CWI News – Feb. 10, 2023
Spotlight
College of Western Idaho students had two opportunities to explore the different organizations on-campus and how to get involved at this week's Club Fest and the Student Resource Fair! Off-campus partners were also on site to help students find resources to basic needs.
There were also plenty of activites for students to play and win some sweet prizes, like a $50 Amazon gift card and tickets to an upcoming Idaho Steelheads game! #mightyCWI
President's Message
Dear Faculty and Staff,
It is an exciting time at CWI as we continue to deliver affordable, high-quality, and accessible educational opportunities to students. I want to thank everyone who attended the Town Hall meeting in person and online last week.
As I mentioned during the meeting, we have formed a new division, which will help us achieve many of the goals and objectives in our new strategic plan. The Office of Strategic Initiatives (OSI) will work to evaluate and nurture community partnerships, campus goals, and opportunities. The division is led by Assistant Vice President, Nic Miller, and will include Jillana Finnegan, who was introduced during the Town Hall.
OSI is not a replacement for current groups at CWI, it is designed to complement and encourage innovation by working together to reach our goals creatively. If you have suggestions, please reach out to Nic or Jillana.
In closing, CWI continues to draw attention from the community, and I had a chance to discuss the great work you do on campus during an interview for KTVB’s Viewpoint, which airs this Sunday at 9 a.m. I also had an opportunity to highlight our phenomenal dual credit program last week during an interview on KTVB.
Thank you for all the terrific work you do to empower students at CWI!
CWI in the News
Bold Appreciation
It's time for another employee ticket giveaway!
Enter for your chance to win four reserved seats and food vouchers to the upcoming Wednesday, Feb. 22 Idaho Steelheads game by entering a number between 1 and 500 via the link below. The employee closest to the number, chosen at random, will receive four tickets to the Idaho Steelheads game.
Entries must be received by noon on Wednesday, Feb. 15. The winner will be announced the afternoon of Wednesday, Feb. 15. Tickets must be picked up by noon on Friday, Feb. 17 or they will be given to the next eligible winner who is closest to the chosen number.
Members of President’s Cabinet, the Executive Operations Team, and Work-Study students are not eligible. Limit one entry per CWI employee.
For those with questions or in need of more information, contact hr@cwi.edu.
News Highlights
CWI SCORES Big Support at Steelheads
The College of Western Idaho (CWI) community was in full force at CWI Night, Feb. 8, as the Idaho Steelheads crushed the Tulsa Oilers in a shutout game of 5-0. More than 250 tickets were sold for the CWI section — totaling $1,265 to help fund student scholarships!
Students, faculty, and staff from around campus came out to support the Steelheads and students at Idaho Central Arena, where they saw President Gordon Jones and several of the College’s Presidential Ambassadors on the ice as they kicked off the game off with a puck drop.
Throughout the game there were noticeable signs CWI was in the arena — from advertisements on the scoreboard to Steelheads’ mascot, Blue, sporting some CWI swag to CWI staff riding on a Zamboni with a College pennant. The College’s enrollment team was also set up with a booth at the Arena to meet and engage with prospective students signing several future and current students up for a chance to win the SCORE Big Scholarship and a new CWI hockey jersey.
The impressive win for the Steelheads and great turnout from CWI wasn’t the only thing to celebrate as CWI Secondary Education student, Logan White, was randomly chosen as the $1,000 SCORE Big Scholarship recipient for the night. White was awarded the scholarship by President Jones and CWI Foundation Board members on the ice during the game’s second intermission.
“This scholarship is an amazing gift and more over an opportunity to pursue my dreams of becoming a high school English teacher,” said White. "This scholarship will afford me to help take care of my family and continue to fill out my education at College of Western Idaho!"
Automotive Technology program student, Mike Wilson, won the CWI hockey jersey — one he can wear to two more CWI Nights this season. Those interested in getting their hands on a CWI branded jersey of their own still have the chance! The CWI Bookstore is fully stocked with jerseys, offering various sizes at a special discount of 25% off.
Again, there are still two more chances to attend an upcoming CWI Night this season on Feb. 22 and Mar. 15. Visit the CWI Nights web page to purchase group tickets at a discounted price of $15! Keep in mind, $5 from every group ticket for a CWI Night goes to support student scholarships!
The fun doesn’t stop at CWI Nights! The College also offers a discounted ticket price of $16 to all Steelheads home games for the 2022-2023 season as part of being the Steelheads’ official education partner.
Pruett Wins 2023 CWI Connections Project Logo Contest
Congratulations to College of Western Idaho (CWI) student, Eiko Pruett, winner of the College’s 2023 Connections Project Logo Contest! Pruett’s logo submission was chosen out of 23 entries earning her the $150 cash prize.
