CWI News – Feb. 27, 2026

Ayla Taylor spent her first semester of college experimenting with colors, shapes, and fonts for a class assignment. She did not imagine it would lead to winning College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) 2026 Connections Conference Logo Contest, but it did.

“I freaked out,” Taylor said. “I had come home from a long day of work, saw the email, and I screamed. I was so excited. It was exactly what I needed to feel validated and think, ‘Maybe I’m going in the right direction.’”

Taylor, a first-year Studio Art student from Meridian, heard about the logo contest through her Introduction to 2-D Art Foundations (ARTS 105) course. What began as a class assignment became a real opportunity when her instructor encouraged Taylor and her classmates to submit their work for the annual contest. It was Taylor’s first design competition, and she admits she almost didn’t submit until her instructor urged her to take the chance.

“I was nervous,” Taylor said. “This felt like the first step toward something I might want to pursue. I really hoped it would go well.”

For the design, Taylor wanted to create something she would want to wear on a shirt. She worked on it for about a week, stepping away and returning with fresh ideas until she landed on the final version. 

“I looked at the theme of ‘Connections’ and thought about it in a way that felt personal and fun,” she said. “I didn’t want it to be too literal, like people holding hands or an outlet. I just wanted something smooth and interesting that had personality.”

The logo selection process begins with an anonymous jury review. Members of the Connections Conference team, including staff and faculty, evaluate submissions, determine finalists, and vote on their favorites.

Her submission was selected from 25 entries, earning her the $400 cash prize. As part of the process, she worked with CWI’s Marketing and Communications team to refine her design and learning how to adapt her creative ideas within professional guidelines. 

“It was really helpful to get feedback,” she said. “Working with someone who showed me how my design could be improved was so beneficial.”

Taylor’s love for art has been a constant throughout her life. She has always been drawn to colors, shapes, and creative expression. Now enrolled in CWI’s Studio Arts program, she is refining those instincts and building the skills to pursue graphic design professionally.

Outside the classroom, she spends much of her time climbing, traveling, and exploring the outdoors. As an avid climber and coach at a local gym, she has started to see design in a new way, especially in the gear and clothing she relies on. Her passions for design and the outdoors naturally overlap, shaping her vision for what comes next.

“I’d love to work with a marketing or graphic design team for an outdoor or climbing company someday,” she said. “I would love to be able to play a role in that and have a deciding factor in how the gear looks.”

Though Taylor’s college journey is just beginning, she’s already finding confidence that she’s on the right path. She encourages others to take a chance even if they’re unsure. In her case, submitting a class assignment made all the difference.

“Honestly, you can never know what will happen if you don’t try,” she said. “It’s better to have tried something to find out it wasn’t for you rather than to have never tried at all.”

The 2026 Connections Conference will take place Thursday, April 23.

 Learn more and find ways to get involved

The College of Western Idaho (CWI) Entrepreneur Lab invites students, employees, and community members to share their big ideas at the next OtterTank Showcase and Competition on Wednesday, April 22, at the College’s Nampa Campus Academic Building (NCAB).

Hosted twice each year, OtterTank is an energetic showcase inspired by the television series Shark Tank. Participants pitch business ideas, side hustles, and early-stage ventures through elevator pitches, interactive displays, and live presentations. Finalists take the stage for a chance to win prize money to help bring their ideas to life, with winners selected by audience vote.

“This competition really captures what we’re all about at CWI, giving people the space to explore ideas, feel supported, and try something new,” said Kenton Lee, Director of the CWI Entrepreneur Lab. “OtterTank shows just how much talent and creativity there is in our community when we give entrepreneurs the right tools and encouragement.”

Leading up to the event, the Entrepreneur Lab works closely with participants, providing mentorship and hands-on guidance to refine business plans, strengthen value propositions, and test new concepts.

Previous OtterTank winners demonstrate the impact of the competition and the support available through the Entrepreneur Lab. Jared Lopez, a CWI Admissions Counselor, earned the grand prize in November 2025 for his venture focused on afterschool educational programming designed to support students experiencing socioeconomic hardship. His program aims to create accessible, high-impact learning opportunities that help close educational gaps and build confidence.

Another standout venture came from Seth Hoover and Meagan Ruped, who developed the Powerport Sweater, a functional and stylish garment designed for women undergoing cancer treatment. Ruped’s breast cancer diagnosis in 2023 inspired the idea after the couple identified a need for comfortable, fashionable clothing that accommodates medical devices such as chemotherapy power ports.

CWI is proud to announce that First Federal Bank has partnered with OtterTank as a presenting sponsor for the next three years, expanding opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs. The partnership aligns with First Federal Bank’s mission to build and strengthen communities across the Treasure Valley.

