CWI News – Feb. 3, 2023
Spotlight
Faculty and staff from around College of Western Idaho campus joined President Gordon Jones in-person and over Zoom for the Spring 2023 Town Hall on Friday morning. Jones shared updates on the new CWI Strategic Plan and Education Week. He also answered questions from those who were able to attend the meeting in person.
Thanks to all those who attended online and in-person! #mightyCWI
News Highlights
CWI Speech and Debate Team Dominates and Makes History Once Again
College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Speech and Debate team has, once again, made history! Preparing to wrap up a successful forensics competition season, the team was recognized as the top Northwest Forensics Conference (NFC) school in debate for the 2022-2023 season. This marks the first time a community college has been awarded this honor and the first time a community college was honored with any NFC Presidential Award.
Over the weekend, the team competed in the 50th Annual Michael Dugaw Smelt Classic at Lower Columbia College in Longview, Washington, where they took home first place in their division and continued their winning tradition as a Gold Community College Program in the Northwest. The tournament served as the final of three designated tournaments in the NFC. Scores across the designated tournaments are tallied to determine top programs in forensics, culminating in NFC awards each January.
Programs are awarded Presidential Awards based on cumulative, season-long points in the categories of speech and debate events, which resulted in CWI being recognized as the top NFC school in debate among all schools in the NFC, including four-year universities.
Individually, CWI students were recognized with 16 different awards at the Smelt Classic.
Speech Awards
Novice Impromptu — Alex Norris (third place)
Junior After Dinner Speaking —Terrence Sharrer (sixth place)
Open Dramatic Interpretation — Elijah Charlton (sixth place)
Novice Extemporaneous — Kennedy Carr (sixth place)
Junior Extemporaneous — Trace Van Sickle (second place), Kevin Chase (fourth place)
Novice Persuade — Sam Easley (fifth place)
Open Programmatic Oral Interpretation — Alli Koetsier (fourth place)
International Public Debate Association (IPDA) Debate Awards
Novice Division — William Guerrero (quarterfinalist)
Junior Division — Alex Norris (semifinalist), Trace Van Sickle (quarterfinalist)
Novice IPDA Speaker — Will Guerrero (sixth place)
Junior IPDA Speaker — Alex Norris (ninth place), Joe Nigro (fifth place), and Trace Van Sickle (first place)
Open IPDA Speaker — Oliver Heaviside (ninth place)
In addition to the team's success, their coach and CWI Director of Forensics, Luke Yeates, received the NFC Judge Educator Award, which is given each year to coaches who provide superb feedback to competitors.
“I’m overwhelmed and beyond proud. Awards like these only come from continuous work and a steadfast dedication to the craft, and the Presidential Award reflects exactly that — a season of incredible success," said Yeates. "What we do takes immense effort, but every team on the circuit puts in that effort. The fact a community college could be in the running for an award that has only ever been won by four-year institutions is impressive enough, but to earn it outright is a different level altogether. The fact that it has never been done before speaks to how unrealistic this should have been. It will take me a while to process what it is this group of students has accomplished, but I will never forget the way I felt when I watched them take first this weekend.”
CWI Speech and Debate will now get ready for the International Public Debate Association (IPDA) Nationals hosted at Boise State University held March 23 – 25. Following that, the team will head to Washington D.C. to compete in the Phi Ro Pi Nationals in April.
For those with questions, or in need of more information about CWI’s Speech and Debate team, contact Luke Yeates at lukeyeates@cwi.edu.
OTA Students Advocate to Improve Client Access at State Capitol
Students in College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program spent the day at the Idaho State Capitol to learn more about their future profession’s advocation and the need to improve services in emerging areas. CWI’s OTA junior cohort took part in Idaho Occupational Therapy Association (IOTA) Capitol Hill Day on Monday, Jan. 30.
Each legislative session, IOTA set up a table at the Capitol rotunda to provide occupational therapy practitioners (OTP) and OTAs with the opportunity to meet with state representatives. OTPs and OTAs discuss with legislators the issues impacting the quality and provision of occupational therapy (OT) services in the state.
