CWI Compass Connect - November 4, 2022
Spotlight
College of Western Idaho's Machine Tool Technology program students got in the Halloween dress up spirit Monday morning by cutting out leather eye masks! Second-year Machine Tool Technology program student, Rick Faubert, used skills he learned at the College to design the mask and used a laser engraver to cut them out. Rick also has a laser engraving business he started with CWI student, Kase Baker. All the students in Machine Tool Technology learned how to use the laser engraver to cut out their own masks.
News Highlights
Explore Advanced Mechatronics Classes & Careers
Explore a future in Advanced Mechatronics Engineering Technology by attending a Program Exploration Event at College of Western Idaho (CWI). Current and future students and community members are invited to learn more about the program, meet faculty and industry leaders, tour the College, and more.
“This program is for someone who likes to work with their hands, has an interest in electronics and technology,” said CWI Advanced Mechatronics student, Jacob Schott. “There are tons of new technology and tools coming out, which the College always tries to bring into the program, especially the equipment we will use in the industry.”
The term mechatronics is a combination of “mechanisms” and “electronics,” but a degree in mechatronics incorporates so much more. CWI's mechatronics engineering technology program gives you a broad range of knowledge and skills, such as basics of electricity, electronics and motor basics, automation controllers, mechanical adjustments, wireless communications, and more.
Mechatronics engineering technologists use a combination of mechanical, electrical, computer, and software skills to work with smart technologies, such as robots, automated guided systems, and computer-integrated manufacturing equipment.
Advanced Mechatronics’ Program Exploration night will have those in attendance learn about possible future careers, understand the importance of education in this career field, introduce the program and what to expect from faculty, tips on how to prepare for a successful start, and a personal tour of the lab space and technology.
“Our instructors help set us up for success,” said CWI Advanced Mechatronics student, Mark Rust. “[CWI Engineering Department Chair] Robert Novak will bring in companies to present what they do, what they sell, or manufacture. It gives us opportunities to get interviewed and learn skills for interviews. If we want to pursue this career instructors help give us connections. Our faculty’s goal is to have every student have a job offer and a successful job career ahead of them after graduating.”
Advanced Mechatronics Engineering Technology hosts several Program Exploration Events throughout the year at the Nampa Campus Micron Education Center. Visit the program page or contact Robert Novak at robertnovak@cwi.edu to learn more and RSVP.
CWI Named Official Education Partner for Idaho Steelheads
College of Western Idaho (CWI) is excited to announce a new partnership with the Idaho Steelheads as the official education partner during the team’s 25th season.
“This is a wonderful partnership for CWI to raise awareness across the Treasure Valley to the opportunities available at College of Western Idaho,” said President Gordon Jones. “The Steelheads are a fantastic team with a winning spirit, and like CWI they are focused on developing human potential. We are proud to partner with the team to provide players and the entire community with affordable high-quality education that leads to empowerment.”
The College will host four CWI Nights at the Steelheads throughout the season to raise awareness of the more than 90 academic programs and career training opportunities. Through logo visibility on team jerseys, on-ice dasher boards, and video messaging CWI will be able to share the opportunity for education to a wide Treasure Valley fan base.
As the official education partner for the Idaho Steelheads, CWI will provide scholarship assistance to players who want to gain a competitive edge in the classroom as well as the ice!
The Steelheads kick off their season on Friday, Oct. 28 vs. the Utah Grizzles. Students will receive a special season discount for tickets.
Find Out More About CWI Programs through Exploration Events
Get the job you want! Join us to explore your future career with industry leaders at College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Program Exploration Events. Learn about the programs available at CWI, get a feel of the program lab space and technology, and get tips on preparing for a successful start.
The upcoming Program Exploration Events will highlight Powersports and Small Engine Repair, Automotive Technology, Heavy Duty Truck Technician, Heavy Equipment Technician, and Collision Repair Technology programs at the College. Events are scheduled in October and November at the Nampa Campus Micron Education Center (NMEC) to learn more about these programs.
