CWI Compass Connect - June 16, 2020
Spotlight
College of Western Idaho 2020 graduate, Tara Wright, celebrated the completion of her educational journey in style by wake surfing in her cap and gown at Lucky Peak. A graduate of the College’s Surgical Technologist program, Tara is already putting her degree to work at St. Luke’s. Congrats to her and all of this year’s #mightyCWI graduates! Read Tara’s story on KTVB.
News Highlights
CWI Seeking Input on New Brand
College of Western Idaho (CWI) determined it was time to review, evaluate, and more closely align CWI’s brand with the College’s strategic direction, values, and culture. As part of this effort, the College has conducted an extensive and inclusive process to develop a new brand. This comprehensive process includes college-wide presentations, focus group sessions, designation of brand champions, and ongoing communication of current status and next steps.
During the next phase, distribution of a survey to gather feedback on a new logo and color palette will be taking place and is a crucial step. Logo and color design is a vital factor in helping CWI to stand out, as we continue to empower students with a high-quality education in the Treasure Valley; these two visual elements will be key to the College’s new brand and representation in the community.
Internal and external engagement in the brand process is paramount. This survey is a unique opportunity for everyone to participate in development of CWI’s new brand and to help support future direction of the College.
Please complete the survey today! It takes approximately 10 - 15 minutes and will have lasting impact as the College moves forward with this exciting brand transformation.
Participate in the online survey from our partner, Interact Research.
If you have any questions or would like more information, feel free to reach out to CWI’s Communications and Marketing team at 208.562.2222 or communications@cwi.edu.
2020 Connections Project Celebrates Students
2020 Connections Excellence Virtual Awards Show
Despite the 2020 Connections Project being moved online, College of Western Idaho (CWI) is celebrating student projects with a video showcasing this year's Connections Excellence award recipients. More than 130 students submitted work, which included posters, artwork, videos, websites, and presentations. In addition to this recognition, award winners will also receive a cash prize.
Posters – Connect Category
Posters that explore existing connections between or within communities, cultures, or disciplines.
- First-place
- Audrey Young – "Bacillus Anthracis and Weaponized Anthrax"
- Brian Mitchell – “Myths and Misconceptions of Postpartum Depression”
- Runners-up
- Aaliyah Ibarra – “Memory Strategies”
- Rachel Hanson – “Girl Scouts, Self-Concepts, Comparisons—Oh My!”
- Tim Lobb – “Discovering a New Approach to Life”
- Ally Almaraz – “Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1”
Posters – Inspire Category
Posters that inspire others to learn more or take action.
- First-place
- Tayzia Stark – "Advocating for 'Shy Students'"
- Runners-up
- Sevio Stanton – “Exploring the Relationship Between Exoplanet Orbital Architectures and Host Star Compositions”
- Zack Szymczycha – “A Methodology for Systematic Mapping of Raptor Literature”
- Debra Brockert – “Hey! I Care About That Issue”
- Roni Ramos – “Free 2 Succeed”
Mini-talk Category
- First-place
- Beta Sigma Pi, CWI’s chapter of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society – “Stereotyping and Civility on the CWI Campus: PTK Honors in Action Project” by Laura Baldwin, Rheanna Palmer, Jody Ayers, Kristal Smith, Nicole Johnston, and Mia Cinello-Smith; presented by Michal Yadlin
- Taite Griffin – “Bellevue Hospital and It’s Effects on Early American Healthcare”
Synchronous Mini-talk Category
- First-place
- Tim Riley – "My Price of Admission"
- Kathleen Brashier – "Treasure"
- Kristin Grimm – "The Equitable Treatment of Male and Female Genders in John Donne's 'The Canonization'"
Each year, faculty and staff work to bring this wonderful event to life. Michelle Fellows, Department Chair of Social Sciences, has been an integral part of the Connections Project serving as the committee lead and overseeing the production of the project for the last five years. She knew students who participated in the Connections Project pushed themselves to grow, not only academically, but often emotionally as well. As Fellows prepares to leave CWI to teach in Alaska, we commend her for all she has done for the Connections Project and wish her luck on her new endeavor.
“Michelle has been inspirational to all who worked on the project, and without her, it would not have been the same,” said Cathy Carson, Associate Professor of Math.
Stay tuned for additional virtual presentations including recognition of our 2020 Emerging Scholars recipients.
