CWI Compass Connect - May 14, 2019
CWI in the News
Celebrating 10 Years!
Don't miss out on the 10-year celebration as we share stories of amazing students, talented faculty, and quality programs!
News Highlights
Nursing Students Celebrate at Pinning Ceremony
College of Western Idaho (CWI) celebrated the Associate of Science Professional Nursing Pinning Ceremony on Wednesday, May 8, at Saint Alphonsus in Boise. Hundreds of family and friends cheered for the 29 graduates as they received their hard-earned pins.
As the College celebrates 10 years of student success the Professional Nursing program has a special significance, according to Cathleen Currie, Dean of Health, because it was one of the first the programs specifically designed for CWI.
“When I became a nurse I realized how much it meant, because it’s body and soul, you take care of people and they trust you,” Currie said. “I feel really honored to stand witness to these students stepping into the profession.”
Following opening remarks from Allison Baker, Nursing Department Chair, and President Bert Glandon, Brad Bigford, owner of Table Rock Mobile Medicine, took the stage for the keynote speech. Highlighting nursing as one of the most trusted professions, according to a 2019 Gallup poll assessing ethics and honesty, for the past 17 years, Bigford told graduates it was now up to them to keep it that way. The audience had a good laugh as he had family and friends raise their hands and promise not to ask the graduates to look at rashes, moles, or other awkward ailments.
Of the 29 graduates, 85 percent already have job placements including graduate, Mike Tinker. Mike, who is continuing his education at Lewis-Clark State College, has been hired as a Registered Nurse at St. Luke’s Hospital in Meridian. He and his wife, Danielle, who graduated from CWI’s Professional Nursing program in 2016 and is currently working as a Nurse for West Ada School District, give credit to Mike’s classmates for getting them through his last semester after experiencing the loss of their daughter, Paige, in January who was born several weeks premature.
“You have all been amazing – taking notes for him when he couldn’t be there, sending our family cards and gifts for Paige, and even honoring her in the program,” said Danielle. “Thank you all so much for the love and support you have shown our family!”
“It’s been a long road to get to this point,” said Mike. “I’m very grateful for friends and family who have surrounded me with love and support during the hard times and the fun times. People always ask me how I got through school after the passing of our little Paige, and I have to give credit to her for the fight she showed everyone. She made me realize I have no excuse not to finish something I start. This degree is for her, my boys, and my wife. Never give up on a dream, and don’t let anyone or anything tell you you can’t or get in the way of that dream.”
Well done class of 2019. Best of luck to all the graduates as you venture out into the workforce!
2019 Commencement Preview
On Friday, May 17, College of Western Idaho (CWI) will celebrate its 2019 class of graduates in a commencement ceremony hosted at Taco Bell Arena in Boise. This year marks the College’s 10th commencement! The ceremony is scheduled for 7 p.m. and will recognize degree and certificate graduates, as well as GED completers.
The College will honor nearly 1500 degree and certificate candidates with graduates ranging in age from 16 to 81. In addition, the amount of Dual Credit students receiving an Associates of Arts degree is a new record, with 44 graduates.
Highlights of this year’s commencement include:
- 1489 Degree and Certificate Candidates
- Degree and Certificates earned 2081
- 486 Graduates with Honors
- 348 Graduates with Multiple Degrees
- 146 Veteran Graduates
- Average Graduate GPA 3.284
- 44 Associate of Arts degrees awarded to Dual Credit students
- 487 GED Candidates
- Youngest Graduate – 16 years old
- Oldest Graduate – 81 years old
CWI will provide free Spanish-English translation and hard of hearing devices for guests. The units will be available at Lobby 1 and Lobby 2 Taco Bella Arena.
Additional information about the event can be found on the CWI website. Family and friends of graduates who cannot attend commencement in-person are invited to watch a live stream of the event on the CWI Facebook page. Share your success as a graduate or congratulate a student on their accomplishments on social media using #cwigraduation on your posts.