CWI Assistant Dean of Industry, Engineering, and Trades, Alex Beal, helps run the Programs Exploration events. He is excited to have industry leaders in each of these programs meet with students and share tips on how to enter the workforce and have a successful career.
“Students are able to listen and chat with industry leaders who explain what is going on in their career right now, the nature of the job, the type of earnings they can expect to make, and how they would move upward in the career,” Beal said. “I think when you bring in an employer who shares what they’re looking for when they’re hiring, it means a lot to students. It’s almost like an opportunity to have an impersonal interview with a potential employer.”
Visit the Program Exploration page for dates, times, locations, and to reserve your spot. For those needing more information or have questions, contact Alex Beal at 208.562.2413 or alexbeal@cwi.edu.
OTA Students Help Boise Students Get in Halloween Spirit
Students with College of Western Idaho's (CWI) Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program got Boise students in the Halloween spirit with a Pumpkin Walk activity Friday, Oct. 28.
OTA students spent a few hours each week throughout the semester at the Madison Early Learning Center in Boise School District (BSD). The students work with a BSD occupational therapist to implement and develop school-based occupational therapy services for children aged three to five years old, many of whom are on the autism spectrum. This work is part of OTA program’s Level I Pediatric Fieldwork experience.
Over the last few of weeks, several students with CWI’s OTA program helped the Early Learning Center's occupational therapist develop a new obstacle course for the annual Pumpkin Walk and assist the students through the course during the festivities.
The pumpkin walk had various obstacles the children had to go through like entry ways with ghosts attached, a scarecrow maze, balance beams, pop-up play tunnels, and more. At the end of the course the children were able to pick out their own pumpkin to take home.
OTA students also created materials designed for use by teachers in the classroom as part of pre-teaching activities to better prepare the students for any changes to their daily routines, as well as developing new treatment interventions with instructions that the OT can utilize during daily interventions and activities at the school.
"The CWI OTA program develops fieldwork collaborations within the local community each semester that align with the populations our students are learning about so students can gain real, hands-on experience and better apply the concepts learned in the classroom to the practice of occupational therapy," said OTA program Academic Fieldwork Coordinator and Instructor, Angela Zaugg. "Providing students with this hands-on experience during fieldwork better prepares them for their future clinical rotations as well as helping them determine which populations and settings they might prefer to gain employment in once they graduate.”
For more information on CWI's OTA program, contact Program Director and Instructor, Mel Henderson, at melhenderson@cwi.edu.
Spanish Class Celebrates Día de los Muertos
A tradition College of Western Idaho (CWI) Associate Professor of Spanish, Janel Holt, has incorporated with her students since 2014 is back after a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19. Holt and her Elementary Spanish class (SPAN 101) celebrated the Mexican tradition of Día de los Muertos, or known as Day of the Dead, by constructing an altar and placing ofrendas, or offerings, to memorialize those who have died.
In the weeks leading up to Día de los Muertos, which is traditionally celebrated Nov. 1 and 2, Holt’s students learn about the rites, traditions, and beliefs connected to Day of the Dead in Mexico.
Students then paint skulls, which is an activity central to the celebration, and they exhibit them here on the altar, another important element of the holiday. They also translate passages explaining the customs of this holiday from Spanish to English, which are displayed on the altar.
“As Spanish instructors at CWI, we try to incorporate culture into our classes whenever possible,” Holt said. “Painting skulls is a great way for students to connect to the practices of the festival as well as compare attitudes surrounding the concept of death in Mexico and the United States.”
Holt enjoys sharing information about Day of the Dead each year because of how festive, unique, and popular it is with students. She believes teaching her students about cultures and traditions encourages them to look into their own more.
“It can be very difficult to understand your own culture without the lens of comparison. By exploring these customs and celebrations, students not only learn about the practices of other countries or regions, but they can also begin to question and experience a deeper understanding their own.”
Idaho Archeological Society Annual Conference Hosted at CWI Sees Great Turnout
Seventy students, professors, and industry professionals from around the Gem State were at College of Western Idaho (CWI) this past weekend for the 48th Annual Idaho Archeological Society (IAS) Conference.