2020 President's Writing Awards
Presidents Writing Awards 2020 final review
College of Western Idaho's (CWI) English department is proud to present the recipients of its annual President’s Writing Awards. The annual awards were established to recognize and honor excellence in student writing at CWI. This year, a virtual recognition ceremony was produced to announce the winners. Students were honored for their work during a video presentation and remarks from President Bert Glandon. This is the seventh year Glandon and his wife, Jane, selected students to receive awards in the following categories:
- Creative Nonfiction
- Critical Analysis
- Fiction
- First-Year Writing
- Literature Based Research
- Original Based Research
- Poetry
- Technical Writing
The 2020 President’s Writing Award winners are:
Creative Nonfiction: first-person accounts that explore the writer’s experiences and observations.
- First Place - Ashlee Vanliew (Faculty, Laura Stavoe)
- Second Place - Cassandra Kiyoko Woodard (Faculty, Malia Collins)
- Third Place - Meira Vaid (Faculty, Malia Collins)
Critical Analysis: represents essays that critically evaluate or analyze a piece of literature, a theatrical performance, a work of visual art, a historical moment, a philosophical argument, a social movement, etc.
- First Place - Ashton Syed (Faculty, Robert Harbaugh)
- Second Place - Laura Baldwin (Faculty, Kim Scheffer)
- Third Place - Cassandra Kiyoko Woodard (Faculty, Liza Long)
Fiction
- First Place - Joseph Higley (Faculty, Dave Nicholas)
- Second Place - Kathleen Brashier (Faculty, Catherine Kyle)
- Third Place - Kimberly Harwood (Faculty, Dave Nicholas)
First-Year Writing
- First Place - Valerie Roberts (Faculty, Liza Long)
- Second Place - Jonathan Lucero (Faculty, Abby Wolford)
- Third Place - Kassandra Kolbet (Faculty, Roni Rankin)
Literature Based Research
- First Place - Cassandra Kiyoko Woodard (Faculty, Nikki Gorrell)
- Second Place - Erin Gee (Faculty, Heather Schoenherr)
- Third place - Julie McCoubrey (Faculty, Reggie Jayne)
Original Research
- First Place - Sevio Stanton (Faculty, Brian McClain)
- Second Place - Alison Brenenstall (Faculty, Michelle Fellows)
- Third Place - Erin Gee (Faculty, Michelle Fellows)
Poetry
- First Place - Travis Wayne Hill (Faculty, Abby Wolford)
- Second Place - Nicole Alexandra Kreiner (Faculty, Jana McCurdy)
- Third Place - Ashlee Vanliew (Faculty, Abby Wolford)
Technical Writing
- First Place - Ashton Syed (Faculty, Karl Von Der Ehe)
- Second Place - Mikela Baciu (Faculty, Karl Von Der Ehe)
- Third Place - Aubrey Pulsipher (Faculty, Karl Von Der Ehe)
Watch the video, and stay tuned for additional virtual presentations recognizing 2020 Connections Excellence and Emerging Scholars recipients.
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.
Graduates Continue Nursing Pinning Tradition
2020 CWI Nursing Program Pinning Ceremony
Honking horns and flashing lights from graduate's cars flooded the parking lot at the Nampa Campus Academic Building (NCAB) during College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) 2020 Essential Nursing Pinning Ceremony on May 16.
The celebration kicked off as forty-four vehicles with graduates were greeted by cheering family and friends lining Selland Way, with a Nampa Police Department motorcycle leading the procession. A video produced by CWI captures the sights and sounds of this unique event during the coronavirus pandemic.
Allison Baker, Department Chair of the Professional Nursing program, started the ceremony by welcoming the graduates parked in a semicircle in NCAB’s east parking lot. Board of Trustees Chairperson C.A. “Skip” Smyser praised the dedication of graduates and capped off his remarks with, “Congratulations on this major, milestone accomplishment – go forth, be strong, be mighty, be fearless, and go Otters!”
Following President Bert Glandon’s comments, John Hickey delivered a student message during the presentation.
“I’m pretty sure none of us thought we would be celebrating our pinning in a parking lot, and certainly, we never imagined we would be entering the nursing profession in the midst of the greatest pandemic in over 100 years,” Hickey said. “Never before in our countries history has the importance of healthcare workers been so evident.”
While maintaining social distancing, the graduates received their pins and took their oath, wrapping up the event. As the graduates departed, faculty and staff formed a line and cheered them on.
"Nursing pinning this year was especially heartfelt for me," said Cathleen Currie, Dean of Health. “Seeing the joy and pride in each car as the students and their families drove out made the worries of the week’s gone by worth it. There wasn’t a dry eye among us.”
