CWI Compass Connect - March 8, 2017
In the Spotlight
College of Western Idaho (CWI) is excited to announce it is teaming up with Idaho Steelheads for CWI Game Night. CWI will be featured during the last regular home season game with a special CWI section and group ticket offer. The best part – $5 from every $15 ticket will be donated to support CWI students and dinner is included in the price of the ticket. Finally, the game will feature an on-ice presentation of the new SCORE Big Scholarship to be awarded to a future CWI student. Join the fun and get your ticket today:
Visit: www.igrouptix.com/idahosteelheads
Username: CWI
Password: STEELHEADS
News Highlights
Horticulture Program Hosts Career Day
The College of Western Idaho (CWI) Horticulture program welcomed 20 horticulture and landscape industry employers to campus on Feb. 10 as part of the program’s Career Day event. Employers met with students in a semi-formal setting for three hours with the goal of finding student interns and well-qualified employees.
“It is great to come back to the program I graduated from and meet so many great students,” shared Mikel Kyle, CWI Horticulture program graduate and co-owner of LuckE 13 Landscapes. “Finding skilled employees is so important for my business. The Horticulture program does a great job of preparing their students to contribute to our industry at a high level.”
The students were able to network with industry professionals and find jobs and internships that that will keep them busy throughout summer. Several students have already followed-up and are securing internships and employment.
“The opportunity to meet so many successful professionals was awesome,” added CWI Horticulture student, Graham Knight. “It really puts the role the Horticulture Program serves by graduating quality students into the industry.”
“We really appreciate the industry support. Many of our students have successfully found jobs and internships through Career Day,” says CWI Horticulture instructor, Dan Schults. “It’s also exciting to see so many former students coming back now as successful professionals.”
The Career Day event is held annually and is open to the public. Please check the CWI Horticulture webpage for more information regarding the Horticulture Technology program. To stay connected with the CWI Horticulture, please email Dan Schults at danschults@cwi.edu to request a subscription to the CWI Horticulture Program Newsletter, Arbor, Forb and Flora.
Spring 2017 Job Fair Coming to CWI
College of Western Idaho's (CWI) Career Services will help students and community members connect with job opportunities at CWI’s 2017 Spring Job Fair. The event is open to the public and will focus on seasonal employment and jobs that may be ideal for students working their way through school. The fair, which is presented in partnership with the Idaho Department of Labor, will take place:
Friday, March 24
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
CWI’s Nampa Campus Aspen Classroom Building
View Map
Over 50 employers have registered for the job fair. Job seekers at the event will also have the opportunity to learn about resources from CWI and Idaho Department of Labor. Attendees are encouraged to take their resume and be prepared to interview with employers. Please email loriyellen@cwi.edu with any questions.
CWI Speech and Debate Finds Success at Oregon State
College of Western Idaho (CWI) Speech and Debate continued the 2016-2017 competitive season with a second place Division III victory at the Oregon State University (OSU) Earl Wells Speakeasy, Feb. 18-19, in Corvallis, Oregon.
Fourteen students competed for CWI at the tournament in both speech and debate events, bringing home awards in both categories. Remington Grunewald, sophomore competitor and team debate leader, continued CWI’s undefeated streak in OSU’s Bad Interp special event. Focusing on humor and education, the event is designed to create pieces that intentionally break the rules of standard events. Remington’s victory marks the fourth competition in a row that CWI has entered and won the special event.
Following the OSU tournament, the CWI Speech and Debate team prepares for Pi Kappa Delta Nationals at Boise State University in March. This year’s event will feature over 70 schools from around the country and will serve as the final competition in the CWI Forensics 2016-2017 season.
New Scholarship Sponsored by Employee Giving
The response has been so positive towards employee giving at College of Western Idaho (CWI), the CWI Foundation has decided to establish a new scholarship funded solely by employees; the SCORE BIG Scholarship. The number one challenge for most students completing college is finances. At CWI, nearly 40 percent of the student body work more than thirty-one hours a week, while also attending class, to make ends meet. With the needs of students in mind, CWI is excited to help ease the financial burden for a future student with this $1,000 scholarship supported by the CWI family.
To accomplish, employee involvement is needed. Support can be given as a one-time gift or through ongoing payroll deduction. Together, a brand new scholarship can be funded to help a student start at CWI this fall. The scholarship will be awarded during CWI night at the Idaho Steelheads game on March 31.
In addition, another awesome way to support is through the Group Ticket program for the March 31 game. The Idaho Steelheads have partnered with CWI to donate $5 from every $15 CWI group ticket to the SCORE Big Scholarship. Plus the game ticket includes dinner.
This will be an awesome night to attend the last regular season home hockey game and support CWI’s amazing students.
How to Pledge:
Pledge a one-time gift or ongoing payroll deduction; only a $5 minimum required.
Visit cwi.edu/give and select CWI Employee for options. Please contact the Foundation Office, Mitch Minnette or Kathy Ohnsman, at 208.562.3100 or in suite 102 of the Nampa Campus Administration Building with questions.
Where to buy tickets:
Visit: www.igrouptix.com/idahosteelheads
Username: CWI
Password: STEELHEADS
$15 Includes Game Ticket and Dinner (hot dog, chips, Pepsi product).
$5 from every ticket will be donated to CWI Employee Scholarship fund.
User Services Manager Receives Patriotic Employer Award
Mark Westcott was recently awarded the ESGR (Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve) Patriotic Employer Award. As manager of the User Services Department, Mark manages technical support specialists and audio/visual support staff for all campus locations. Recently after being hired by Mark in 2014, the National Guard had scheduled Kyle Warner, CWI Technical Support Specialist, to attend a three-month training course in Fort Meade, Maryland. After working at CWI for only one week, he would then have to go on military leave. Upon returning from training, Mark and all of Kyle’s colleagues welcomed him back as if he had only been gone a few short days. Since that time, Kyle was called to participate in multiple training events while serving part-time in the National Guard and full-time at CWI. “Each time, I have not worried about whether or not there would be any repercussions when I return or opportunities missed,” shared Kyle. “Even on short notice, Mark has accommodated my requests for time off and my coworkers have stepped in to fulfill my obligations.” For these and many other reasons, Kyle chose to nominate Mark for the ESGR award. The Department of Defense ESGR Patriotic Employer Award honors and recognizes employers who are dedicated to supporting those serving their country while being employed. “Serving in the military is something I feel very passionate about and the support I receive from Mark makes the time away from my friends and family a little easier knowing my employment is not something I need to worry about,” added Kyle.