“We are proud and excited to be the presenting sponsor of OtterTank,” said Jason Meyerhoeffer, President and CEO of First Federal Bank. “Like CWI, First Federal believes in the spirit of entrepreneurship. It drives our great state and nation. The opportunity to help individuals fulfill their dreams, from inventing to starting a business, is truly rewarding.”

Applications are now open for those interested in pitching their idea, side hustle, or business at the April event. Community members are also invited to attend, explore venture displays, and vote for their favorite presentations.

To learn more or attend, visit Spring 2026 OtterTank's Eventbrite page. Apply to pitch your business idea by completing the Spring 2026 OtterTank form.

At the Entrepreneur Lab at College of Western Idaho (CWI), your ideas matter. Whether you’re dreaming of your first business or just curious about entrepreneurship, this is a place to explore, connect, and grow. From hands-on workshops and networking events to OtterTank, CWI’s exciting pitch competition, students and community members have opportunities to build skills, gain confidence, and bring ideas to life. Even if you’re not sure where to start, the Entrepreneur Lab is here to help you discover what’s possible.

First Steps

First Steps focuses on the earliest stages of the entrepreneurial journey. Attendees hear personal stories from local entrepreneurs about how their ideas took shape, the challenges they faced, and the moments that turned concepts into thriving businesses. By sharing these real and often messy beginnings, the event inspires participants to explore their own ideas and connect with experienced community leaders.

March 6
Noon
Nampa Campus Academic Building (NCAB), Room 122

April 10
4 p.m.
Entrepreneur Lab, Nampa Micron Education Center (NMEC), Room 100B

First Steps Registration 

Business Basics

Business Basics helps entrepreneurs take the next steps in building and scaling a business. Led by local business owners and industry experts, sessions cover practical skills like taxes, market research, and business operations. Participants leave with a clearer understanding of how to strengthen their ventures and connect with others committed to growth.

March 27
4 p.m.
Entrepreneur Lab, Nampa Micron Education Center (NMEC), Room 100B

April 17
4 p.m.
Entrepreneur Lab, Nampa Micron Education Center (NMEC), Room 100B

Business Basics Registration 

Cohorts

Cohorts at the Entrepreneur Lab meet participants wherever they are in their journey. Programs range from exploring a hobby in the Exploration Cohort, validating a new concept in Idea, Set, Go, to scaling an existing business through Next-Level Accelerator, which includes one-on-one coaching. Held at the Nampa Campus Micron Education Center, cohorts provide structured guidance, practical tools, and feedback to help participants move from passion to profit with confidence.

Exploration Cohort

Do you have a hobby, skill, or passion that you love doing in your spare time? Join this 2-week cohort to learn how to monetize it and turn it into a successful side hustle. We will teach you the first steps of starting a side hustle and show you the path to turn it into a full-blown business someday!

April 3 & 10
2 – 4 p.m.
Entrepreneur Lab, Nampa Campus Micron Education Center (NMEC)

Idea, Set, Go

Do you have an idea for a new business? Join this 4-week cohort to help you validate your business idea to see if it is ready to launch. Before spending a lot of time and energy on an idea, this cohort will guide you through experiments and information to help you determine the best direction to go with your idea.

Fridays, Feb. 20 – March 13
2 – 4 p.m.
Entrepreneur Lab, Nampa Campus Micron Education Center (NMEC)

Next-Level Accelerator

Do you have a business already started or validated? These 8-week one-on-one coaching sessions will empower you to take your business idea to the next level. We will work side-by-side with you to dig into your business details, strengthen your value proposition, and conduct hands-on experiments to help you reach the next level.

Feb. 2 – April 3*
Entrepreneur Lab, Nampa Campus Micron Education Center (NMEC)

*through scheduled one-on-one meetings

Sign-Up Today!

No matter where you are in your entrepreneurial journey, the Entrepreneur Lab at CWI offers the support, skills, and connections to help your business ideas thrive.

About a dozen students gathered at Nampa Campus Academic Building (NCAB) on Feb. 12 for Raptor Day, a campus community event sponsored by the Biology Club at College of Western Idaho (CWI). Students built two American Kestrel nest boxes to supplement existing boxes on campus.

The event highlighted the important role raptors, or birds of prey, play in the ecology of campus and throughout the greater Treasure Valley. Students left with a deeper appreciation for the value these birds bring to local ecosystems.

The American Kestrel Nest Box Project has been active at the College for approximately 10 years. It was founded by a former Associate Professor of Biological Sciences and is now supervised by Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences, Gary Heller, along with two Work-Study students each semester.

While the team is not able to follow kestrels through fledging, several nest boxes are used by raptors each spring and have produced healthy clutches of eggs. Monitoring will continue this semester with Work-Study students, Marcus Grigsby and Lila Jensen.