Pruett, who is in her second semester at CWI, found out about the Connections Project Logo Contest as part of an extra credit assignment in her Introduction to 2-D Art Foundations (ARTS 105) course. She downloaded a free sketchbook app on her phone to begin the design work and then integrated her work into the graphic design program, Canva.
After Pruett sent her design in, she didn’t think anything would come out of it, let alone being named the winner the contest.
“When I was told my logo was chosen, my first thought was, ‘Are you sure?’” said Pruett. “It is so cool they saw something in me when I didn’t have the vision for myself. I am really grateful I was able to integrate the lessons I learned in class into a real-life situation.”
Pruett’s inspiration behind the design was to bring together the different colleges in Idaho and around the region.
“I thought it would be interesting to do string art to connect the colleges,” Pruett said.
The logo selection process begins when student submissions are sent through an anonymous jurying process. The jurors consist of members of the Connections Project team including staff, faculty, and past logo winners. Finalists are determined, and the group votes on their favorites.
Once a design is selected, the winner has an opportunity to work with the College’s Graphic Designer, Cody Sprague, and Communication and Design Intern, Bri Daniels, to refine the design and create several iterations of the logo for t-shirts and digital promotion.
Karen Brown, Assistant Professor of Art History and Humanities, helped create the Connections Project logo design competition five years ago. She enjoys the types of connections the project brings.
“My favorite part of the entire event is facilitating the mentoring experience that the winner receives,” said Brown. “Cody is great with the students, preparing them for the process and gently guiding them through the changes — he’s kind, and generous and is a stickler for adhering to the CWI brand. “
“I feel extremely honored my design was chosen. It gives me some validation and more confidence to be able to pursue something in a more creative direction,” Pruett said. “I definitely had creative challenges through this process, but I had a lot of opportunity to overcome and learn.”
At 36 years old, Pruett is a non-traditional student at CWI and decided to return to school after she was nominated and awarded a scholarship last year. She encourages other students who may be like her — a parent, working a job — to branch out and get involved with activities, such as CWI Connections Project.
“Come to the College with an open mind to opportunities. It’ll be easier to reconnect with your love of learning,” Pruett said. “It can be really intimidating to come to class knowing you are one of the oldest, and a lot of the students in your class are the same age as your kids, but with that brings a lot of understanding. The reality is we're all here for a purpose and that is to learn. Once you start recognizing that there are people who, regardless of age, all are on the same path to something greater. I think that is really powerful.”
Save the date for this year’s Connections Project event Thursday, April 20. Visit the Connections Project online for more information and ways to get involved.
CWI Bookstore Raises Hundreds of Dollars’ Worth of School Supplies
College of Western Idaho (CWI) Bookstore’s first school supply donation drive was a success! The CWI community donated nearly $800 worth of school supplies for Central Elementary School in Nampa.
The supply drive, which collected items throughout January, received various school supplies, such as dry-erase markers, #2 pencils, colored pencils, notebooks, binders, and more. Bookstore employees then stuffed the donated supplies into backpacks and hand delivered them to students at the elementary school on Friday, Feb. 3.
“What a privilege it was to watch student faces light up with excitement at the sight of brand-new school supplies,” said Central Elementary Principal, Ashleigh Loeber. “Central was honored to be chosen for such a generous donation.”
With it being the first time the bookstore put on a donation drive like this, CWI Bookstore Manager, Stephanie Walker, was not sure how much they would collect. She was delightfully surprised to see how giving students, faculty, and staff were.
“This was exciting to see how much we collected,” Walker said. “Many of the donations I saw were from students who are parents because they know how costly school supplies can be.”
Those who donated school supplies were also entered into a drawing to win an iPad, courtesy of the Bookstore. Occupational Therapy Assistant student, Kaila Boeck, was randomly chosen as the winner.
The Bookstore hopes to do a similar school supply drive for another Nampa area school in Fall 2023.
Early Childhood Education Spends Day at Capitol for Early Learning Day
College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Early Childhood Education (ECED) faculty joined Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children (AEYC) and other educators around the state for Early Learning Day at the State Capitol on Monday, Feb. 6.
Idaho AEYC is the state affiliate to National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) which is the body that accredits the lab school located at the Nampa Campus Multipurpose Building (NCMP). NAEYC also puts forward the professional development standards that guide the learning outcomes for students enrolled in the College’s ECED courses.
Faculty were able to meet and chat with Idaho lawmakers about the importance of early education. Instructors and staff members explained Career and Technical Education (CTE) and the academic pathways to a career in early care and education.
For Early Childhood Studies Instructor, Sharol Viker, it was important for her to share with legislators about what they can do support local communities when it comes to education.
