CWI News – Feb. 16, 2024
News Highlights
Save the Date: Support Higher Education on the College of Western Idaho’s Annual Giving Day
Putting your resources into education is one of the most effective methods for facilitating positive transformations. At College of Western Idaho (CWI), we are dedicated to empowering students and laying solid foundations for the future. We are excited to invite our alumni, donors, faculty, staff, and the community to participate in our annual CWI Giving Day, March 13 and 14.
CWI Giving Day is focused on supporting students, programs, and opportunities that amplify the positive impact of our campus and community. Any contribution, regardless of its size, opens doors to affordable education, turning dreams into reality and champions students and programs of the College that significantly influence our community’s lives. Discover more about these programs and resources on the CWI Giving Day page.
“CWI is thrilled to announce our second Giving Day,” stated CWI President Gordon Jones. “As the largest higher education institution in the state, CWI is proud to deliver affordable, high-quality, and empowering educational opportunities designed to help our students find good paying jobs. CWI Giving Day is an opportunity for you to see and support the amazing work of our students and faculty. Community members can show their generosity by supporting a student club, program, or scholarship with a gift today.”
CWI Giving Day will allow convenient, online access for donors to support a variety of programs and initiatives within the College. A donation to CWI Giving Day grants current and future students the opportunity to aim high and fulfill their ambitions.
Automotive Technology student, Ryan Hael, is grateful for the boost of a scholarship, made possible through generous donations, that has helped him pay for his education.
"Receiving a scholarship has relieved so much stress off my back of having to try to apply for loans and struggling to find funds," he said. "It is also helping me be able to stand out in the automotive field by having tools that will help me work faster and do jobs that other technicians won’t be able to do without those tools."
“The Foundation Board is deeply committed to the belief that education has the power to transform lives,” said CWI Foundation Board President, Mike Peña. “Through this support, students are equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to achieve success in their chosen careers and build a solid foundation for their future.”
CWI Giving Day launches on Wednesday, March 13 at 9:30 a.m. and will close on Thursday, March 14 at 3:30 p.m. A great way to participate, beyond donating, is to share the CWI Giving Day page with their friends, family, coworkers, and community members.
For any inquiries or if more information is required about CWI Giving Day, please reach out to CWI Foundation at foundation@cwi.edu.
General Education Mobile at CWI
College of Western Idaho (CWI) has achieved approval as a GEM (General Education Mobile) institution. This noteworthy accomplishment establishes the College as a valued partner in the collaboration between the Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) and civilian academic institutions.
GEM serves as a vital bridge for Air Force service members, simplifying the identification of General Education courses that align with CCAF Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree requirements. CWI's inclusion in the GEM partnership not only reflects our commitment to academic excellence but also reinforces our dedication to supporting the educational pursuits of Air Force personnel.
This milestone positions CWI as the second higher education institution in Idaho to join the GEM partnership, signifying our commitment to fostering accessible and quality education for military service members. CWI looks forward to further contributing to the academic success of our Air Force community through this collaboration.
2024 Juried Art Exhibition
College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Visual and Performing Arts department is excited to host the eighth-annual Juried Art Exhibition, which takes place during the College’s Connections Project.
This year’s juror is Sue Latta, a determined and intuitive sculptor who creates visually poignant and skillfully executed artwork utilizing a variety of processes, including welding, woodworking, carving, casting, and photography. With over 20 solo exhibitions, Latta’s work is found in collections throughout the United States and Canada. In addition to being a lecturer at Boise State University, she has served as an artist in residence for the City of Boise, the Livestrong Foundation, and the Visual Studies Workshop in Rochester, New York.
For more information or to view Latta’s work, visit her website.
Submissions are being accepted for the 2024 Juried Art Exhibition through March 22, and can be entered via the Connections Project Portal section on Blackboard. Students will be notified of results by April 12, with art being placed in the Nampa Campus Academic Building (NCAB) 2nd floor gallery before April 18. All currently registered students are encouraged to participate — the winner will receive $150!
CWI’s Connections Project event is Thursday, April 18. For those with questions or in need of more information, please contact Karen Brown at karenbrown@cwi.edu.
Nominations Open for 2024 Student Leadership Awards
Do you know student leaders, student clubs, or a club advisor deserving of recognition for their passion, compassion and accomplishments? Nominate them for a Leadership Award!
Nominations for College of Western Idaho's (CWI) Student Leadership Awards are now open! These awards seek to recognize the achievements of outstanding student leaders for their hard work, dedication, and commitment to CWI and the community. There is also an award for a club advisor! Through these awards, CWI hopes to acknowledge and celebrate inspiring people who have made a meaningful impact on campus life and in the community, while creating a lasting legacy.
This year’s awards are:
- Club of the Year Award – This award is presented to an organization that has demonstrated excellence in all areas of community engagement, collaboration, diversity and inclusion, and leadership development.