Led by Associate Professor of Anthropology, Nikki Gorrell, the College’s Anthropology program and Anthropology Club hosted folks from different universities including Boise State University, University of Idaho, and Idaho State University. The state-wide conference highlighted the importance of CWI with the institution’s transfer partners across the state. Professors, graduate, and undergraduate students, as well as industry professionals in Cultural Resource Management (CRM) presented 18 different papers with original archeological research.
While the conference hosted industry leaders and professors, it also drew CWI students to attend and learn more about the history and archeology of the state they live in.
“I really enjoyed seeing all the research people are doing at the different universities here in Idaho,” said Biological Anthropology (ANTH 104) student and Anthropology major, Thomas. “I’m not sure yet whether I want to go to graduate school and do that kind of research myself, but now I have a much better idea of what that would be like. Either way, I got good impressions of all three major Idaho universities from this conference, so I feel good about transferring to any of them in the future, even if it’s just for my bachelor’s degree”.
“It was an honor to host the 48th annual IAS Conference and welcome our colleagues and professionals from around the state,” said Gorrell. “What a rewarding experience for our CWI students to have this opportunity to hear about the latest archeological research, get to meet and network with our transfer partners, and consider what a career in archeology could look like for them.”
For those with questions or in need of more information about CWI’s Anthropology program and Anthropology Club, contact Nikki Gorrell at nikkigorrell@cwi.edu.
Horticulture Technology Students Helping Restore Land Along Boise River
College of Western Idaho (CWI) students and instructors have begun work to help restore acres of land along the Boise River.
CWI's Horticulture Technology program is involved with the Boise River Re-WILD project, which is a grassroots effort that seeks to protect and revitalize the habitat of more than 50 acres of land along the Boise River by 2023. The project is led by Golden Eagle Audubon Society, a local chapter of the National Audubon Society.
“Boise has changed a lot since 1840, with all types of development along the river,” said Boise River Re-WILD Project Lead, Sean Finn. “Over the course of those years we’ve lost a lot of biodiversity, particularly in our plant communities because of neglect. We’ve lost pollinators, our wildlife communities have become less diverse, and much more. We wanted to give people a way to get engaged to get some of that biodiversity back and give back to the river.”
CWI’s Horticulture Technology program is one of 100 community organizations that have adopted a half-acre plot and are working to remove invasive species, grow, plant, and maintain native plants, and monitor project outcomes.
The program’s plot of land is located at 5657 E. Warm Springs Ave., Boise, ID 83716, which is on Idaho State Parks and Recreation land, near the Idaho Shakespeare Festival.
The College’s Horticulture Technology program hosted Restoration Week to kick off their two-year-long community service project. The week-long event brought a lineup of industry experts and guest speakers, an exploration of the program’s plot of land, and a department-wide planting day.
“One of my favorite things about this project is we are practicing good ecological and environmental stewardship within an urban setting,” said CWI Horticulture Technology Instructor, Casey O'Leary. “It is a really unique place to do restoration work. It’s easy to think about nature being a place we have to travel to in order to take care of. It's really cool to be a part of a project where we get to do this work right here in our own community where urban people have access to this, and urban wildlife can be supported by this.”
Over the course of two years, multiple classes within Horticulture Technology program will visit the plot of land and take part in various restoration activities, like removing invasive species, planting, weeding, watering, and working to make sure plants are able to survive long after the project’s completion.
Horticulture Technology program students and instructors were able to plant around 900 plants on Thursday, Oct. 27.
“Before we started on the land it was just a field of weeds and an empty plot,” said Horticulture Technology student, Jaimon Strickland. “We’re bringing awareness to restoring native landscapes because through development and climate factors, we're losing a lot of landscapes. We are here to show the community what’s possible with a native landscape of restoration.”
CWI students will also engage in data collecting on the land to monitor the success of the project. They will take photos throughout the years and check in on their restoration efforts and experiments to see what is working. It will allow them to see what types of species will do well on their own after their restoration work is complete.
Those with questions or in need of more information about this project or Horticulture Technology, contact Casey O’Leary at caseyoleary@cwi.edu.