BPA Students Among Nation’s Top Competitors
Congratulations to members of Business Professionals of America (BPA) who represented College of Western Idaho at the 2019 BPA National Leadership Conference May 1 – 5 in Anaheim, California. Nine students competing in computer science and business events brought home 22 top-ten medals, three first-place, two second-place, and two third-place plaques.
2019 BPA competitors:
- Kristin Burbidge
- David Cahoon
- Lori Clemmens
- Melissa Harless
- James Marion
- John Nahlen
- Kassandra Peralta
- Hayden Ursenbach
- Corissa Wildeman
Because of their participation in BPA at the College, these students were able to meet people from all over the country, network with potential future employers, and compete against some of the best students in their fields.
To learn more about BPA, contact advisors Michell Boldt at 208.562.2515 or michellboldt@cwi.edu or Linda Otto at 208.562.2519 or lindaotto@cwi.edu.
2019 Connections Excellence Award Recipients
The 2019 Connections Project was a huge success, with more than 100 student participants! The event, held April 25 at College of Western Idaho’s Nampa Campus Academic Building, showcased a wide variety of student work including posters, art work, videos, websites, and presentations.
The following students were recipients of this year’s Connections Excellence Awards which included a cash prize:
Posters – Inspire Category
Posters that inspire others to learn more or take action.
- 1st Place – Charity Watson, "Social Media Distractions Affect Traits Differently Across Generations"
- 2nd Place – Jennifer Herrera, "Clostridioides Difficile"
- 3rd Place – Ashley Bryant, "Hantavirus and You"
Posters – Connect Category
Posters that explore existing connections between or within communities, cultures, or disciplines.
- 1st Place – Charity Watson, "Instagram's Global Impact on Pathology of Vulnerable Populations"
- 2nd Place (tie) – Cassie Woodard, "The Hula Girl's Impact on Hawaii" and Timothy Lobb, "Nike Campaigns for Gender Equality Saudi Arabia"
Mini-talk Category
- Brianna Tomaskovich-Valdez, "Selected Poems"
- Elizabeth Carter, "Social Media and Its Effects on Mental Health"
Other Cool Stuff Category
- Ashley Hughes, website and presentation "Let's Talk About Sex"
Congratulations to all of the participants on a job well done!
2019-2020 Emerging Scholars
The Emerging Scholars Committee is pleased to announce College of Western Idaho’s 2019-2020 Emerging Scholars. Recognized during the Connections Project awards ceremony on April 25, students were nominated by faculty for their commitment to learning, demonstration of excellence in their discipline or program, and creative approaches to assignments. Selection is based on perseverance, innovative thinking, and professionalism both in and outside the classroom – not primarily on academic status. Each of this year’s 15 Emerging Scholars will receive a $600 scholarship to be applied toward their tuition for the 2019-2020 academic year.
Myckol Rodriguez
English, Spanish
(nominated by Abby Wolford, Assistant Professor of English, and Janel Holt, Assistant Professor of Spanish)
“Myckol consistently brought a unique perspective to English Literature. Some of the stories were dense for native English speakers, and he always worked through them and brought his joy for learning to class.”
Krymsun Schaefer
Psychology
(nominated by Liza Long, Instructor of English)
“One of Krymsun’s academic strengths is her empathy. Because of her own life challenges, she accepts others regardless of their views with truly extraordinary equanimity and compassion. She has also demonstrated this kind of resilience through significant life challenges that will benefit her not only in her schooling but in her future career.”
Erin Lemp
Public Health
(nominated by Liza Long, Instructor of English)
"Erin's passion and perseverance are truly exceptional. When she started at CWI, she planned to earn a B.S. in Nutrition, but as she conducted outside research about careers that fit her academic strengths and personality, she changed her goals to pursuing a medical degree as a doctor of osteopathy. Her commitment to extracurricular research is truly extraordinary.”
Ashton Syed
Engineering
(nominated by Karl von der Ehe, Instructor of English)
“Ashton has expanded upon knowledge learned in English 202 and has begun to implement it outside the classroom. He has embraced many facets of technical communication to assist him in building the foundation for his start-up business.”
