CWI News—June 3, 2022
In the Spotlight
Dressed in their CWI best, a team gathered by the School of Social Sciences and Public Affairs spent the evening of May 31 volunteering at the Idaho Shakespeare Festival during the Festival’s performance of Much Ado About Nothing. The School’s fourth year of involvement, volunteers helped prepare the theater, host guests, and collect trash.
News Highlights
Painting Her Dreams
Sophie Rusling, who hails from the Isle of Man in the United Kingdom (U.K.), came to Idaho in the summer of 2017. It was among the towering ponderosa pines and stunning views of Payette Lake working at Paradise Point Camp in McCall where she first heard about College of Western Idaho's (CWI) Collision Repair Technology program, highly recommended to her by a student.
Later, after returning to the U.K., Rusling recalled this conversation and knew CWI would be the perfect fit to satisfy her passion for car restoration and customization sparked from watching BBC television shows.
“When I realized I could actually do a job based on my favorite T.V. shows, I decided it was time to go back to college and pursue my dream of one day owning my own collision repair and restoration shop. I looked around at different places in the U.K., and nothing had what I was looking for. When I looked into CWI, I knew it was exactly what I wanted.”
Painting and restoration calls for a combination of art, science, and technique that requires an understanding of new products and technology to perform high-quality work. CWI's Collision Repair Technology program provides students, like Rusling, an opportunity to work with the newest paints and equipment in an up-to-date facility and learn the skills and traits necessary to succeed in the field.
Rusling had a chance to put the valuable skills she has learned at the College to good use this past spring when hired to work on Great Britain’s catamaran that races in the global sailing league.
She added, "overall it was a great experience, and although I thoroughly enjoyed working on the boat, I definitely prefer working on cars!"
Rusling is a dedicated student who brings positive energy to her work.
"No matter what day I came into the lab last year, I was always greeted by Sophie with a smile,” said Department Chair, Alex Beal. Sophie is the type of student with “sunshine in her soul each day. She uplifts everyone she is around.”
Following completion of the program next May, Rusling plans start working in the industry.
“I would like to work for a few years and save up to eventually open my own collision repair and restoration shop. I am undecided as to whether I want to be a body tech or a painter right now, but I am sure when the time comes I will know.”
Rookie Fire School Returns to CWI
Forty wildland fire recruits spent the week of May 23 at College of Western Idaho (CWI) training and learning new skills to battle fires this summer. The Southwest Idaho Fire Training (SWIFT) program is a partnership between the National Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and the Idaho Department of Lands.
Students spent the first two days in the classroom learning the fundamentals of fighting wildland blazes. The classes were held in lecture halls featuring new technology to optimize the learning experience.
On Wednesday, May 25, the students completed five stations at the College’s Nampa Campus Academic Building to get hands-on experience with fire shelters, fire engines, and tools to quickly dig fire lines.
“I’ve been involved with fire training for 13 years, and it’s amazing watching people grow and learn and seeing them out on the fires during the summer. I love it,” said Chris Knight with the Forest Service, who helped run the training. “To this day I’ll see people who have moved up in the agency, and we still talk about fire school.”
The recruits trained in Idaho City on Thursday, May 26, and finished the week with more classroom instruction before joining their fire crews throughout the state for a busy summer.
Heavy Equipment Receives Donation from Cobalt Truck Equipment
Hands-on training opportunities for Heavy Equipment Technician students at College of Western Idaho (CWI) have been elevated thanks to a donation of two Ford F750 trucks donated to the College by Cobalt Truck Equipment this past February.
“Cobalt saw an opportunity to donate a few used vehicles to the College to promote learning and education through trouble-shooting of operational issues and innovation to resolve issues,” said Cobalt’s Director of Operations, Joe Matteucci. “We enjoyed meeting with the instructors and students at CWI, bring in a couple of our trucks to show what we build, and explain what our company has to offer in the way of career advancement throughout the industry as one of the leading truck upfitters in the country. We have been fortunate to hire one of the program’s top graduates who continues to excel in his career at Cobalt as one of our lead mechanics.”
“These trucks give CWI’s Heavy Equipment Technician program a huge advantage providing additional equipment for our students to inspect, repair, test, etc.,” explained Department Chair, Alex Beal. “Additionally, instructors are able to place ‘bugs’ or fabricated problems in the systems for students to troubleshoot and diagnose. Hands-on training opportunities, far superior to that of a trainer or simulator, are what make our program unique and offer students a superior sense of all that is involved in a repair procedure.”
Give the gift of education! Contact the CWI Foundation at foundation@cwi.edu or 208.562.3100 to learn more.
Auction Items Needed for Annual Benefit Event
Do you own a business, have a service or hobby you can share, or know someone who does? We would love to connect with you!
