CWI Compass Connect - November 22, 2016
In the Spotlight
College of Western Idaho (CWI) employees and students were out supporting the community on Saturday (Nov. 12) as groups from around the College participated in the annual Rake Up Boise event. CWI’s Culture and Employee Engagement Committee brought together a team of 18 hard-working volunteers to rake leaves at two Boise locations. The home owners expressed incredible gratitude for the service. Thank you to all of the volunteers who supported this tremendous outreach effort and continue to be a shining example of the CWI community.
News Highlights
Three CWI Board Members Appointed by Voters
On Tuesday, Nov. 8, three College of Western Idaho (CWI) Board of Trustee members were appointed to their post by Ada and Canyon County Voters. Mary Niland and Mark Dunham were each re-elected, while C.A. “Skip” Smyser was elected to his first term on the Board. All three candidates ran unopposed.
CWI is governed by a volunteer five-member Board of Trustees who are elected at large from within Ada and Canyon Counties for staggered, four-year terms. Trustees derive their authority from and hold office in accordance to the state of Idaho Code.
2016 CWI Veterans Day Ceremony
On Friday, Nov. 11, College of Western Idaho (CWI) honored Veterans with a ceremony at CWI’s Nampa Campus Academic Building. The public event included guest speaker George Nickel with the Wyakin Warrior Foundation, a student speaker, choir, and honor guard. The College would like to thank Veterans, members of the United States armed forces, and their families for sacrificing so much to defend our freedom.
Video of the ceremony may be viewed on CWI's Facebook page.
Student Steps Forward With Unexpected Gift
Without a doubt, scholarships have the ability to change lives. Not only do they provide students with much-needed financial support, they have the power to inspire people to finish what they start. The College of Western Idaho (CWI) Foundation recently received one of these life-changing gifts, but this time, it came from an unexpected source. Mitch Coats became the first CWI student to invest in another student. He created a scholarship to inspire others who share his passion for education, excellence, and Idaho’s future.
Going to college is a big deal. Coats dropped out of high school his senior year and later earned a GED. He found success in martial arts and being a cowboy. Now a black belt, he has owned and operated a Jiu-Jitsu studio in Boise for the past 10 years. The two-time national title holder has literally fought for everything he has.
“I can’t fight forever,” he said. “So now I am making hay while the sun shines.”
Coats’ journey at CWI started nearly two years ago. His interest in cattle genetics and seedstock production led him to enroll in Agriculture Science; a program offered through the University of Idaho that allows him to stay local. While he goes to school full time and consistently earns straight As, he somehow finds the time to stay involved with his studio and manage a herd of cattle on a 55-acre ranch in Emmett. Coats is investing the money he has made on the mat into his ranch, education, and a special breed within his herd; Japanese beef cattle called Wagyu.
“Wagyu are a fad right now,” he said. “They are considered the ‘black gold rush.’ I’m trying to do what I can to preserve the breed through genetics. My goal is to become an elite breeder.”
When asked why a successful business owner would choose to go to college at this point in his life, Coats said the answer could be found in his now 19-month-old son.
“I did it for him,” he said. “I want him to know that his dad had the discipline to graduate from college. I need to be the example and prove to him that he needs to finish.”
Coats created the Mitch & Stephanie Coats Excellence in Agriculture Scholarship in order to help fill a need. Much of Idaho’s livelihood is based on agriculture. It is his goal to help a fellow student who shares his interest in protecting Idaho’s natural resources and becoming a steward of the land.
“I chose to invest in CWI because that’s where the need is,” he said. “When we move ahead, we’ll need people who can fill the jobs. This is a way to help do that.”
Coats plans to graduate from CWI next spring. His life goal is to complete a master’s degree in international agriculture through Oklahoma State University.
Gift Makes Measurable Difference at CWI
A gift without an official price tag is making a measurable difference at College of Western Idaho (CWI). Meridian-based Micro 100 Tool Corporation recently donated more than $16,000 worth of brand new tooling items to the College’s Machine Tool Technology program. The donation is giving students the opportunity to work with tools that are currently being used in the workforce.
“If we had to pay for (these tools), we simply could not afford it,” Dave Sperry, the Machine Tool Technology Program Chair, said. “Not only does this allow us to teach students using cutting-edge technology, it saves on their out-of-pocket costs as well.”
The 766 items, which were returned to Micro 100 by one of its overseas dealers, are metric sizes and could not be resold. It made perfect sense for the company to donate them so students—like Dan Thompson and Dennis Nunez—could benefit from their use.
“This donation reflects our desire to partner with our local education community and lets them know that this community needs a college like CWI,” Craig Graf, Micro 100’s Vice President of Manufacturing, said. “Thanks to our founder, Dale, our company supports education. If we don’t give back to our community, it’s not right to take.”
Micro 100 has an apprenticeship program that grooms CWI students to become employees. The program pays students while they work and go to school to complete a two-year degree at CWI. So far, the company has employed several CWI graduates.
“These students are our future employees,” Graf said. “We’re really excited about what’s going on here—creating employees and contributing to the economic growth of the valley.”
This is the third time Micro 100 has donated tools to the program. For more information about the College’s in-kind gift guidelines, please visit the CWI Foundation website.
November Staff Award Goes to Grayson
College of Western Idaho (CWI) is happy to recognize Heather Grayson as CWI’s November Staff of the Month award winner.
Grayson is a Coordinator for Student Disability Services and has been with the college for almost five years. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Boise State University in 2009 and is planning to start a masters in Adult Organization and Learning at University of Idaho. Heather’s other roles include being a part of our Safety Committee, the CARE team, and a board member of Idaho Partnership of Higher Education and Disability.
Her nomination notes, “Heather Grayson exemplifies the core values of CWI. Heather often times has to make difficult decisions on what accommodations she can provide a student, so she always has to act with integrity. As new technology comes along Heather has to stay up to date to provide students with the best services possible, she thinks of innovative ideas, and is innovating for the 21st century. Heather helps [students] navigate the path to success and helps to leave a legacy of learning. “
Grayson spent 17 years in South Korea, were her parents were stationed in the military. She loves music and traveling. Grayson just got back from vacation in Reykjavik, Iceland where she attended the Iceland Airwaves 2016 Music Festival and got to travel around the country for nine days. In her free time, she is mostly hanging out with friends or downtown catching a show at the smaller concert venues.
Please join in congratulating Heather for this honor.
Honorable Mention:
Lori Yellen
