CWI Compass Connect - March 12, 2024
Spotlight
Three new Teslas have been acquired by CWI through an Idaho Division of Career Technical Education grant. The state-of-the-art electric vehicles will be used for training students in the Automotive Technology and Collision Repair programs.
News Highlights
Save the Date: Support Higher Education on the College of Western Idaho’s Annual Giving Day
Putting your resources into education is one of the most effective methods for facilitating positive transformations. At College of Western Idaho (CWI), we are dedicated to empowering students and laying solid foundations for the future. We are excited to invite our alumni, donors, faculty, staff, and the community to participate in our annual CWI Giving Day, March 13 and 14.
CWI Giving Day is focused on supporting students, programs, and opportunities that amplify the positive impact of our campus and community. Any contribution, regardless of its size, opens doors to affordable education, turning dreams into reality and champions students and programs of the College that significantly influence our community’s lives. Discover more about these programs and resources on the CWI Giving Day page.
“CWI is thrilled to announce our second Giving Day,” stated CWI President Gordon Jones. “As the largest higher education institution in the state, CWI is proud to deliver affordable, high-quality, and empowering educational opportunities designed to help our students find good paying jobs. CWI Giving Day is an opportunity for you to see and support the amazing work of our students and faculty. Community members can show their generosity by supporting a student club, program, or scholarship with a gift today.”
CWI Giving Day will allow convenient, online access for donors to support a variety of programs and initiatives within the College. A donation to CWI Giving Day grants current and future students the opportunity to aim high and fulfill their ambitions.
Automotive Technology student, Ryan Hael, is grateful for the boost of a scholarship, made possible through generous donations, that has helped him pay for his education.
"Receiving a scholarship has relieved so much stress off my back of having to try to apply for loans and struggling to find funds," he said. "It is also helping me be able to stand out in the automotive field by having tools that will help me work faster and do jobs that other technicians won’t be able to do without those tools."
“The Foundation Board is deeply committed to the belief that education has the power to transform lives,” said CWI Foundation Board President, Mike Peña. “Through this support, students are equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to achieve success in their chosen careers and build a solid foundation for their future.”
CWI Giving Day launches on Wednesday, March 13 at 9:30 a.m. and will close on Thursday, March 14 at 3:30 p.m. A great way to participate, beyond donating, is to share the CWI Giving Day page with their friends, family, coworkers, and community members.
For any inquiries or if more information is required about CWI Giving Day, please reach out to CWI Foundation at foundation@cwi.edu.
CWI Automotive Programs Innovate with Electric Vehicles
The Automotive Technology and Collision Repair programs at College of Western Idaho (CWI) have welcomed a delivery of three new Tesla vehicles. Facilitated through the support of an Idaho Division of Career Technical Education grant, the College is maintaining speed in the left lane as it continues offering top-tier educational opportunities for students.
The state-of-the-art Teslas will be dedicated to hands-on training, offering an excellent chance for students to work with electric vehicles (EVs) at the forefront of automotive innovation.
"The EVs are more than just an upgrade to our training fleet — it's a testament to our commitment to prepare students for an adapting industry," said CWI President Gordon Jones. "Our students are the future of the automotive industry, and by providing them with access to cutting-edge technology today, we are empowering them to lead the way tomorrow."
“Having the ability to provide these modernization and expansion grants to Idaho’s career technical education programs ensures we continue to accomplish our mission of preparing Idaho’s youth and adults for high-skill, in-demand careers,” said Clay Long, State Administrator for the Idaho Division of Career and Technical Education. “We are grateful to Governor Little and the State Legislature for ongoing support and advocacy for growth of career technical education programs throughout our great state.”
This initiative has been made possible through an Idaho Division of Career Technical Education grant — highlighting the state's support for educational programs that drive forward economic development and job creation. CWI's strategic investment in Tesla vehicles underlines the institution's role as a pioneer in adapting to and embracing the changes shaping the automotive sector.
The CWI community joined the celebration of this milestone, which not only represents a leap forward in educational excellence but also reinforces the College's dedication to its students' success in the rapidly evolving automotive industry.
Visit CWI’s website for more information about the Automotive Technology and Collision Repair programs.
Health Programs Application Deadlines
Are you interested in a career in healthcare? College of Western Idaho (CWI) has a variety of Health Science programs available to prepare you for an exciting and rewarding career in this growing industry.
