CWI Compass Connect - December 1, 2015
In the Spotlight
College of Western Idaho (CWI) employees and students were out in full force last month as groups from around the College supported the annual Rake up Boise and Nampa community events. CWI’s Culture and Employee Engagement Committee rallied a team of volunteers to rake leaves at two houses in Nampa. Meanwhile, students with SkillsUSA came together to support the event in both cities. Finally, a team of students from CWI’s Veterans Association, Horticulture Club, and Entrepreneurs Club collaborated to rake the yard of a veteran, who is also a CWI graduate. Thank you to all of the volunteers who supported this tremendous outreach event and continue to be a shining example of the CWI community.
News Highlights
CWI Speech and Debate Continues Title Run
College of Western Idaho (CWI) Speech and Debate continued its four-year title run at the Linfield College Mahaffey Memorial with a Division III victory, Nov. 13-15, in McMinnville, Oregon. The 85th Mahaffey Memorial featured 35 teams from two- and four-year schools.
“This year’s victory at the Mahaffey Memorial was not only our fourth consecutive win, but also marks our top performance ever at the tournament” stated Assistant Director of Forensics, Jim Gatfield. “I’m so proud of the team’s work going into this tournament and I expect big things going forward.”
Following this tournament victory, the CWI Speech and Debate team is preparing for the Scheller Forensics Invitational at Pacific University in January.
CWI Students Help Warm Local Children
Students from College of Western Idaho (CWI) came together last month for a generous cause, collecting winter clothing donations for children in Caldwell. Five biology and allied health classes donated over 100 items of clothing for the Caldwell Housing Authority; formerly Farmway Village. On Nov. 20 CWI Adjunct Faculty Molly Wolk delivered the clothes, primarily hats and gloves, which were distributed for free prior to Thanksgiving.
Life-changing Experience Into a Lifesaving Career
Growing up, Heather Griffin never imagined she would be working from a mobile office while saving lives. And yet that is exactly what she does. A paramedic with Life Flight Network, she travels from Oregon to Utah and all points in between. Dispatched to respond to up to 12 calls per shift, her job is to make sure people get the lifesaving care they need. It’s a far cry from being the stay-at-home mom she once was. She says one significant life experience and the College of Western Idaho (CWI) changed her life.
“I needed an outlet to get through and this is my way of doing that,” she said.
In 2009, Heather experienced a parent’s worst fear. Her youngest son, Lucca, was born without a thymus. Without the vital gland, it meant Lucca would never be able to fight off infection. His best chance for survival was to get medical help at Duke University Medical Center—the only hospital in the country that could save his life. Heather and Lucca were transported to North Carolina on their first of two medical flights.
“I can honestly relate to what people go through,” Heather said. “We do a lot of NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) transports through Life Flight. I know I can help them through it because I have been there.”
Heather says her experience was bittersweet. Lucca survived for 10 months. Determined to make something positive of the experience—and to pay tribute to her son—she decided to go to school. Research led her to choose the Emergency Medical Technician program through Workforce Development.
“I knew my choices were limited and I wanted to make sure I wasn’t wasting money,” she said. “I ended up with more than a great education. I found Steve Cole—a fantastic mentor who I will always be indebted to.”
Heather finished her studies in 2011 with advanced EMT training. She completed national registry testing in 2012. Six months later she was working at Life Flight.
“When a call comes in, we are never given specific details on what kind of call it is,” she said. “When I first started, I was afraid I would get a pediatric call and not be able to keep it together. As it turns out, my first call was for NICU. My mentor worked overtime to help me work through it.”
Heather will never forget what led her to make a career out of saving lives. She wears a blue lanyard around her neck every day as a reminder. Printed with the word “DUKE” around it in bold, white letters, she says it’s for Lucca. Although she has faced hardship, she still feels blessed.
“I love to get up every day and go to work,” she said. “I work for a great company that really works with me. They are flexible and family oriented—which is great for me and my three children. I can’t imagine anything else and I wouldn’t be here without CWI.”
Heather recently remarried. Her husband is a Boise police officer. The date they chose to get married was September 11—which is significant to them both as 9-1-1 responders.
November Staff Award Goes to Mackenzie
College of Western Idaho (CWI) is happy to recognize Heidi Mackenzie as CWI’s Staff of the Month recipient for November.
Mackenzie is an administrative assistant for CWI’s School of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. She has been with CWI since January of 2010. She has a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Liberal Arts with an emphasis in Math and Management Information Systems from Montana State University – Billings.
Her nomination notes, “She is personable, efficient, caring, super-organized, and manages to work with an enormous group of people making each one feel they have her attention. Heidi’s expertise with spreadsheets is top-notch and she is always willing to help others learn more about what can be done with them.”
She is known for considering multiple angles when tackling any project. She understands the larger system and tracks data while maintaining a historical perspective. She is truly an asset to CWI and exhibits the core values: Leaving a Legacy of Learning and Serving All in an Atmosphere of Caring.
Mackenzie says “It’s so easy and fun to work in a group where everyone gets each other. I feel really blessed to be included and valued in their ranks.”
She moved to Idaho in 2003 to be close to her immediate family and now enjoys helping with her nieces, Sara and Elise, and nephew, Jay. Elise and Jay are two year old twins.
Please join us in congratulating Heidi for this well-deserved honor.