The College of Western Idaho (CWI) Foundation is currently looking for auction items for this year’s Opening Doors Benefit Event, an annual event to raise money for student scholarships.
Past auction items have included gift baskets, vacation stays, gift certificates, art, sculptures, sporting event packages, adventure experiences, etc. Items created or donated by students, faculty, and staff are always a highlight and are a great way to show off the amazing talent and skills we have at the College.
Please spread the word about this exciting opportunity – we would love to see the entire CWI community involved! Donate today by contacting the CWI Foundation at foundation@cwi.edu or 208.562.3100. All donations must be received by Aug. 31, 2022.
Mental Health First Aid Training Continues Through the Summer
Nearly 90 College of Western Idaho (CWI) faculty and staff were trained in Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) this spring thanks to the expertise of fifteen CWI employees, certified as MHFA Instructors. Trainings, available to all College employees, will continue through the summer and on an ongoing basis.
MHFA Instructors have had a great experience engaging with staff and faculty on the topic of mental health, and feedback from participants has been positive.
“Bringing MHFA training to CWI employees is about creating a culture of caring on our campuses,” said Jodi Hickenlooper, Assistant Director of Counseling and Wellness Services. “We hope to see staff from every campus department get trained because a culture of caring is about everyone.”
MHFA training consists of online modules completed in advance of the training date and either a Zoom or in-person meeting to practice the action plan. Gaining skills in non-judgmental listening, empowering people to promote help-seeking skills, and reducing stigma around mental health challenges, participants will enter a community of helpers at the College upon completion.
“I am so grateful to know more people at CWI will have this basic, but crucial, training to know how to intervene,” said a participant.
All CWI employees are encouraged to participate in this important and beneficial training, and summer is a great time to do so!
CWI Summer Movie Series Is Here!
College of Western Idaho (CWI) is excited to announce the launch of our summer movie series! Students and their guest(s) are invited to join us at Majestic Cinemas all summer long for free movies and snacks. Tickets sell out quickly, so be sure to claim yours as soon as they become available.
SUMMER 2022 MOVIE LINEUP:
Jurassic World: Dominion
The future of mankind hangs in the balance as humans and dinosaurs coexist following the destruction of Isla Nublar.
Friday, June 10 @ 5:30 p.m.
Tickets on sale NOW!
- Each CWI student can claim a ticket themselves and up to one (1) guest.
- Attendees will receive a free medium popcorn and drink.
Claim Tickets for Jurassic World: Dominion
Lightyear
Buzz Lightyear embarks on an intergalactic adventure with a group of ambitious recruits and his robot companion.
Saturday, June 18 @ 1:30 p.m.
Tickets go on sale June 4!
- Each CWI student can claim a ticket for themselves and up to three (3) guests.
- The first 40 children will receive a free Snack pack.
- The first 20 adults will receive a free medium popcorn and drink.
Thor: Love and Thunder
Thor attempts to find inner peace. He must return to action and recruit Valkyrie, Korg, and Jane Foster, who has become the Mighty Thor, to stop Gorr the God Butcher from eliminating all gods.
Thursday, July 7 @ 6 p.m.
Tickets go on sale June 23!
- Each CWI student can claim a ticket for themselves and up to one (1) guest.
- Attendees will receive a free medium popcorn and drink.
Claim Tickets for Thor: Love and Thunder
Where the Crawdads Sing
A woman who raised herself in the marshes of the deep South becomes a suspect in the murder of a man she was once involved with.
Friday, July 22 @ 6:30 p.m.
Tickets go on sale July 9!
- Each CWI student can claim a ticket for themselves and up to one (1) guest.
- Attendees will receive a free medium popcorn and drink.
Claim Tickets for Where the Crawdads Sing
Contact Amber Eubanks, Assistant Director of Student Engagement, at ambereubanks@cwi.edu with questions or to learn more.
Employee Training Opportunities: June 2022
The beginning of 2022 marked the launch of College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Virtual Learning Center (VLC) for employees. In addition to mandatory trainings, employees are encouraged to take part in optional, professional development opportunities offered each month through the VLC. Below is a preview of trainings available in June.
Coaching & Development: How to Have Difficult Conversations for Managers
In-Person
Learn how to manage performance when an employee is not meeting expectations. This training will cover when coaching/corrective action is appropriate, how to use CWI coaching/corrective action tools when addressing ineffective behavior, and how to have effective coaching and performance management conversations.
- Friday, June 24
9:00 – 10:30 a.m.
Nampa Campus Aspen Classroom Building, Room 104
Sign up for this training and more by visiting the VLC accessible through the PageUp User Dashboard under "My Community". Please share this opportunity with members of your teams and departments. Contact Human Resources Business Partner, Casey Brown, at caseybrown@cwi.edu with questions.
