Campus Connection Winter 2022 

(Staff welcome students & hand out materials for CTE Day)

Career and Technical Education Open House

Over two days, the CTE staff, faculty, and Admissions Team, rallied together to host a phenomenal and engaging CTE Open House on March 1 and March 2 in the new CTE Center. 

Over 400 high school students from around western Idaho and eastern Oregon rotated through eight informative sessions to learn more about the CTE programs offered at TVCC. Some of the programs highlighted included aviation, cybersecurity, criminal justice/addiction studies, and agriculture. During each day’s welcoming address, President Dana Young encouraged students to really think about their career interests and consider what field of study they would like to explore to obtain that living wage and exciting career after graduation. TVCC was excited to be able to hold the open house in person this year and the faculty and staff did a fantastic job with their presentations and program overviews. Students went away with a deeper understanding of the opportunities and resources available to them as well as some fun prizes. We look forward to these students becoming future Chukars one day!

(President Dana Young and ASG President Abby Smith)

National Career and Technical Education Month

During the month of February, Treasure Valley Community College joined other Oregon community colleges to recognize National CTE month and highlight their Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs and connect with legislators in a virtual environment. Throughout the month community colleges presented specific programs, heard student testimonies, highlighted faculty, and shared how we are helping Oregonians get back to work. Check out the stories below to learn more about the exciting programs TVCC offers.

(Gerald & Sharon Findley)

TVCC Foundation Announces $1 Million Donor

After months of planning and finalizing details, Treasure Valley Community College and the TVCC Foundation formally announced who provided a million-dollar donation to TVCC and  created a new name for TVCC’s Career & Technical Education Center.

Click here to read the full article: https://www.tvcc.cc/news/cte_center_donation.cfm

(L to R: Marco Antonio Figueroa Solis, Foundation Executive Director Cathy Yasuda, Aide Patino, Miguel Rios, President Dana Young, HEP and CAMP Director Hector Aguirre, and  Brenda Vega Vega, CAMP Student Support Coordinator)

National Farmworker Awareness Week

On March 31, the TVCC HEP and CAMP Programs hosted VOCES DEL CAMPO in recognition of National Farmworker Awareness Week (NFAW). A special dinner was served at the Four Rivers Cultural Center to celebrate the hard work and achievements of students enrolled in the TVCC CAMP, HEP, and ESL programs.

(L to R: President Dana Young, Foundation Executive Director Cathy Yasuda and special guests Allen and Tonia Montgomery)

Chukar Athletics
Submitted by Caresse Basaraba, ASG Vice President

The Associated Student Government (ASG) team helped kick off the TVCC women’s and men’s basketball season at their home opener against Blue Mountain on January 19th. At this game, the ASG team staffed a table that offered “Rally in the Valley” t-shirts and Chukar towels.

On January 26th, ASG once again had a table at the home basketball games against Walla Walla. The theme for the evening was “Orange Out” where ASG distributed TVCC foam fingers, “Rally in the Valley” t-shirts and student discount cards.

Saturday, January 29th, was “Pink Night” for the men's basketball game with a theme for Breast Cancer Awareness. ASG provided pink TVCC “Together We Fight” t-shirts that were worn by students and seen all over the gymnasium.

Visit www.gochuks.com for upcoming dates and times for athletic events.

Chukar Spirit Night

February 23rd was “Chukar Spirit Night.”  This was a busy night for students and staff as the event featured scholarship give-a-ways and prizes for current and future TVCC students. At halftime, activities such as musical chairs for professors were held.

(L to R: Board Chair Dirk DeBoer, Kilee Saldivar & President Young)

Recognizing Faculty Tenure

During the March 15, 2022, TVCC Board of Education meeting, Medical Assistant Program Director, and faculty member Kilee Saldivar, was recognized for achieving tenure status. Saldivar was hired at TVCC in 2018 and has been instrumental in developing the college’s current Medical Assistant Program as well as obtaining a 100% placement rate for her students. Congratulations Kilee for your commitment and dedication to the students we serve!

Chukar Trivia, Did You Know?

