CWI Compass Connect - Oct. 1, 2019
Spotlight
Members of CWI’s faculty and staff, along with friends and family members, joined together Tuesday, Sept. 24, to volunteer their time at the Idaho Shakespeare Festival. The group had fun taking tickets, showing people to their seats, and, of course, taking on the very important job of picking up garbage and recycling. Way to represent CWI out in our community!
10-Year Celebration
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News Highlights
Math and Science Students Share Research
College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Math and Science Hub hosted their third-annual Fall Research Fair on Wednesday, Sept. 25, at the Nampa Campus Academic Building. Students presented work at the event accomplished through internships and undergraduate research programs at the College.
Cristiana Holmes, a first-year student studying Microbiology, was among this semester’s participants. Her group’s project focused on physiological responses to individuals have to social media.
“Basically we wanted to see if social media stresses people out. We rounded up a bunch of volunteers, subjected them to some social media, then took saliva samples to run their cortisol levels, a stress hormone, and their heart rate. What we found was it actually calms people down – which we weren’t expecting!”
In addition to presenting her research, Cristiana said it was fun seeing the other projects and encouraging fellow students to participate in and get excited about doing their own research.
“You learn a lot, not only about what you’re researching, but about different fields and career paths. It’s a very holistic experience.”
CWI to Celebrate Latinx Heritage
Join College of Western Idaho in celebrating Latinx Heritage Month. Presentations, workshops, films, and food highlighting Hispanic history, culture, and traditions will take place on campus during the week of Sept. 30 at the Nampa Campus Academic Building.
The celebration will include a performance by Ballet Folklorico Mexico Lindo Idaho!, a keynote presentation by poet and writer, Matt Sedillo, tamales, and more!
Driven to ACT!
Current students will have the opportunity to learn about free services available during the Driven to ACT student engagement event Oct. 1 and 2. Students are encouraged to engage with Advising, Counseling, and Tutoring from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.at the Nampa Campus Academic Building. These key support areas of the College are dedicated to assisting students with academic planning, time management, mental health and wellness, and academic support through drop-in, individualized, or online tutoring.
With many students seeing their first significant grades of the semester, and some becoming doubtful if they can continue on, CWI wants to help you stay driven in your education by introducing you to these free resources.
During the event, students will be able to:
- Meet with Advising: Check on your academic plan and make an appointment, if necessary.
- Visit Counseling: Spin the Wheel of Stress to win prizes, learn how to handle life and college stresses, and make a counseling appointment.
- Tour Tutoring: Explore everything Tutoring can offer, get questions answered about class topics, prepare for exams, and become more confident in the subjects you are studying.
Get your Driven to Success Passport stamped at all three locations and be eligible to receive a free Crumbl Cookie at Student Affairs.
Driven to ACT
Oct. 1 and 2
10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Nampa Campus Academic Building
First-floor lobby and room 209
Contact Caroline Brode in Student Affairs at 208.562.3452 or carolinebrode@cwi.edu to learn more.
Culinary Exploration of the Treasure Valley
As visitors opened their car door at the Nampa Campus Academic Building last Friday they were greeted by the smell of locally produced prime rib and vegetables from the Farm to Fork Dinner.
Andrea Schumaker, Department Chair of Physical and Agricultural Sciences, along with more than a dozen helpers, hosted the dinner as a fundraiser for College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Campus Garden, and the event on, Sept. 13, raised more than $4,000.
Nearly 70 guests embarked on a culinary exploration of the Treasure Valley during their five-course meal. The first course was a delicious spoon of goodness with jalapeño, tomatillo, a blend of corn, red onions, and herbs. The rest of the menu featured an amazing squash soup, with summer squashes from the garden and Thai inspired flavors. Guests continued to enjoy a summer salad followed by braised Wagyu beef and finished the meal off with strawberry rhubarb ice cream.
“Farm to Fork was a fantastic educational and culinary experience,” said Executive Director of Facilities Planning and Management, Jeff Flynn, who attended the event with his wife. “It's always fun and interesting breaking bread with new friends. Most importantly, we were able to support students which made the evening that much more worthwhile.”
Kae Jensen, Dean of Math and Science, said she is thankful to work with such thoughtful people who generate brilliant ideas and bring them to life. “With Andrea as the leader, the CWI community, as well as the Treasure Valley, at large, came together to address the American food culture, food insecurity, and the success of the Agricultural program and Campus Garden at CWI.”
Wells Fargo to Host Financial Workshops
Wells Fargo will be hosting a series of workshops for College of Western Idaho (CWI) students during the month of October. Workshops will be held at the Nampa Campus Aspen Classroom Building in Room 127 from 2:30 – 3:30 p.m. on the following dates:
Oct. 2 – Let’s Talk Credit
Knowing how credit works and how it can help your specific needs and goals is a great way to build your financial confidence. In this workshop, we will help you understand credit so you can know if credit is an option for your needs.
Oct. 9 – Budgeting
Knowing how to better manage your money so you can reach your goals may boost your financial confidence. In this workshop, you can learn about budgeting tips and tools that can help you take steps for setting goals, and building your savings plan for reaching them.
Oct. 16 – Paying for College
Whether you want to help a child pay for college or are returning to school yourself, exploring options for funding higher education can be overwhelming. This workshop is designed to help you navigate the process from completing the FAFSA to applying for scholarships to considering private financing, with valuable tips to help you along the way.
Oct. 23 – First-Time Home Ownership
Wondering what it takes to buy your first home? This workshop will help answer your questions about finding, financing, and owning a home of your own. Come learn what to expect, and what will be expected of you, throughout the home-buying process.
Contact Shelly Moore at 208.562.3089 or shellymoore@cwi.edu with questions or to learn more.
2020 Connections Project Logo Contest
Make connections, educate others, and inspire innovation and creativity at the 2020 Connections Project – an annual event celebrating culture, collaboration, education, innovation, and achievement. The Connections Project committee is calling upon current CWI students to showcase their talents by designing a logo for next April’s event. Deadline for submissions is 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 30. The winner will be notified by Nov. 15. The winning logo will be used for marketing efforts surrounding the event, and the designer will receive a $150 cash prize!
Submission instructions and a style guide are available on Blackboard in myCommons/Engage/Connections Project. Contact Karen Brown at 208.562.3121 or karenbrown@cwi.edu for more information.
