Vantage Point

Elevation™ is published by College of Western Idaho to share recent highlights and student accomplishments with donors, alumni, and the community.

CWI FOUNDATION

208.562.3100 foundation@cwi.edu

COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING

208.562.2222 communications@cwi.edu

It is an honor to serve as College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) president, working alongside our dedicated faculty and staff as we provide exceptional education to more than 30,000 students. At CWI, we take great pride in offering affordable, high-quality programs that empower students to achieve their goals. We are committed to creating a path to success for our students and the Treasure Valley community we serve.

We have had a terrific year at CWI, and this edition of Elevation is packed with great stories, including our feature on our new partnership with Micron. This partnership will create the backbone of the skilled workforce for their Boise manufacturing expansion. In addition, we share an update on our new buildings at our main Nampa Campus and the College’s property in downtown Boise. The investment in new infrastructure will expand CWI’s presence significantly, allowing us to serve even more students with first-rate facilities.

EDITOR IN CHIEF

Audrey Eldridge

EDITOR

Tristan Lewis

WRITERS

Tristan Lewis, Ashley Smith

CREATIVE MANAGER

Jessica Downing

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS

Cody Sprague, Bri Daniels

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Tristan Lewis, Ross Hosking, Morriah Marks

I am inspired by the students I meet who are in the process of transforming their lives by pursing a degree in one of our 118 programs. The expertise of our faculty is enabling our students to gain knowledge and develop lifelong skills. I hope you enjoy reading about their stories in Elevation, and you find them inspiring. CWI is uniquely positioned to partner with businesses and those in the Treasure Valley seeking to empower an educated workforce and community.

Please send address changes to the Communications and Marketing department by mail to MS 1000, P.O. Box 3010, Nampa, Idaho 83653 or by email to communications@cwi.edu.

To subscribe, visit cwi.edu/elevation.

MISSION STATEMENT

College of Western Idaho is committed to empowering students to succeed by providing affordable and accessible education to advance the local and global workforce.

Visit CWI on the Web at cwi.edu.

© 2023 College of Western Idaho

Gordon

Jones

President, College of Western Idaho

2 6 22 24

Congrats, Grads!

College of Western Idaho celebrated the Class of 2023 at the 14th Commencement Ceremony.

Campus Development

COLLEGE OF WESTERN IDAHO IS ADVANCING INTO A NEW PHASE OF GROWTH.

Campus News

IN A PARTNERSHIP WITH MICRON, CWI IS LEADING EFFORTS TO DELIVER TOP-LEVEL EDUCATION AND SKILLS TRAINING.

CWI Giving Day

THE CWI COMMUNITY CAME TOGETHER TO RAISE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO SUPPORT STUDENTS AND FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES.

Stepping Outside Her Comfort Zone to Find Success

THROUGH RESOURCES AT THE COLLEGE, VIVIANE AKINGENEYE, FOUND CONFIDENCE IN HERSELF AND IS ON HER WAY TO SUCCESS.

Using the Power of Creativity to Inspire

Caleb Chereji spends his hours in between classes creating art murals on campus to help those around him.

CWI Expands in Treasure Valley

College of Western Idaho (CWI) is launching a significant expansion with new buildings and facilities on its main Nampa Campus and in downtown Boise on the corner of Main Street and Whitewater Boulevard. These projects will benefit the more than 30,000 students CWI serves.

NAMPA

Campus

One of the key projects in Nampa is the Health & Sciences Building , a 45,000 square-foot facility that will consolidate multiple programs, including nursing, biology, and medical assistant courses. The building will contain state-of-the-art hyflex classrooms and labs for microbiology, as well as anatomy and physiology, and enhanced congregated learning spaces for students.

Additionally, the Student Learning Hub , covering 35,000 square feet, will serve as a central location for students, employers, and the community to engage. The hub

“CWI is an incredibly important asset to the Treasure Valley, providing the needed skillsets to students of all ages,” said Nampa Mayor Debbie Kling . “I’m so excited to see the continued investment at the Nampa Campus.”

Construction Partners:

• ESI

• CUSHING TERRELL

Estimated Completion Date:

• HEALTH & SCIENCES BUILDING

FALL 2025

• AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE AND HORTICULTURE

FALL 2025

• STUDENT LEARNING HUB

FALL 2026

Boise Center

In April, CWI announced the selection of Ball Ventures Ahlquist to develop the Boise Center, with CWI buildings and a mixed-use development along the Boise River. The Boise Center will feature modern classrooms and state-of-the-art technology fostering innovation, collaboration, and hands-on learning opportunities.

The Boise Center will primarily focus on programs such as Business, Computer Science, and Cybersecurity, catering to the needs of local employers. This expansion aligns with CWI's strategic campus visioning plan, which involved extensive public engagement and internal planning.

CWI'S BOARD OF TRUSTEES CHAIR, MOLLY LENTY, EXPRESSED EXCITEMENT ABOUT BOTH DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS, "WE ARE THRILLED TO BE MOVING FORWARD ON THE COLLEGE'S IN-DEPTH STRATEGIC CAMPUS VISIONING PLAN THAT INCLUDED MORE THAN TWO YEARS OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND EXTENSIVE INTERNAL PLANNING WITH EXPANSIONS IN BOTH ADA AND CANYON COUNTY."

For more information and updates on these projects, VISIT cwi.edu/campus-development

Construction Partners:

• BALL VENTURES ALQUIST

• ESI

• HUMMEL ARCHITECTS

Estimated Completion Date:

• BOISE CENTER FALL 2026

MICHELLE WOOTON

BOISE, IDAHO

MAJOR: OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSISTANT