is an opportunity to work for Saint Alphonsus after graduating from CWI’s Nursing program. It is so nice to know that not only do we have the support from CWI in preparing us to enter the workforce, but from Saint Alphonsus as well.”
Interested in a career in healthcare? Learn more about degree and certificate healthcare related programs available at CWI by attending an upcoming Healthcare Information Session or by contacting One Stop Student Services at 208.562.3000.
Empowering Through Education
Years at CWI: 10
Department: Integrated Studies
Education: PhD Education, Walden University; Master of Public Administration and BA Sociology, Boise State University
“CWI empowers students to be better,” said Interim Department Chair of Integrated Studies, Kim Scheffer.
Raised in a family of educators, Scheffer served 29 years in the Army in the medical field before retiring in 2012 as a Lieutenant Colonel. Initially hired as an adjunct instructor at College of Western Idaho (CWI) in 2009, she was hired to teach full-time in 2015.
“I was the lone wolf in my family pursuing a different path, but found I was continually drawn back to teaching. I remember interviewing for my adjunct position before the College was even open. I was still in the Army at the time. I was so excited to be a part of it that I didn’t even change out of my uniform before my interview!”
During her decade of service at CWI, Scheffer has taught Sociology, Education, Psychology, and CWID (Connecting with Ideas) courses to students from all walks of life and different backgrounds.
“I believe in the power of education as a method of providing learning and equality amongst different groups and encouraging students to be part of a social change. I love seeing when students ‘get’ a concept and are able to apply it to their own lives and experiences.”
A fantastic example of this is illustrated in the following note Scheffer received from one of her students – a note she keeps up in her office:
“I know we don’t really agree on everything, but you welcome my opinions regardless and don’t treat me differently as a result. It can be hard to express your opinions when you are in the minority, but I do feel braver for having been in this class. All of these topics we have covered this semester correlate to current events in society today, and I feel better educated on both sides of the issues. Either I solidify my position on an issue, or I learn to take a new perspective; its’ a win-win.”
“I kept this note because it affirmed for me one of the reasons I teach. We all want to live in a society that respects and seeks to understand the perspectives of others as well as realize that while we may look at something differently, there are reasons for that. This student’s comments about ‘feeling braver’ made me feel proud because they will use those skills not only in the classroom, but going forward in their life.”
Passing her passion for education on to her own family, Scheffer said her son is currently attending CWI as a Dual Credit student. Utilizing Advanced Opportunities Funding, he has already completed 12 credits as a high school student.
“CWI not only offers outstanding courses at an affordable cost, but we are innovative in our approach including looking for ways to save students money along the way. Regardless of age, background, or past experiences, CWI gives people an opportunity to be successful in college, become educated, and flourish.”
Start empowering your future – visit cwi.edu/BeMighty!
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.