CWI Compass Connect - Sept. 5, 2019
Spotlight
Gary Heller, Biology faculty, and Brenda Fisher, Department Chair of Visual and Performing Arts, were acknowledged in a recent video by students, Elizabeth Fox and Chelsea James, for their dedication, care, and compassion as instructors. Faculty at CWI, like Heller and Fisher, are empowering students every single day. Thank you to faculty for all you do to make a difference!
10-Year Celebration
Don't miss out on the 10-year celebration as we share stories of amazing students, talented faculty, and quality programs!
News Highlights
INBRE Students Recognized at Annual Conference
Congratulations to College of Western Idaho (CWI) INBRE students, Charity Watson and Brandi Sweet, who won third place in the INBRE Scholars category for their work examining the physiological effect of social media on people.
Eight students participated in this year’s INBRE Scholars program. Students earned $1,500 for their work and the experience gave them a chance to immerse themselves in scientific research for three weeks. Two groups examined heart rate as the physiological factor, and two groups examined the stress hormone, cortisol, as the physiological factor, and then looked at additional modifying factors such as age and gender.
During the INBRE Summer Research Conference in Moscow from July 29 to 31, students shared their research and exchanged ideas with students and faculty from institutions throughout the state. Suzanne Oppenheimer, Assistant Professor of Biology, said the networking and research opportunities are significant because it prepares students to transfer to science programs at four-year schools.
“I just love the fact that we get to do research and explore something new, it's not a traditional lab class where the outcomes are known,” said Oppenheimer. “Having to think and solve problems we encounter during this research is important to the development of our students.”
According to Oppenheimer, their study found 20 minutes of social media use, with Facebook or Instagram, did not cause stress; instead, it reduced stress levels, as measured by cortisol levels and heart rate.
2019 INBRE Scholars:
Abdi Mohamed, Brittany Beers, Cristiana Holmes, Riley Woodworth, Zoey Carr, Brandi Sweet, Charity Watson, and Elizabeth Carter
Faculty:
Teresa Rich, Suzanne Oppenheimer, Holly Paquette, and Brian McClain
The INBRE summer research program is supported by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health and is contingent upon continued funding to CWI.
Scholarship Keeps Legacy Alive
College of Western Idaho (CWI) lost a valuable member of the CWI family last August with the passing of Lab Materials Specialist, Joyce Bair. Bair is remembered for her contributions to science programs throughout her six and a half years at the College, as well as her sense of humor and wit.
With the desire to recognize and continue Bair’s dedication and contributions to the success of students, her loved ones joined together to establish the Joyce Bair Biology Scholarship. Biology-Healthcare student, Jessica Faaofo, is the first recipient of this $500 scholarship honoring Bair’s legacy.
“I have always been passionate about healthcare. I remember as a little girl wanting to be a doctor. I never wanted to be anything else,” said Faaofo. “I have worked so hard to get where I am, and receiving this scholarship not only reinforces that I’m on the right path, but reignites my drive and excitement to finish my degree and eventually obtain a career in healthcare. This scholarship eases the financial burden that comes with attending school while being a one-income household. I deeply appreciate this support on my journey to become the best version of myself.”
To learn more about supporting student scholarships, including the Joyce Bair Biology Scholarship, visit /giving.
Farm to Fork Dinner
Get a taste of the Treasure Valley and College of Western Idaho (CWI) during the Farm to Fork Dinner hosted by CWI agriculture faculty and students. Proceeds from the five-course meal will support CWI’s campus garden, which provides students access to fresh produce and supports their agriculture coursework.
The garden was created in the spring of 2018, from a Wishing Well award by the CWI Foundation.
“When I found out that 40 percent of CWI students experience food insecurity, I wanted to take action,” said Andrea Schumaker, Department Chair of Physical and Agricultural Sciences, who worked on the team to start the garden. “My passion is to feed people and to better educate people on where their food comes from.”
Guests will experience a true farm to fork dinner from produce grown in the garden, within eyeshot of the dinner table, and delicious Wagyu beef from locally-owned Coats Cattle Company. Other partners include McCall Brewing Company, Stella’s Ice Cream, Koenig Distillery, Williamson Orchards and Vineyards, and The Tower Grill. All proceeds will go back to the garden to purchase plants for coming years, repair irrigation, purchase tools, and amend the soil.
SOLD OUT
Farm to Fork Dinner
Friday, Sept. 13, 2019
7 p.m.
Nampa Campus Academic Building, 2nd Floor Atrium
$75 a ticket
Students Judge Art at Festival
Goran Fazil, Assistant Professor of Studio Art, at College of Western Idaho (CWI), along with students, judged the juried fine art show during the 33rd Annual Nampa Festival of the Arts Aug. 12 at Lakeview Park in Nampa.
"It has been our privilege to be jurors for the Nampa Festival of Arts for many years now,” said Fazil. “It is a valuable experience for the students because it gives them an opportunity to carry the discussions we have in the classroom into the community.”
Fazil added, during the selection process they discuss the form and content of each of the pieces that are part of the festival. They are looking for originality of the art during the selection of the winners. The students judge a variety of works including, paintings, pottery, metalwork, drawings, and sculptures.
The Nampa Festival of the Arts highlights on their website the event attracts more than 18,000 visitors from around the Treasure Valley.
PTK Officers Kick Off New Academic Year
New officers for College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) chapter of the national Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society, Beta Sigma Pi, met with President Bert Glandon and Kelly Steely – Dean of Business, Communication, and Technology – on Friday, August 16, to discuss plans for their college project and for the regional PTK conference the College is hosting this fall. President Glandon expressed appreciation for the chapter’s top-40 status among more than 1,300 PTK chapters worldwide.
“We don’t have sports teams,” President Glandon told the group. “Instead, we have outstanding academic teams like PTK.”
The chapter officers discussed their plans to focus on civility for their Honors in Action paper and plans for a faculty appreciation week as part of their College Project.
“This team continues to amaze me,” PTK co-advisor and English faculty, Liza Long said. “They are already well on their way to achieving five-star status—and this is just the beginning of the semester.”
Long also noted how much the Beta Sigma Pi has appreciated support from President Glandon and Dean Steely.
“This is such an excellent leadership opportunity for our students,” she said. “I hope even more students will get involved.”
Invitations to students who are eligible to join the Beta Sigma Pi chapter of PTK International Honor Society will be sent in September. Students with questions are encouraged to contact Dr. Long at lizalong@cwi.edu.
Ronk Joins Mountain West Bank Board of Directors
COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho (Aug. 27, 2019) -- The board of directors of Mountain West Bank, a division of Glacier Bank, appointed Megan Ronk a director of the company at a recent meeting.
Ronk has served as Idaho Power's director of business innovation and development since January 2018. She spent the prior seven years working at the Idaho Department of Commerce, first as a public information officer and then chief operating officer before Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter appointed her director in January 2016. Appointed the first executive director of the Idaho Meth Project, Ronk also worked as a policy advisor and policy assistant to Gov. Dirk Kempthorne. She has served on a wide array of commissions, boards, and advisory councils over the last two decades and has taught Economics classes as an adjunct faculty member at College of Western Idaho since 2010. Ronk earned a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from College of Idaho and an MBA from Thunderbird School of Global Management.
"We are delighted to welcome Megan to our board of directors," Scott Anderson, Mountain West Bank CEO and director, said. "Her extensive experience in economics, business and workforce development, and public policy will be of tremendous value in our quest to provide unparalleled banking products and unsurpassed customer service while supporting the communities we serve."
Ten Years in the Making
Hometown: Kuna, Idaho
Major: Professional Nursing
Graduation: 2019
“Because of CWI, I can do what I love to do – help people and make a difference,” said 2019 graduate, Mike Tinker.
Mike first came to College of Western Idaho (CWI) in 2009. Newly married, he and his wife, Danielle, were both working as CNAs at St. Luke’s Hospital in Boise, Idaho, and excited to pursue their dreams of becoming nurses. From his first day on campus to now, Mike’s journey has been filled with lots of ups and downs.
“I have always wanted to be the first one in my family to earn a degree, but never had the extra push I needed until I met my wife. She made me want to be a better person and never stopped believing in my potential. Fast forward 10 years, being turned down not one, but three times from CWI’s Nursing program, and after a plea from my wife to apply just one more time, here I am – a CWI graduate!”
During his last semester, an outpouring of love and support from his classmates helped Mike push through after he and Danielle experienced the loss of their daughter, Paige, who was born several weeks premature.
“They were all amazing – taking notes for him when he couldn’t be there, sending our family cards and gifts for Paige, and honoring her at the Nursing Pinning ceremony,” said Danielle.
“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.”
Mike and Danielle are both experiencing how CWI empowers families. Now a registered nurse at St. Luke’s Hospital in Meridian, Mike plans to continue his schooling at Lewis-Clark State College. Danielle, also a Professional Nursing graduate from 2016, currently works as a nurse for West Ada School District.
“CWI has empowered me in every way possible. Even after ten years, CWI never gave up on me. This degree is for Paige, my boys, and my wife. Never give up on a dream, and don’t let anyone or anything get in the way of that dream.”