Applications are now open and must be submitted by their respective deadlines. All programs listed below are competitive entry and require a supplemental application process. Visit individual program pages linked below for information, application instructions specific to each program, and assistance.
PROGRAM APPLICATION PERIODS
Opening Dates
- Surgical First Assistant – Sept. 2
- Practical Nursing – Sept. 27
- Surgical Technology – Nov. 1
- Occupational Therapy Assistant – February 2025
- Physical Therapist Assistant – March 2025
Deadlines
- Registered Nursing – Oct. 25
- Practical Nursing – Nov. 1
- Surgical First Assistant – Dec. 13
Have questions or need help?
- Current students are encouraged to meet with their Advisor to discuss options.
- Visit CWI's Health Sciences page for more information and program contact information.
Healthcare Career Opportunities
Careers in the healthcare field have some of the greatest need as our communities continue to grow. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Overall employment in healthcare occupations is projected to grow 13 percent from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations; this increase is expected to result in about 2 million new jobs over the decade. In addition to new jobs from growth, opportunities arise from the need to replace workers who leave their occupations permanently. About 1.9 million openings each year, on average, are projected to come from growth and replacement needs.”
Visiting Artist Series: Sandow Birk
Join College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Visiting Artist Series in welcoming multidisciplinary artist Sandow Birk to the Nampa Campus Academic Building (NCAB) March 14 – 15 for a lecture and a workshop.
Based in Los Angeles, Sandow Birk is a graduate of the Otis/Parson's Art Institute and whose work — created with paint, pencil, clay, and more — illustrates contemporary life in its entirety. His art draws on themes including inner city violence, graffiti, various political issues, war, prisons, surfing, and skateboarding. He is the recipient of many awards including a Guggenheim Fellowship and a Fulbright scholarship to Brazil. Recent projects have dealt with police violence, the Constitution of the United States, and the Holy Qur’an.
Sandow is represented by the Catharine Clark Gallery in San Francisco, Track 16 Gallery in Los Angeles, and Koplin del Rio Gallery in Seattle.
ARTIST’S LECTURE
Sandow Birk will present a lecture to students at CWI about his path from college student to professional artist and how he develops art from inception to completion. He will guide attendees through several large projects, reviewing how one idea leads to another and ultimately growing into a body of work and exhibition.
Thursday, March 14
5 – 6 p.m.
Nampa Campus Academic Building, Room 206
WORKSHOP, PAPER PUPPETS
After showing a clip from his feature film project, “Dante’s Inferno” — produced using paper puppets — Birk will assist and guide students through DIY methods of crafting puppets from household items, including paper, cardboard, pens and paper, and creativity. Ultimately students should leave with a basic knowledge of how to use puppets in their own future video and art projects.
Friday, March 15
10 a.m – 1 p.m.
Nampa Campus Academic Building, Room 206
CWI’s Visiting Artist Series is made possible through a grant from Idaho Commission on the Arts, which is supported by National Endowment for the Arts. Visiting Artist Series events, featuring visual and performing artists, are free and open to the public.
For those with questions or need more information, please contact Brenda Fisher at brendafisher@cwi.edu.
2024 Juried Art Exhibition
College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Visual and Performing Arts department is excited to host the eighth-annual Juried Art Exhibition, which takes place during the College’s Connections Project.
This year’s juror is Sue Latta, a determined and intuitive sculptor who creates visually poignant and skillfully executed artwork utilizing a variety of processes, including welding, woodworking, carving, casting, and photography. With over 20 solo exhibitions, Latta’s work is found in collections throughout the United States and Canada. In addition to being a lecturer at Boise State University, she has served as an artist in residence for the City of Boise, the Livestrong Foundation, and the Visual Studies Workshop in Rochester, New York.
For more information or to view Latta’s work, visit her website.
Submissions are being accepted for the 2024 Juried Art Exhibition through March 22, and can be entered via the Connections Project Portal section on Blackboard. Students will be notified of results by April 12, with art being placed in the Nampa Campus Academic Building (NCAB) 2nd floor gallery before April 18. All currently registered students are encouraged to participate — the winner will receive $150!
CWI’s Connections Project event is Thursday, April 18. For those with questions or in need of more information, please contact Karen Brown at karenbrown@cwi.edu.