Students also enjoyed pizza and refreshments while watching a documentary about raptors. The Biology Club officers and CWI students, Nathan Walker, Danny Wheeler, Violette Anghel, Sheyenne Casebolt, and Emily Houle, planned and hosted the event.

Community members are encouraged to keep a distance of at least 100 feet from American Kestrel nest boxes during the spring and summer nesting season to avoid disturbing the birds.

For more information on the Biology Club and future activities, contact bioclub@cwi.edu.

Congratulations to College of Western Idaho (CWI) Associate Professor of Business, Lindsey Wallgren, who has been named Faculty of Distinction for December 2025.

Wallgren has been part of the CWI community for 12 years. During that time, she has taught a wide range of courses including Introduction to Business (BUSA 101), Business Software Applications (BUSA 120), Personal Finance and Business Math (FINA 109), and Digital Design and Publishing (COMM 275). Over more than a decade, she has helped shape the Business program while investing in the students who move through it.

For Wallgren, teaching is personal. As a former nontraditional student herself, she understands how intimidating higher education can feel while balancing work, family, finances, and self-doubt. That experience continues to shape her approach in the classroom.

“This is the first ‘job’ I’ve had where I am excited to go to work most days,” she said. “The students are energizing, and I love seeing the spark when they grasp a concept or when we engage in great discussion. I believe education can change the trajectory of a person’s life, especially for students who may not see themselves as college material when they first come through the door.”

Her goal is to remove barriers to learning, make complex material approachable, and help students build confidence in their ability to succeed.

Wallgren began her career in professional support and marketing roles before earning her Master of Business Administration while working full-time at George Fox University in Admissions and Enrollment. She later transitioned to Boise State University in a similar role and discovered a passion for higher education. When the opportunity to teach at CWI arose just a few years after CWI opened, she embraced it. 

“The College is a great place for students to get an education because it combines high academic standards with an outstanding level of access and support,” Wallgren said. “CWI meets students where they are. CWI fosters a culture of belonging and encouragement where students are known by name and supported as individuals.” 

In her courses, Wallgren tries to bridge theory and practice, helping students see how classroom concepts translate directly into the workplace. She emphasizes practical application, professional responsibility, and the durable skills that carry far beyond a final exam. 

“CWI empowers students to build confidence, gain real world skills, and create new opportunities for themselves, their families, and their communities, regardless of where they start,” she said.

Some of Wallgren’s favorite moments come long after a semester ends. Recently, a former student reached out to share they were the first in their family to graduate high school and college, completed their education debt free at CWI and Boise State, earned their Certified Financial Planner credential, and launched their own wealth management firm. The student reflected on how a supportive classroom environment made it possible to persist despite significant barriers. 

“What moved me most was not the impressive professional milestones, although those are significant, but the way the student reflected on their experience at CWI and their opportunities in my classroom,” Wallgren shared.

That kind of lasting impact is not just limited to her students. Colleagues describe Wallgren as a leader whose influence extends across the institution. She is recognized for balancing instructional excellence, institutional engagement, and program growth while consistently looking for ways to strengthen systems in service of students and faculty alike. She currently serves as chair of the Faculty Promotions Committee and has played an active role in broader cultural initiatives focused on promotion and pay policies.

“She brings a steady, thoughtful approach to everything she does and consistently looks for ways to improve systems in service of students and colleagues alike,” said Business Faculty and Bachelor of Applied Science Coordinator, Ryan Hanson. “She is highly deserving of this recognition.”

Outside of the classroom, Wallgren enjoys spending time with her husband and two teens, including a senior preparing to graduate high school. She also spends her free time traveling to support her kids in their sports and cheering them on as they pursue their passions.

College of Western Idaho (CWI) is excited to share an important update to the 2026 Commencement Ceremony. 

Beginning this year, Commencement will be held on campus at the Ford Idaho Center, creating a more community-centered experience that celebrates our graduates on CWI’s home stage. The addition of the Ford Idaho Center to CWI’s portfolio provides an incredible opportunity to honor students' achievement in a venue deeply connected to both the College and the western Treasure Valley. 

2026 CWI Commencement Ceremony  
Tuesday, May 19 
7 p.m. 
Ford Idaho Center 

“This represents an exciting step forward for our students to celebrate this milestone in a venue on CWI’s main campus,” said CWI President Gordon Jones. "This inaugural class will begin what we anticipate a long-lasting tradition for years to come."

Additional details related to the 2026 Commencement ceremony are being finalized and will be shared as soon as they become available. Please visit CWI’s Commencement webpage for the most current information and continue to watch CWI email account for updates. 

We look forward to celebrating the accomplishments of the Class of 2026 together!