CWI News – Jan. 17, 2024

When Tucker Graham and his class of future firefighters heard about the $75,000 grant from the Metallica Scholars Initiative, their first question was, “You mean the band, Metallica?”. Through Metallica’s foundation, All Within My Hands, the Grammy award-winning band had recently added College of Western Idaho (CWI) to a group of schools it supports — institutions dedicated to providing top-tier workforce education. Through initiatives like this, exceptional education, and internships with community partners, CWI is providing clear pathways to employment for students.

Forging His Own Path

Graham’s journey began with a shift in career focus. After earning a degree in Criminal Justice and working as a Boise City Police Officer, Graham realized his passion was in firefighting. Conversations with local firefighters and EMTs solidified his decision, and he soon enrolled in CWI’s Fire Service Technology program. Despite initial self-doubt and the physically demanding nature of the academy, Graham leaned on advice from mentors, reminding himself to “embrace the suck…head down, chin up…you have what it takes, let it out.”

Graham’s dedication has paid off and, having graduated with Class #6, he prepares to begin an internship, or Work Experience program, with the Kuna Fire Department — a critical next step made possible by CWI’s partnership with local fire agencies. Reflecting on his journey, Graham shared, “After 16 weeks of training, this is exactly where I’m supposed to be, and I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.” He credits the Metallica grant and the scholarship he’s received from it for allowing him to focus fully on training during his coming work experience, without the weight of additional financial burdens.

Providing Oxygen to Fight Fires

The Metallica Scholars Initiative grant is providing crucial resources, including self-contained breathing apparatuses (SBAs), as well as scholarships for students to rent their turnouts. The apparatuses, costing between $6,000 and $10,000 each, are vital for firefighter safety and training. “SBAs are one of the most important pieces of equipment that a firefighter has. That’s what allows us to go into the fires,” explained Darrin Raskopf, director of CWI’s Fire Service Technology program. “This grant has allowed us to purchase an additional cache of SBAs that students can use as they continue on-site training.”

Graham’s story is not unique. Fellow students, Brendan Smith and Will Walden, are also benefiting from the Metallica grant and scholarships, each with their own inspiring journey. Smith, a former maintenance technician, described the program as life changing. “The grant will allow me to better focus on the work experience program, as I won’t have to worry so much about working longer hours to cover the cost while still providing for myself and others that depend on me,” he said. For Smith, the grant means more than financial support — it represents an opportunity to fully immerse himself in the training experience.

Similarly, Walden, a Boise State University graduate, had faced the challenge of balancing full-time academy hours with long shifts at a local restaurant. The Metallica Scholars Initiative will ease this burden and allow him to focus on building skills during his internship with Kuna Fire Department. “The SBA and scholarship are a huge help in cutting down costs, giving me the ability to focus more on training and less on financial stress,” Walden said.

Beyond financial relief, the grant enables students to enter their internships prepared and equipped. Division Chief of Training Operations with the Eagle Fire Department, Kelsey Backen, emphasized the importance of this preparation. “Students entering the Work Experience program at a fire station need total focus, and knowing they have the right equipment is a big part of that. This grant ensures they have what they need to contribute to the department and build a stronger future in firefighting.”

The broader impact of this initiative is felt across the program. President of CWI, Gordon Jones, highlighted the long-term significance of such grants. “These funds will be used to acquire crucial equipment for our students to gain valuable hands-on experience in the field, preparing for careers as firefighters. Our Fire Service Technology program is more than just a path to a career — it’s a call to protect and serve our community.”

A Fitting Tribute to the Band

In any profession, the tools of the trade are essential to success. To symbolize the partnership, a unique representation was created by CWI Welding students: a guitar paired with a fire hose. This imagery highlights the power and significance of both careers. Just as a guitar can inspire and influence through music, a fire hose represents the strength and dedication required to protect, save, and serve the community. Both tools, though different in purpose, embody the impact of their respective crafts. 

Fire Service Technology students used the paired guitar and firehose to put out a simulated car fire at the press conference announcing the grant — fighting back intense flames, steam, and billowing smoke — elements ironically also found at any good heavy metal concert.

As Graham, Smith, and Walden prepare to step into their roles as firefighters, their stories demonstrate the far-reaching impact of community partnerships, thoughtful funding initiatives, and dedicated educators. Through the combined efforts of CWI, grants including that from the Metallica Scholars Initiative, and local fire agencies across Idaho, these students are not only gaining skills but are also answering a powerful call to serve their communities.

In the end, Tucker Graham’s words resonate with the mission behind it all: “I want my sons to look up to me and say, ‘My dad has the coolest job.’” With the unwavering support of CWI and the Metallica Scholars Initiative, Graham — and students like him — are now fully equipped to make that vision a reality.

Resilient and determined, Nichelle Boyce, a graduate of College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Surgical Technology program, has turned challenges into opportunities. From teen motherhood to a thriving career, her journey is a testament to perseverance and the power of support in achieving dreams.

Boyce's drive to forge her own path, graduate ahead of schedule, and begin her journey into higher education was discovered as a teenager. At age 15, she discovered she was pregnant — a significant life change at any age, but especially so for one so young. Rather than being daunted and delaying her educational plans, Boyce did the opposite by moving her timeline up and heading off to college early.

A Rocky Beginning

Her first year was marked by rocky challenges — from being a mother amidst thousands of traditional freshman students to two hospital visits during final exams week — resulting in an incomplete semester and student loan debt.