This year, OT professionals spoke to lawmakers about issues, such as access to mental health services, practicing OT across state lines, permanent OT services via Telehealth, and more.
“This year's Capitol Hill Day showed the importance of advocating and educating Idaho legislators about the distinct value of occupational therapy, especially its need in emerging practices and mental health services,” said OTA student, Megan Gibb. “My Capitol Hill Day experience taught me that building a good relationship with your local legislators provides advocacy opportunities to educate, plead on behalf of others, and raise awareness for issues currently impacting the profession. IOTA works diligently to ensure occupational therapy is valued, protected, and that effective advocacy efforts are accomplished, thereby promoting positive changes within the profession.”
Besides meeting state legislators, CWI OTA students met with OT students and practitioners from around the state to learn about issues currently impacting the profession. It also gave students an opportunity to meet with potential future fieldwork educators.
"I was inspired by my experience at Capitol Hill Day with IOTA in seeing the work and time that practitioners put into this event to advocate for the profession,” said OTA student, Kaila Boeck. “Practitioners and students traveled from around the state to attend this event. There were even practitioners from Coeur d'Alene who were present on Zoom to speak with legislators in a ‘Table Talk’ discussion. Seeing the lengths practitioners and students took to lobby for changes in Idaho motivates me to continue being a voice for this amazing profession!"
For more information on CWI's OTA program, visit their program page or contact Program Director and Instructor, Mel Henderson, at melhenderson@cwi.edu.
Get Involved in REUs at CWI
“Careers in science are hard and hard to come by” said College of Western Idaho (CWI) Professor of Biology, Dr. Steven Lysne. And he’s right. According to National Center for Education Statistics, in 2019 – 2020, over 125K degrees were awarded in the biological or biomedical sciences. A quick national search on Indeed resulted in just over 30K jobs using the keyword biology. That’s a large disparity.
So how do you continue to follow your passion and stack the deck in your favor? By getting involved! One sure way to stand out in a crowd is to have accumulated relevant experiences in your chosen field. Fortunately, CWI has several Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) that faculty in the biological sciences have developed to help our students get involved and get a head start as clinical technicians and scientists.
The St. Luke’s Cancer Institute Clinical Research Internship
The competitive clinical research internship program is a 16-week program for students interested in cancer research. It has been helping healthcare students gain practical experiences since 2014 and begins again in the fall of 2023. Students can earn up to three credits of elective coursework that can be applied to their degree programs. Contact Dr. Suzanne Oppenheimer at suzanneoppenheimer@cwi.edu for more information.
Idaho INBRE (IDeA Network for Biomedical Research Excellence)
In its ninth year at CWI and supports faculty and students at every college and university in Idaho. Funded by the National Institutes of Health, the specific aims of Idaho INBRE change every three to five years but broadly support biomedical research and education in Idaho. Student Fellowships include paid 10-week summer research experiences in the Treasure Valley and across the state.
“Instead of just learning about science, undergraduate research allows students to do science. Students get to apply science to solve problems and experience first-hand the impact of science on addressing critical issues” said CWI Biology Professor, Dr. Elise Connor.
Idaho INBRE also supports faculty training in cutting-edge technologies and the purchase of equipment and supplies, benefitting all CWI students. For more information about the program and its various opportunities, contact Dr. Elise Connor at eliseconnor@cwi.edu.
Idaho Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR)
EPSCoR is a National Science Foundation (NSF) supported program with broad aims relevant to NSF, National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Department of Defense (DOD), the Department of Energy (DOE), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). EPSCoR specifically targets states that receive smaller amounts of federal research and development funds.
One EPSCoR program is Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP) which provides a range of training, mentoring, and professional development for students and faculty. At CWI, the VIP course is finishing its second year of REU offerings and has become a successful regular class lead by Professor Miranda Striluk. The VIP course at CWI carries one credit and is offered in the fall and spring. You can find it listed as SCIE 200 in our course catalog. For more information, please contact Miranda Striluk at mirandastriluk@cwi.edu.
Southwestern Idaho Bridges to Baccalaureate program (SWID B2B)
SWID B2B is another highly successful REU for CWI students. This NIH-sponsored program provides up to two years of support for students interested in pursuing a career in biomedical research. Now in its sixth year, the SWID B2B program has supported dozens of CWI students through advising and mentoring.