“I wanted to ensure the arm that trains the early care and education field was represented at the Capitol and CWI was highlighted as a CTE and academic pathway,” Viker said. “CWI was the only college represented; the other agencies represented were focused on professional development hours and not academic units. I wanted to network with other state ECED agencies who could be potential partners for the College and CWI’s program in the future.”
Viker was able to speak directly with two legislators who she said spoke “very positive of quality care for young children and the support of the needed workforce.” Viker hopes to attend Early Learning Day at the State Capitol again next year and would like to schedule specific meetings with lawmakers.
For more information on CWI’s Early Childhood Education program, contact Doug Rapley at dougrapley@cwi.edu.
Parry Visits CWI to Commemorate 160th Anniversary of Bear River Massacre
The Bear River Massacre - History Healing and ReSTORYation
College of Western Idaho (CWI) hosted former tribal Chairman of the Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation, Darren Parry, for an educational and inspirational presentation on the 160th anniversary of the Bear River Massacre on Wednesday, Feb. 8. Nearly 100 students, faculty, staff, and other members of the community were in attendance for the presentation, History, Healing, and Re-STORY-ation.
Parry shared his personal story and his community’s legacy regarding the tragic circumstances of Jan. 29, 1863, which led to the deaths of over 400 Shoshone, including unarmed women and children by U.S. Army forces near Preston, Idaho.
"Often omitted from history textbooks, Mr. Parry spoke eloquently of the need to acknowledge our shared past in order to reckon a collaborative path forward," said CWI Associate Professor of Anthropology, Nikki Gorrell. "He also informed the near-capacity audience the Shoshone nation is working diligently to secure and restore the sacred land and Bear River Valley where the massacre took place, as well as create an innovative memorial and cultural interpretive center on site."
Parry's presentation was sponsored by CWI’s School of Arts and Humanities, School of Social Sciences and Public Affairs, the Anthropology program, and Inclusive Excellence Committee.
Those interested in learning more about the Bear River Massacre and efforts to reclaim and interpret the site by the Shoshone Nation can do so by visiting the Boa Ogoi Cultural Interpretive Center webpage.
Spring 2023 Transfer Fair
So, you’re a College of Western Idaho (CWI) student who is approaching graduation and interested in learning more about transferring to a university or college to continue your education. You are in luck! CWI invites those interested to the Spring 2023 Transfer Fair on Tuesday, March 7.
College and university representatives will be on campus to discuss programs, majors, and transfer requirements. This is a one-day event that will take place at both campus locations, Ada County and Nampa, throughout the day.
Visit with representatives from schools, such as Boise State University, University of Idaho, Idaho State University, College of Idaho, and more! You can find the full list of participants on the Transfer Fair webpage.
Ada County Center Pintail Building (APIN), Student Commons
Nampa Campus Academic Building (NCAB), first floor lobby
For those interested or who have questions, please contact Brittney Hernandez at brittneyhernandez@cwi.edu.
Learn the Ins and Outs of LinkedIn
Students looking to grow their professional network and navigate the online world of LinkedIn are in luck! College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Work-Based Learning Center is hosting the professional series, “LinkedIn Workshop: The Power of Social Networking for Career Growth and Opportunities” on Wednesday, Feb. 22.
The workshop, which is open to all students and areas of studies, is a great resource to engage with employers, connect with opportunities, and gain tips on social media etiquette from Coding Temple Career Coach, Aubrey Plew. Plew works with students at Coding Temple to build their network and online presence through the use of professional online platforms, such as LinkedIn.
By attending the workshop students will walk away with the knowledge of how to create and build on an online profile, grow their professional network, and have a better understanding of utilizing LinkedIn to land a job.
Virtual: Zoom, passcode: 097509
Those with questions or in need of more information can contact Roberto Trinidad at 208.562.2150 or robertotrinidad@cwi.edu.
Campus Safety and Security Testing Building’s Door Locks
Throughout the month of February, College of Western Idaho (CWI) Campus Safety and Security will test campus building’s electronic door-locking systems on Friday afternoons. This will affect entrance doors to buildings and internal doors with card access locks, primarily lab rooms.
Security will lock down a different set of buildings each week and manually check to be sure the locks are functioning properly. During this time, people will be able to exit buildings and electronic keyed interior doors but will not be able to re-enter them until we are done testing the system. The process should take less than 30 minutes per site.
Classes and college business will be able to continue as normal as there will only be a short inconvenience on entry into buildings.
Testing dates and times
- Friday, Feb. 24 — 2:15 p.m.
CWI Campus Safety and Security will post notices on the entry doors of the buildings being tested on the days of the events with the time as a reminder.
For those with questions or in need of more information, contact security@cwi.edu.