“It was hard in lots of ways, including with friends. They’d want to go out and do things that I just couldn’t because I needed to be home with my kids,” Boyce said. “In addition to that, the relationship I was in had become very unhealthy. By the time I decided I needed to leave [the university], I had two children.”

Rather than completely giving up, Boyce reoriented and chose to attend CWI — looking back she believes this was the best choice she could have made. Not only did she find high-quality, caring faculty, but tuition was more affordable and access to scholarships and online classes helped her to be flexible. 

Another differentiator between CWI and her previous university was the student body, many of whom were also “untraditional,” with differences in age, culture, life experiences, and socioeconomic status. “Because there is such a good mixture of students at CWI, there weren’t cliques like there can be in traditional institutions,” said Boyce. "If someone was struggling, almost everyone was willing to sit down and help them figure it out, and that was true in most of the classes.”

Support & Sacrifice

To make her educational aspirations a reality, Boyce balanced multiple jobs — all while being a single parent. In addition to hard-earned income, help also came in the form of the LTH Don’t Give Up Scholarship. Established by former CWI employee, Nikki Irving, its purpose is to help single parents achieve their dreams of going to college. 

Boyce says because of scholarships like this she was able to remain debt-free. “I was able to get to where I wasn’t just surviving, but also even thriving. I could start to clear my mind and focus on being a mom and reaching my goals.”

Her path, however, had never been without sacrifice and her two young children were along for the ride. She remembers telling them, “I know you guys are sick of not being able to do so many things, but we still have a lot of goals to accomplish. How about when I’m done with school, we start saving for a trip to Disneyland?” The kids were all in!

Education Leads to Job Offers

After working through CWI’s Surgical Technology program, it came time for Boyce to start clinical rotations at local hospitals for on-the-job training. “I went to several different hospitals, and every single one of them offered me a job. I was able to start working before I even graduated.”

Now with the job that she had worked so hard for, it also came time to save. To help the kids see how they were progressing towards their Disneyland trip, she printed a simple chart for them to track progress. Every time they saved $100, her children would color in one of several pictured Disney characters. 

“The kids kept at it. Finally, we got them all filled in and went to Disney! It was surreal because I never thought I'd be able to take my kids to do something like that,” she said.

For Boyce, another poignant moment came a few months after starting her career as a Surgical Technologist at a Boise hospital. “It took me a while to really comprehend everything that happened. I remember I was sitting there in my living room, and I was like, I can't believe that I can finish my shift, drop the kids off at school, and come to a home that’s ours and where all our stuff is,” said Boyce. “I don't have to worry about anybody hurting us and it feels safe. I feel safe, and I couldn’t believe I’d taken my kids to Disneyland! 

Still Dreaming

On the College’s Nampa Campus, construction of the new Health and Sciences Building is well underway as the College expands to meet growing demand. At a ceremony marking the “topping off,” or placement, of the final metal beam, Boyce was invited to attend as an honored guest. Along with her two children, they had an opportunity to sign their names before the beam was lifted by a crane and secured into place. It was a significant moment for program faculty, state and local officials, and students alike, but especially so for the young surgical technologist and her children.

Boyce has long advocated for the education and experience available at CWI. Now, with her natural enthusiasm for surgical technology and the tools she prepares daily for life-saving surgeries — not to mention her gritty tenacity — her story is being featured for the trauma hospital, Saint Alphonsus.

Passionate about continuing to develop her education, her desire to dream big continues; “I’m thinking about going back to school for biomedical or mechanical engineering.” While she contemplates returning to school, hopefully she and her children also get to return to Disneyland.

Interested in a career in healthcare? Investigate opportunities through CWI’s Health Programs.

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 to campus life and in the community while creating a lasting legacy.

This year’s awards:

1. Club of the Year Award – This award is presented to an organization that has demonstrated excellence in all areas of community engagement, collaboration, and leadership development.

2. 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.

3. Outstanding Officer of the Year Award – This award recognizes a student leader who has demonstrated exceptional leadership throughout a term of office and has enhanced participation and involvement within their club, the campus, and the community.

4. Quiet Influence Award – This award recognizes a person who has contributed to a club and campus community in a meaningful yet behind-the-scenes way.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. Trailblazing Leadership Award – This award will recognize a second-year or graduating or transferring student leader who has engaged 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 involvement, recipients have shown ambition to improve campus life and strengthen the Treasure Valley community.

Nominations will remain open through Friday, March 7. Award recipients will be announced at the 2025 Student Leadership Banquet on Friday, May 2, at Jack’s Urban Meeting Place (JUMP).

Nominate a student leader!

For those with questions or in need of more information, please contact Sitlaly Hernandez at sitlalyescamilla@cwi.edu.

Take a break from your studies, connect with fellow students, and discover the power of yoga at College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Mindfulness Mondays led by experienced instructors from 2C Yoga, a renowned local yoga studio. Whether you're a seasoned practitioner or new to yoga, Mindfulness Mondays offer a supportive space for everyone to thrive. 

Mindfulness Mondays are open to all CWI students, and there's no need to worry about bringing a mat — we've got you covered. These drop-in sessions are hosted nearly weekly so you can join any week that fits your schedule and experience the benefits of yoga in a welcoming environment. 

Mindfulness Mondays with 2C Yoga 
Nampa Campus Academic Building (NCAB) 
Student Lounge, Room 122 
Noon – 1 p.m.

Thanks to our Student Engagement office for partnering with 2C Yoga and for providing this time for you to focus on your overall well-being.