Highlights of this competitive program include monthly stipends, a tuition and fee waiver, two summers of paid research experiences, and conference participation with support for travel. Eligible students must be planning on transferring to Boise State University and meet other NIH requirements. Contact Professor Stephanie Sevigny at stephaniesevigny@cwi.edu for more information.
The Biological Sciences faculty at CWI have been working hard to develop experiences that support students’ incipient careers as researchers. These are the opportunities that allow you to stand out in a crowded field!
Reach out to your professors, any CWI advisor, or the individuals listed here and get involved. You’ve nothing to lose and it may very well be the catalyst that jump-starts your future.
Student Resource Fair and Club Fest Helping Students Get Involved and Stay Connected
In preparation for the Spring 2023 semester, you may be ready to check out what College of Western Idaho (CWI) has to offer outside of the classroom! Student Affairs has put together opportunities for all CWI students to explore the different resources available on- and off-campus, while also enjoying fun activities and tasty food at CWI’s Spring 2023 Student Resource Fair and Club Fest.
Students will be able to learn about and chat with various clubs, organizations, offices, and departments on campus. The two events will give new and returning students an opportunity to learn about the CWI community and gain important information regarding campus life to have a successful, enjoyable academic journey.
Should you attend the Student Resource Fair and Club Fest? Yes! Here are five reasons why:
- Learn about different resources available on campus including Tutoring Services, Academic Advising, Counseling Services, and more.
- Get involved in extracurricular activities at CWI, like clubs and academic programs, and become part of the community on campus.
- Learn how participating in extracurricular activities and utilizing resources on campus can help you develop leadership skills, time management skills, and more.
- Make connections, meet other students with similar interests, and make friends outside of the classroom.
- Learn more about the culture of the College.
The Student Resource Fair will also bring together about a dozen off-campus community partners. These organizations are excellent resources to help students with basic needs, such as Valley Regional Transit, childcare and family support, financial support resources, low cost medical care options, and domestic violence resources.
Ada County Campus Pintail Building (APIN)
Nampa Campus Academic Building (NCAB)
There will also be free burritos (chicken, asada, and vegetarian) from Nampa’s La Pantera Market #2 for CWI students by visiting a designated number of tables at the fair and fill out their Resource Fair Passport.
That's not the only reason students will want to visit the fair’s booths and tables! Three lucky students who fill out the passport will be entered in a raffle for a chance to receive an Amazon gift card. Names will be chosen and contacted by Student Affairs following the events.
Can’t make it in person? Visit the Resource Fair virtually all semester long in myCommons on Blackboard!
For those with questions or in need of more information about the two events, contact Erin Ortiz at erinortiz@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.
History, Healing and Re-STORY-ation: The Bear River Massacre
College of Western Idaho (CWI) Anthropology Club, School of Arts and Humanities, School of Social Sciences and Public Affairs, and Inclusive Excellence Committee are hosting former Chairman of the Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation, Darren Parry, in an evening of remembrance on Wednesday, Feb. 8.
Parry will share about the massacre that took place at the Northwestern Shoshone winter village, Boa Ogoi, on Jan. 29, 1863. The Bear River Massacre, as it is known today, became the largest massacre of Native Americans in the West.
Following in his ancestors’ footsteps, Parry will share how this tragedy illuminates the resiliency, strength, and cultural endurance of the Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation.
Nampa Campus Academic Building (NCAB), Room 102E
For those interested or in need of more information, please contact Nikki Gorrell at nikkigorrell@cwi.edu.
‘Building a Foundation for Inclusion at CWI’ Event Sees Success
During College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) in-service week, the College’s Inclusive Excellence Committee hosted the Building a Foundation for Inclusion at CWI training which saw about 80 faculty and staff attend in-person or via Zoom.
The event featured a diverse student panel who shared stories of their experiences navigating the College as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, being a neurodivergent student, having hidden struggles with mental health, and being a refugee student. Students spoke honestly about struggles they face with finding the right resource or person to connect to on campus when they have a problem in class or personally.
