MEDIA ADVISORY – College of Western Idaho (CWI) is proud to announce three winners of the inaugural CWI Business Student (s) of the Year Award: Wade Aldridge, Luis Escutia, and Wes Southard. The students are being recognized for their accomplishments in and out of the classroom.
STUDENT BIOS
Wade Aldridge
Aldridge is a Rupert, Idaho native that currently resides in Caldwell. He started attending CWI in 2011 in hopes of changing his professional outlook. He has maintained a 3.57 GPA and plans to transfer to Boise State University this summer to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Accounting. He said he may choose to double major in Finance as well. Aldridge has been married for 16 years and enjoys traveling, yard work, playing with his dogs, and attending sporting events.
Luis Escutia
Escutia was born in Mexico and moved to the United States at five years old. Through his first three semesters at CWI, he has maintained a 4.0 GPA. Escutia plans to transfer to Boise State University and pursue a degree in Accounting and Finance. He has been married for six years. Escutia says when he is not attending class, doing homework, or working full-time as a landscaper, he enjoys spending time with his kids and playing sports like basketball and soccer.
Wesly Southard
Southard, a Gold Beach, Ore. native, boasts a 3.46 GPA from his time at CWI. He has been accepted into the Oregon State University economics program, which is where he plans to pursue a bachelor’s of science degree. Southard says he enjoys spending his free time hunting, fishing, camping, riding motorcycles, and hanging out with friends.
Students were nominated for the award by Business faculty and internship supervisors. Applications were reviewed by a faculty committee and winners were selected based on eligibility requirements, grade point average, and other honors, contributions, and achievements. For their selection, Aldridge, Escutia, and Southard each receive a personalized certificate and medal, their name added to annual plaque, and a one-time scholarship contribution.
For more information regarding the CWI Business Student (s) of the Year Award please contact Joe Welker at joewelker@cwi.edu.
Jennifer Couch
(208) 562-3508 (office)
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About the College of Western Idaho:
The College of Western Idaho is a comprehensive community college fostering student development academically, as well as occupationally. CWI has seven campus locations throughout Southwest Idaho providing higher education and 21st Century technical skills acquisition. The college is dedicated to improving the community’s economic well-being by responding with highly-educated and productive graduates. The foundation for the area’s only community college was created by a supermajority of voters in Ada and Canyon counties on May 22, 2007. For more information, visit cwi.edu or call (208) 562-3000.
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