Jeff Cullers
Communication
(nominated by Johnny Rowing, Associate Professor of Communication)
“Jeff is a remarkable person and student. I certainly hope that is above and beyond effort in his courses will be honored. He is the epitome of an Emerging Scholar.”
Jared Fairbanks
Liberal Arts
(nominated by Kevin Rensink, Instructor of Business)
“Jared is very helpful and professional in class and out side of the classroom - he is dedicated to whatever job he is taking on, helpful in many situation and very professional in his mannerisms, conversations with other students and helpful to anyone in need.”
Morgan Overton
Drafting Technology
(nominated by Jo Greer, Instructor of Drafting Technology)
“Morgan is the most committed student in our class. She completes her work and asks for additional assignments in order to generate a stronger skill set. As a first year student, Morgan is one of the few students that have obtained employment as a student drafting intern. She exceeds all expectations and tackles every task with a focused drive that motivates other students.”
Nathan Kipping
Heavy Duty Truck Technician
(nominated by Alex Beal, Department Chair of Diesel Technology, and Rocky Church, Instructor of Heavy Duty Truck Technician)
“Nathan is a non-traditional student changing careers and has faced significant challenges taking time off to complete the truck technician course. He has been untiring in asking questions and really wanting to understand the material and complete projects.”
Samuel Stone
(nominated by Danielle Alba, Instructor of Biology)
“Sam's commitment, kindness, and talent drives me to be a better instructor. Mentorship is one of my most fulfilling experiences in my profession and students such as Sam inspires me to push my professional development and innovation in the classroom each week.”
Zahra Rahmani
Computer Science
(nominated by Janel Holt, Assistant Professor of Spanish, and Gary Thomas, Instructor of Math)
“Zahra understands the vital necessity of education for her success and it is immediately apparent that she will do whatever it takes to realize her dreams. I have no doubt that she will complete her studies with excellent scholarship and help those around her as she does so.”
Nickola Chin
Biology-MMBS, Biology-Healthcare
(nominated by Jana McCurdy, Instructor of Psychology)
”Nickola is professional, thoughtful, and willing to share unpopular or unique viewpoints. She is brave in speaking up even when her perspective is in the minority.”
Sara Knowlton
Biology-Human Biology,
(nominated by Kate Orduno, Instructor of Math, and John Shaskus, Instructor of Chemistry)
“Sarah is an enthusiastic and engaged student. She comes to class prepared and is happy to come early or stay late if there's something she wants to clarify further. I am impressed by Sarah's work ethic and her interest in learning, not just passing the class. She has a great attitude and willingness to help others.”
Erin Gee
Psychology
(nominated by Heather Schoenherr, Associate Professor of Psychology)
"Erin is mature, professional, sensitive, and a leader. She can confront her teammates without isolating them. She can delegate tasks while simultaneously promoting cohesion. She can advocate for her team’s needs without complaining. Her attitude about learning is contagious to all around her. She exemplifies what it means to be a student.”
Annahi Cantu
Liberal Arts
(nominated by Liza Long, Instructor of English)
“The challenges that Annahi has already overcome as a student would never be evident to the casual observer… (“It was like a switch had been turned on and I could finally see what was possible if I worked hard enough,” she told me.) …they contribute to her extraordinary abilities as a student – she is that motivated, positive, and bright.”
Christopher Valenzuela
Business
(nominated by Ed Pack, Instructor of Business)
“Chris is a single father and working two jobs while trying to make a better life for his son. By knowing that an education is the right path to making that happen, Chris is also currently delaying his opportunities for additional current income by working hard in his current classes. Chris's efforts both within and outside the classroom are among the best that I have recently witnessed.”
Read more about these outstanding students by visiting the Emerging Scholars webpage.