Students on the panel shared the types of negative impacts they commonly face, and how certain phrases or actions can make them feel excluded to what is going on around them. One point brought up was how a small action, such as reaching out to students when they miss a few classes or are struggling in a course, can go a long way to help them feel like they belong.
Many faculty and staff members present said it opened their eyes to hear about some of these students' circumstances.
“This was a lovely way to kick off course prep for the semester,” said one CWI employee. “I feel equally validated that I'm doing a lot of things right according to these students and challenged my need to do certain things more often.”
“I appreciated the wide range of perspectives and experiences the students offered and their honesty in sharing their experiences in higher education,” said another employee.
After the panel, employees in attendance filled out a reflection form to give to the College’s Inclusive Excellence Committee. Each submitted form stated this event was valuable and they would like to attend similar events in the future. They also wrote key takeaways and highlights, where many employees shared their appreciation for the students’ vulnerability.
“Such good feedback for all of us,” said one employee. “Thanks to the panel — that takes bravery.”
For those with questions or in need of more information on CWI’s Inclusive Excellence Committee, contact inclusiveexcellence@cwi.edu.
Novak Named Faculty of Distinction for January 2023
Congratulations to Department Chair of Engineering, Robert Novak, who was named College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Faculty of Distinction for January 2023.
Novak has been with the College for the last six years, where he has taught, and continues to teach, various Advanced Mechatronics Engineering Technology courses and leads the program.
His journey to CWI began after he finished high school, where he enrolled in a trade school and received the equivalent of an associate degree in Electronic Engineering Technology.
“It was this degree that launched my career and changed my life forever,” said Novak.
During Novak’s career outside of education, he was able to earn a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, a Bachelor of Applied Science in Electronic Engineering and Technology, and a master’s in Human Resource Development — which were largely paid for by his employers.
Before joining the CWI community, Novak spent more than 25 years in the industry with his last 11 years as the Operations Engineer for the two W.M. Keck Observatory telescopes located atop a 14,000-foot dormant volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii. After a very rewarding, nearly three-decades-long career, Novak wanted to give back to students so they could share in the same career success he had.
“I get to help students have successful careers every day,” Novak said. “When looking back at my long career in the industry, nothing has brought me more personal and job satisfaction than working at CWI.”
Novak values student success and works diligently to help those who are struggling and want to quit his program stay motivated. He can list off many student stories where someone was overwhelmed with the course load or the thought of life working in the industry, but he was able to calm their nerves and push them to succeed and graduate. He keeps in touch with many of his former students, many of whom have gone on to very successful careers — which Novak has had a hand in placing some of them in those jobs.
Other faculty and staff around CWI have taken notice Novak’s hard work — especially over the course of the last six months as the College has partnered with Micron Technology, Inc.
“He has been working tirelessly behind the scenes to create a curriculum for a new and exciting program to create workers for the semiconductor industry,” said CWI Dean of Industry, Engineering, and Trades, Pat Neal. “He has had several meetings with Micron to make sure the new program will fit their needs. We can always rely on Robert to get the job done and it will be done right!”
Outside of CWI, Novak enjoys spending time with his wife, Terri. They have one son, who is still living in Hawaii. Novak and his wife love to spend time outdoors and go hiking, biking, or camping. Together, they also are raising Toyger cats.
One of Novak’s favorite hobbies is collecting and refurbishing World War II rifles. As a result of this hobby, he has gotten interested in reloading ammunition because it is hard to find factory loads for his rifles.
College of Western Idaho to Host Statewide Graduate Student Competition
Graduate students from across Idaho will compete in the Three Minute Thesis (3MT) 2023 Statewide Graduate Student Competition held on College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) campus in February.
Students from Boise State University, Idaho State University, and University of Idaho will compete and present their research in just three minutes or less using only one slide. A panel of judges will decide and award first, second, and third place.
CWI students, staff, and faculty are invited to attend and watch the competition in person. Audience members will get the chance to vote on the People's Choice Award. Those unable to attend in person can also watch the presentations via Zoom.
3MT is an academic research and communication competition developed by The University of Queensland (UQ) in Australia.
Nampa Campus Academic Building Room 102E
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.