Upcoming Job and Career Fairs at CWI
College of Western Idaho (CWI) is providing opportunities over the next month for students to make connections which could lead to employment and internships.
The College is hosting several career fairs in November that invites students to meet face-to-face with potential employers and network. This is also a great exercise for students to practice their interview skills and discover what employers are looking for in an employee.
Participating employers are looking for various positions to be filled in careers such as, secretaries, administrative assistants, and more!
Administrative Specialist Job Fair
Employers:
- Onsemi
- St. Alphonsus Health System
- Sparklight
- Pre-Com
- Cordova Outdoors
- Johnson Thermal
- US Ecology
- Tadem Diabetes Care
- FedEx
- Regence
For those with questions or in need of more information, contact Center for New Student Affairs Coordinator, Roberto Trinidad, at robertotrinidad@cwi.edu or 208.562.2150. Those interested in learning more are also welcome to visit Work-Based Learning Center's page.
Collision Repair Technology Teaching and Placing Autobody Repair Technicians of Tomorrow
There is no such thing as a typical day when it comes to College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Collision Repair Technology program.
“No two things are ever the same,” said Associate Professor, Sean McConnachie. “Autobody repair technicians can’t ever get complacent because they constantly dealing with different types of cars and wrecks.”
It is something McConnachie and Instructor, Torry McDowell, know firsthand. Combined they bring more than 50 years of experience working in the autobody repair industry to CWI.
“If you look out at our floor today, we have a Bentley, BMW, Chevy truck, a Honda, and more,” McConnachie said. “You just never know what you’re going to get. Every day is something new, and that is what attracts a lot of people to this career.”
The pair, along with Shop Assistant, Marty Hammett, work together to pass their knowledge to CWI Collision Repair Technology students.
They teach the art and science of painting and restoring cars and the understanding of new products and technology to perform high-quality work. This program starts with the basics and quickly moves into total collision repair — from assessing damage to complete reconditioning.
“You get to the point in your career where you want to share your experience with others,” said McDowell. “It is exciting watching students’ progress and perform skills confidently.”
Training students to become autobody repair technicians and begin working in local shops is a big need right now. According to a study performed by CCC Intelligent Solutions, they predict 100,000 auto technician job openings over the next 10 years due to “a wave of retiring baby boomers.”
“Across the nation, technicians are aging out of the industry,” said McConnachie. “It really is an employees’ market right now. If you're a skilled technician, you’ll never have trouble finding a job in this industry.”
Fine tuning his techniques and skills at CWI is what second-year Collision Repair Technology student, Nolan Czapiewski, hopes to accomplish so he can fulfill one of those open positions.
“The equipment we have in the autobody shop is top of the line,” said Czapiewski. “It is incredible what we have to work with. From lifts to paint booths, even well-established autobody shops don’t always have those. You can only work with the tools you know, and to have such quality materials throughout our education sets us up for success.”
Czapiewski is also thankful for the connections his instructors bring. He feels confident that once he graduates from the program, McConnachie and McDowell will use their relationships with autobody repair shops to help him start his career.
“I am open to any opportunity,” Czapiewski said. “Our instructors know everybody in the Treasure Valley and beyond. Odds are if you’re willing to work for it, they’ll get you somewhere.”
McConnachie and McDowell work with more than 40 autobody repair shops around the Treasure Valley on a regular basis.
“It is one of the things I pride myself on,” McConnachie said. “While I can’t guarantee you a job, I am going to work hard and go out of my way to help you on your job search. We have partners beyond Idaho. I have a wide reach, like in Montana, Oregon, Washington, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Nevada, and California. I will find you somewhere you’ll fit in.”
Collision Repair Technology is one of several programs’ students, future students, and members of the public have an opportunity to learn more about at CWI’s Program Exploration events. Those interested are invited to meet the program’s faculty and industry leaders, understand more about career, tour the autobody lab and classrooms, and get tips on how to prepare for a successful start.
For those interested or have questions, contact CWI Assistant Dean of Industry, Engineering, and Trades, Alex Beal at 208.562.2413 or alexbeal@cwi.edu.