Honor Society Students Awarded a Golden Opportunity
Beta Sigma Pi, College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) chapter of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), is thrilled to announce new members, Kayla Young, Abdi Mohamed, and Valerie de Wolfe, are recipients of PTK’s Golden Opportunity Scholarship. Nominated for the scholarship by their advisors, Dr. Yolonda Barnes and Liza Long, the students were among 300 community college scholarship recipients worldwide. The Golden Opportunity Scholarship is PTK’s first fee waiver designed to increase access to the benefits of membership by helping students pay for membership when they simply cannot afford it.
PTK membership offers leadership, networking, and scholarship opportunities for students, preparing them for future college and career. For more information about CWI’s Beta Sigma Pi Honor Society, contact Dr. Yolonda Barnes at yolondabarnes@cwi.edu or Dr. Liza Long at lizalong@cwi.edu.
Empowering Students to Thrive
Years at CWI: 10
Department: Psychology
Education: MS in Experimental Psychology and BS in Psychology, Idaho State University
“Because of CWI, students realize their potential for success,” said Associate Professor of Psychology, Heather Schoenherr.
As one of College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) founding faculty, Schoenherr has fond memories of helping to build the College from the ground up.
“The months prior to our doors opening to students required all hands on deck. The ideas, energy, and commitment were unlike any other work experience I have witnessed. It was hard to go home at the end of the day because we were all enthralled in creating something wonderful.”
Working in developmental therapy, psychosocial rehabilitation, and statistics consultation, prior to her career as a professor, she said she became enamored with teaching after facilitating her first class.
“It was the first time in my professional life I felt challenged while simultaneously knowing I was in the right place.”
As a professor, Schoenherr hopes to help her students discover their potential by providing opportunities for them through dynamic activities and engaging experiences in and out of the classroom.
“This discovery helps students make decisions about their future be it education, career, or personal lives that they otherwise would not experience in a typical undergraduate education. The moment I love most is when a student faces something that feels unattainable or fearful and they not only do it, but they succeed. As professors, it is easy to believe in students. The challenge is getting students to believe in themselves.”
Sara Williams, a 2015 graduate, spent time working with Schoenherr as a work study while attending CWI and later a teaching assistant as a student at University of Idaho. Elevating her understanding of psychology, these opportunities helped Sara to become a better student allowing her to complete her education and find a rewarding career as a Psychiatric Technician at Intermountain Hospital.
“As a student you spend so much time shoving as much knowledge into your brain as fast as possible that you don't really get a chance to look back and see the changes in yourself,” said Williams. “The two semesters I worked with Heather gave me such a boost of empowerment. She finds so much value in her students and always goes the extra mile.”
Over the past 10 years at CWI, Schoenherr and her colleagues have helped thousands of students, like Sara, reach their goals.
“The faculty are all here for one reason… our students. CWI empowers students to thrive. I teach because I want others to succeed.”
Finished Degree Furthers Career
Hometown: Kuna, Idaho
Major: Biology, Biology-Natural Resources
Graduation: 2014, 2015
“I was able to get my job because I went back to college and finished my degrees,” said College of Western Idaho alumna, Karen Gregory.
More than a decade of time spent with Idaho Fish and Game as a volunteer allowed Karen an opportunity to truly identify where she wanted to focus her career aspirations. Over time, she realized one key element was missing – a college education.
“One day, I sat down with a Conservation Officer. He told me I wouldn’t be hired if I didn’t finish my college degree. I enrolled at CWI the next week and started in the summer of 2011.”
Intended as merely a stepping stone to her education, attending CWI became a life-changing decision for Karen. Guidance from passionate instructors led her to gain an appreciation for different subjects and fields of work, join the Biology Club, get paid for doing research as part of the INBRE Summer Scholars program, and make life-long friends.
“CWI has the greatest professors I have ever known! As I worked closely with them, I felt empowered to work hard and gained confidence in my skills.”
Graduating from CWI with two degrees – Biology and Biology-Natural Resources – Karen went on to receive a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science from American Public University. She is currently a graduate student at Oregon State University studying Fisheries and Wildlife Management. She now works for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game as a Fisheries Technician in Nampa.