Visit CWI's Facebook page to view a photo gallery from the event.
Congratulations, 2020 Graduates!
In celebration and acknowledgement of our 2020 graduates, College of Western Idaho’s first-ever virtual ceremony will go live Friday, June 19! The College’s 11th commencement will recognize degree and certificate graduates as well as GED completers and Workforce Development Apprenticeship graduates with personalized slides, self-paced navigation, messages from College leadership, and social media engagement.
2020 graduates can participate in the virtual ceremony by submitting a photo and quote for their personalized slide. Each graduate should have received an email from noreply@marchingorder.com on behalf of the Registrar Office with directions for submission. Submissions must be received no later than Thursday, June 4, 2020. Graduates who have not received this information are asked to email registrar@cwi.edu.
In addition to the virtual ceremony, faculty, staff, and graduates are invited to attend Grab Fest. This curbside pick-up event, held both July 17 and 18 at the Nampa Campus Micron Education Center, will allow graduates to 'grab' a commemorative program, diploma cover, tassel, and a keepsake. For graduates unable to attend the event, these items will be shipped to them directly.
Visit cwi.edu/graduation or email registrar@cwi.edu to learn more the virtual commencement ceremony.
Congratulations to all our 2020 graduates! You made it!
Students Launch Suicide Prevention Website
Marketing and Communication students at College of Western Idaho (CWI) launched an ambitious project called Hope for Idaho this semester with Dan Garrity, Marketing and Communication Faculty, to produce a website highlighting suicide prevention.
Students in three separate classes of Garrity’s – Multimedia Storytelling, Intro to Video Production, and Principles of Promotion – embarked on the project and worked together to complete the website.
“It’s been a dream of mine for quite some time,” said Garrity. “I’ve always been impressed with how excited and motivated students get when they see how they can apply what they’re studying to a real-world issue of social justice.”
“I think the biggest thing that has impacted me emotionally is just how everyone came together to build this,” says student, Jacob Ronnow. “I’ve had a lot of classes over the years where I didn’t even know the name of the person sitting next to me. But we aren’t just a class. I feel like we’ve become a team working on this. And it’s really built a sense of community within our small group that’s gotten to me emotionally. It’s quite beautiful how everyone puts so much into their own little contribution.”
Students had an opportunity to use the storytelling skills they cultivated over the semester to illustrate the importance of addressing suicide awareness in the community and shine a light on the issue with their stories.
Garrity continued, “It’s a very sensitive topic. It turns out we didn’t have to go outside of our own classroom. All the stories on the site come from students in one class, our class. It just convinced me even further how rampant the issue is and how important it was to start a dialogue. Now we’re anxious to see what kind of a difference we can make with the broader community.”
To explore videos, podcasts, and stories generated by the class - visit the Hope for Idaho website.
Student Disbursement of HEERF Funds
As we navigate through this difficult and challenging time, College of Western Idaho (CWI) remains committed to student financial success. We are aware many of our students may have been impacted by the disruption of campus operations in response to COVID-19. As such, Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF) were allocated to CWI through the Federal Government’s CARES Act and are currently being distributed to all eligible students to assist with expenses such as course materials, technology, food, housing, healthcare, and childcare. Eligible CWI students have received nearly $1.5 million in funds thus far.
Eligibility requirements and the distribution process are outlined below. The combination of a tiered approach, partnered with a student application process, will allow CWI to disburse these funds to the majority of students quickly, while still providing an avenue for students to request additional funds as needed.
Eligibility Requirements
- Currently enrolled at the time of disbursement
- Degree-seeking or enrolled in an approved certificate program
- Title IV eligible as determined by the FAFSA
- Meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
Distribution Process
- Distribution is tiered by eligible student’s attendance at the time of disbursement:
- $400 – Full-time (12 credits or more)
- $300 – Quarter-time (9 - 11 credits)
- $200 – Half-time (6 - 8 credits)
- $100 – Less than half-time (less than 6 credits)
- Eligible students can view their disbursement through their myCWI account.
- Students may submit an application for additional funding. Amounts disbursed will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
- Disbursements of funds for all eligible Spring 2020 semester students began the week of May 11, 2020, and are complete. Eligibility for students enrolled in the Summer 2020 semester will be evaluated after June 10 and disbursed the second half of June.
Contact Financial Aid at financialaid@cwi.edu or 208.562.3000 with questions.