- Community Service Program of the Year Award – This award recognizes a program that has engaged students through service while it encouraged them to selflessly serve beyond the program.
- Outstanding Officer of the Year Award –This award recognizes a student leader who has demonstrated exceptional leadership throughout their term of office and has enhanced participation and involvement within their club, the campus, and the community.
- Quiet Influence Award –This award recognizes a person who has contributed to their club and campus community in a meaningful yet behind-the-scenes way.
- Rising Leadership Award – This award will honor a first-year student who does not need a title to fill a leadership role. Throughout the school year, this student has shown a new-found commitment to serve the CWI campus and community side by side with the elected student leaders and administration/employees of the campus. This student can be found helping to complete tasks while modeling the core values and mission of the College. The student shows promise in continuing to exemplify growth and development as a leader.
- Social Program of the Year Award – This award recognizes a program/event(s) that has contributed to a sense of community on campus and has encouraged students to come together and meaningfully engage with one another and/or the Ada County/Canyon County communities.
- Student Organization Advisor of the Year Award – This award recognizes an advisor who has excelled in providing support and assistance to a club. The recipient has devoted time and service that has played a key role in the club’s success.
- Trailblazing Leadership Award – This award will recognize a second-year or graduating or transferring student leader who has engaged themselves in a significant leadership role on campus. This award is for a student who has come to CWI with leadership experience or has developed leadership skills through the many opportunities the campus offers. Through their involvement, recipients have shown ambition to improve campus life and strengthen the Treasure Valley community.
Nominations will remain open through Tuesday, March 14. Award recipients will be announced at the 2024 Student Leadership Banquet on Friday, April 26, at the Jack’s Urban Meeting Place (JUMP).
For those with questions or in need of more information, please contact Sitlaly Hernandez at sitlalyescamilla@cwi.edu.
Food for Thought – Fall 2024
Join College of Western Idaho (CWI) and Tutoring Services for Food for Thought, a two-day event where tutors and campus staff will be available to share information, answer questions, and connect with new students who may be interested in finding additional resources to succeed in their courses.
Tutoring Services is dedicated to empowering students to master course content and succeed in classes. While this on-campus resource is open and available to all enrolled students at CWI, many may not know how to connect with tutors. To help spread the word, Tutoring Services has partnered with Student Engagement to host this event and invite the entire campus to learn about Tutoring Services and the Writing Center.
Participants will be given a checklist of certain questions to ask staff. Those who complete the checklist will earn free food and win CWI swag, courtesy of Student Engagement.
Tuesday, Sept. 24
11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Ada County Center Pintail Building, Tutoring Center, Room 1304
Thursday, Sept. 26
11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Nampa Campus Academic Building, Tutoring Center, Room 209
CWI tutors routinely work with students to help them better understand coursework and prepare for exams and papers. Services include appointments for math, sciences, writing, foreign languages, certified technical programs, and more. Tutors also lead study groups and academic skill-building workshops throughout the semester.
Connect with Tutoring Services and The Writing Center in one of the following ways:
- Visit Tutoring Services.
- Book a tutoring appointment, or watch a short video on how to book an appointment.
- Email tutoring@cwi.edu.
CWI Night at the Idaho Steelheads – Feb. 28
Get ready for another exciting night of hockey and help us support students at the next CWI Night!
Scoring big for scholarships, College of Western Idaho (CWI) and the Idaho Steelheads continue their partnership as the Steelheads face off against the Utah Grizzlies. We invite the entire CWI community to join us, including students, alumni, staff, families, and friends.
The game between the Idaho Steelheads and Utah Grizzlies will take place:
Wednesday, Feb 28
7 p.m.
Idaho Central Arena
Your $20 ticket game ticket includes a seat in the CWI section and a meal voucher for a Double R Ranch hot dog, chips, and a small beverage. For every CWI group ticket sold during CWI night, the SCORE Big Scholarship fund will receive $5.
Stop by the CWI table on the concourse for a chance to win a $1,000 SCORE Big Scholarship or a CWI hockey jersey, which will be awarded that night on the ice!
The thrill of hockey is available beyond CWI Nights! As part of the College’s partnership, CWI also provides a discounted ticket price of $18 for all Steelheads home games for the 2023-2024 season.
Tickets must be placed at least 24 hours prior to the event or subject to availability.
HR Updates
New Hires
Welcome to the following individuals who are new to the College. We are happy to have you here and look forward to working with you!
- Katie Robinson – Instructor, Registered Nursing
- James Correa – IT Tech Support Specialist, User Services
- Ruben Alexis – Onramp Teacher, Adult Education
Note: This is the official communication newsletter for the College. Content is driven by contributions gathered from all areas of CWI. If you have news you would like to submit for this, please use a Marketing Help Desk ticket.