“Without CWI, I would have never gone as far in my academic career as I have. Because of CWI, I am where I am today.”
Business Student Wins $2,500
Wayne Ebenroth, a College of Western Idaho Business student, recently competed in the Idaho Entrepreneur Challenge held March 27 and 28 at Boise State University. The event is a live pitch competition where aspiring entrepreneurs explain their business idea to a panel of judges in the hopes of winning cash prizes.
Ebenroth and his team took second runner up in the Technology, Consumer Product, or Service category with their business idea, United Federation of Gamers, winning them $2,500! The idea, which seeks to create a fun and engaging gaming space where teams or individuals can compete in leagues and tournaments with games such as League of Legends, Fortnite, and Counter-Strike.
New Fire Service Technology Program
College of Western Idaho (CWI) is excited to announce the arrival of a new Fire Service Technology program.
The Fire Service Technology program will prepare students for opportunities as a full-time or volunteer firefighter. The curriculum is based on National Fire Protection Association standards and the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress requirements.
Staff from local fire departments, including the Nampa Fire Department, assisted in the development of curriculum and will also instruct in the program.
“This is a dream come true, not just for CWI, but for area fire departments,” said Nampa Fire Chief, Kirk Carpenter.
The program focuses on teaching students to analyze and solve problems in firefighting based on real-world situations and scenarios. Students will receive high-quality classroom instruction and participate in hands-on demonstrations, live burns, as well as a co-requisite physical fitness course designed specifically for firefighters.
“CWI’s program will provide a great chance for students to network with instructors, who work at fire departments across the Treasure Valley,” said Kevin Platts, CWI Director of Public Safety programs. “Instructors are going to go back and say ‘Hey, let's look at this student, I know how hard they work and I want them in my truck,’” he added.
Visit the Fire Service Technology program webpage to learn more.
Local Medical Professionals Share Expertise with Students
College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Medical Professional’s Club welcomed nine local, medical professionals to campus Saturday, April 27, for a panel discussion. The event, held at the Nampa Campus Academic Building, was organized and sponsored by the Club’s Co-Presidents, Misha Keen and Amanda Weber; Vice-President, Desmond Ouckama; Treasurer, Yasir Subhi; Secretary, Lauren Steenbeeke; and Club member, Joanna Beck. With over 45 students in attendance, the panel engaged in spirited discussions, met with students, and responded to questions.
Guest panelists included:
- James Whitaker – Osteopathic Physician, Idaho Joint and Spine
- Stephanie Hodson – Medical Oncologist, Summit Cancer Centers
- Laura Marji – Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, All Valley Animal Care Center
- Monica Gerhart – Physical Therapist, Focus Physical Therapy
- Curt Ater – Pharmacist (currently on sabbatical)
- Heidi Peters – Family Nurse Practitioner, Boise Valley Asthma and Allergy
- Marvin Sparrell – Associate Director and Clinical Assistant Professor at Idaho State University
- Anntara Smith – Clinical Assistant Professor and Clinical Coordinator at Idaho State University
- Tea Draganovic – Student in Idaho State University’s Physician Assistant program
Congratulations to the Medical Professional’s Club for another great event! The CWI community is so proud of you and excited for future events!
Business of Robotics Symposium Welcomes Industry Experts
Nearly 100 students and community members gathered on April 19, 2019, to attend College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Business of Robotics Symposium. The event, organized by the College’s Business department and Advanced Mechatronics Engineering program, was held at the Nampa Campus Micron Education Center. In addition to a live robotics demonstration and tour of the building, attendees had the opportunity to hear from industry experts on how robots are changing the way companies and industries operate.
Guest presenters included:
- Mona Bourbonnais – Associate Professor, CWI Surgical Technology program
- Fred Goins – Plant General Manager, Fiberon Decking
- Dan Bohren – Senior Manager of Shift Operations, Micron Technology
- Rick Murdock – CEO and Co-Founder, Autovol
Thank you to all who made the symposium a great success!
