CWI Compass Connect - June 2, 2015
In the Spotlight
The College of Western Idaho (CWI) community rallied together for a heartfelt cause on May 16, supporting the American Heart Association’s (AHA) Heart Walk at Julia Davis Park in Boise. The CWI team raised over $800 for the AHA and also sent five participants to walk at the event. The College’s Exercise and Health Science Club led the initiative and were joined by CWI Trustee Mark Dunham. Seen here (left to right) is Dunham with Exercise and Health Science Department Chair, Rhonna Krouse, and CWI students Brianna Heredia and Rachael Barton.
News Highlights
CWI Graduate Receives Award from President Obama
CWI Impact - Lisa's Story
A recent graduate from the College of Western Idaho (CWI) is being honored with a national recognition that is a first for Idaho. Nampa resident Lisa Webb, who graduated from CWI’s Drafting Technology program in May, has received the state’s first President’s Volunteer Service Award through SkillsUSA. Webb volunteered more than 500 service hours this past year—making her one of 74 SkillsUSA participants nationally to receive the gold award.
Webb served the majority of her volunteer hours with the Nampa Optimist Football program, while also enrolled as a full-time student at CWI. She served in a number of capacities with the organization, which ranged from fundraising to data entry to on-field assistance during game days. Webb says when she started volunteering with the organization three years ago it was a welcome new adventure.
“I actually lost my job a couple of years ago,” Webb said. “I’m the type of person who has to be doing something. It helped me… and it also helped the kids. I do a lot of it because I get to see these kids who change, so it’s a lot of fun for me.”
Webb completed the rest of her volunteer hours through CWI and local SkillsUSA chapter activities such as Rake Up Nampa and free oil change events for military veterans. She will be honored for her volunteer service at the national SkillsUSA competition held in Louisville, Kentucky, June 22-26.
In addition to receiving the President’s Volunteer Service Award, Webb will also be competing in this year’s event—representing Idaho in the Prepared Speech category. She earned her second trip to compete at nationals after winning first-place at the state SkillsUSA conference earlier this spring.
SkillsUSA is a national, nonprofit organization that works to ensure America has a skilled workforce. SkillsUSA has more than 300,000 students and advisors who participate annually. Each year, nearly 6,000 students compete at the national level in 99 occupational and leadership skill areas. CWI has celebrated its share of success participating in SkillsUSA with students capturing nine top-10 finishes at nationals since 2010.
Watch the video to learn how CWI has impacted Lisa's life.
Volunteers Drive Free Legal Clinics at CWI
College of Western Idaho (CWI) is celebrating the success of its first semester offering free legal clinics for students. As part of the service local attorneys volunteered their time providing advising consultation to students.
“Our program is modeled from other colleges,” says CWI Board of Trustees Vice Chairperson, Guy Hurlbutt. “The institutions that had done this type of program indicated they are glad they did. It is providing a great service, so we feel it gave us good reason to try it.”
Since introducing the program in December 2014, five clinics have been hosted with 41 students taking advantage of the free legal advising. The clinics are currently offered once a month for three hours at CWI’s Nampa Campus. Students can schedule an appointment or walk-in to speak with a volunteer attorney.
“We have helped students with a variety of issues,” says Jeff Neumeyer, one of the program’s volunteer attorneys. “They often don’t have issues that you would go out and spend money on a lawyer, so we feel good about being able to help them. These are students with real legal issues and we are able to give them some guidance, which they otherwise often times would not be able to get.”
Willingness of volunteers like Neumeyer was a driving force behind establishing the clinics. Their professional experience is vital in building a program that is beneficial to students. Neumeyer is currently Vice President and Associate General Counsel for Office Depot Inc. He has been with the corporation, including previously as Boise Cascade and OfficeMax, for 25 years. He says despite the high demands of his job, the opportunity to support CWI’s new program was exciting.
To date, 24 community members have joined Neumeyer to help facilitate the free service. In addition to attorneys, volunteers also include students from the Concordia University School of Law in Boise.
“The Concordia students have been a tremendous resource,” says Neumeyer. “They have been able to conduct some of the initial conversations with students to help connect them with the appropriate lawyer. Occasionally they also sit in on advising sessions, both for learning experience and to provide input. It is great for them to see how we are providing both practical and legal solutions.”
Neumeyer says the team of volunteers has seen a wide variety of legal issues, from neighbor disputes to landlord/tenant complaints, consumer issues, contract disputes, copyright questions, criminal law, family law, child support, and custody issues.
CWI’s next student legal clinic is scheduled for June 11 from 4-7 p.m. For more information on the legal clinics, including how to schedule an appointment, contact Donna Robinson at donnarobinson@cwi.edu.
Vance Receives Staff Award for May
College of Western Idaho (CWI) is pleased to announce CWI’s May Staff of the Month honor has been awarded to David Vance.
Vance joined CWI in January 2011 and is currently a Building Facilities Specialist.
“Serving all in an atmosphere of caring” is a Core Value that Vance demonstrates every day in his work with fellow employees and with students. His nomination noted “I don’t know anyone who walks in a room and lights up more faces. He’s always friendly, willing to help (even if the task doesn’t pertain to his role), and takes the time to really get to know everyone”.
Vance was born and raised in southern California and still has a brother and sister that live there. Most of his family now calls the Treasure Valley home as his mom lives in Nampa, a brother and sister-in-law live in Eagle, and a sister and brother-in-law live in Caldwell.
Please join in congratulating David. Thank you for your commitment and continued dedication to CWI and its faculty, staff, and students.