1.       The first TVCC classes were held September 24, 1962, in the evening at the Ontario High School.

2.       In 1962, the first quarter enrollment numbers totaled two hundred students ranging from the ages of 17 to 67.

3.       In the spring of 1962, the College issued its first yearbook, the Tesoro (Spanish for treasure).

Chukar Kudos

Kudos to Vera May (Financial Aid) and Lynette Lewis (Business Office) for covering the frontline at the Ontario campus while Enrollment Specialists Trisha Phillips and Lourdes Arciga traveled with Director Carol Buttice to the Caldwell Center for staff introductions and a facility tour.
Submitted by Carol Buttice, Director of Advising Services

(Coffee Cactus Owner Morgan King, President Dana Young, and Bookstore Clerk Tara Williamson)

Coffee Cactus

Students and staff do not have to travel off campus for their favorite beverage. Located in the Barber Hall bookstore, Coffee Cactus is onsite to offer a variety of hot and iced drinks and special signature beverages that will satisfy any craving. Stop by Monday through Thursday and check out their menu.

(L to R: Vice President Shirley Haidle, IT Director Scott Carpenter, Rennie Neider, President Dana Young, Director Ben Merrill, Vice President Eddie Alves, Vice President Travis McFetridge, and Dean of CTE David Koehler)

MILO System

On February 2, the TVCC administrative team viewed and participated in a demonstration of the MILO (Multiple Interactive Learning Objectives) simulator system. The MILO system is a mobile training resource for law enforcement and public safety agencies to utilize and provides a real-world experience in critical emergency situations. The system provides numerous realistic scenarios geared toward inactive force, tactical judgment and firearms training systems and range design. To date TVCC’s MILO system has been used by local law enforcement agencies with additional inquiries for future trainings. The system is also beneficial as a career exploration class for students interested in public safety.

Agencies interested in learning more about the MILO system should contact Rennie Neider, CTE Outreach Specialist at rneider@tvcc.cc.

TVCC Alumna Michelle Rucker, Student Success Spotlight

Science faculty are very proud of our students & want to tell some student success stories. Click the button below to read our latest spotlight: 
TVCC Alum Michelle Rucker

Make a Career Out of Making a Difference

TVCC offers affordable and accessible education. Enroll in classes now to make a difference by becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant. Apply at tvcc.cc or by contacting Rachel Grace at rgrace@tvcc.cc. 
Apply Now

Science Faculty Spotlights

TVCC has many assets and one of them is our faculty. This quarter, we want to recognize our amazing Science Department instructors and staff. Because of our instructors combined knowledge and years of teaching, it is no surprise when prospective students are encouraged to make TVCC their first choice when considering their post-secondary education. We appreciate the work these faculty do to share how science is important for analytically thinking, problem solving, and the study of the natural world, disease, and technology. In addition, because of their community partnerships, the Science Department has been instrumental in their outreach to local agencies and schools to host a multitude of fun-filled and exciting science-based activities, labs, and STEM Days to hundreds of elementary, middle school and high school students.

This quarter we are honored to feature faculty members Arwyn Larson, Kerby Winters, Cindy Feibert, and Dr. Nate Rawlinson, and Lab Technician and Adjunct Jeretta Shoemaker who are not only great faculty but great people.

Cynthia Feibert

(President Dana Young congratulates Cynthia Feibert for receiving the 2022 Ontario Chamber of Commerce Educator of the Year award)

Biology Instructor Cindy Feibert began her career at TVCC as a full-time instructor in 2008 but had many prior years as a TVCC adjunct. She currently serves on the TVCC Library Advisory Board. Prior to joining the Science Department, Feibert worked at the OSU Agricultural Experiment Station as a part-time researcher. Feibert and her husband Erik conducted their graduate research in Brazil and resided there for two years after completing their degrees. Cindy and Erik (who is a researcher at OSU Agricultural Experiment Station) have three adult daughters and the whole family enjoys the outdoors and being active.

In her free time, Feibert is a member of the Community Wind Symphony, Treasure Valley Symphony, and Faculty Brass Quintet. 

In January of this year, Feibert received the Ontario Chamber of Commerce Educator of the Year award. During the Chamber Award Night, TVCC President Young commented, “Feibert’s classes are designed to be hands-on and collaborative so that students really learn the concepts and can apply them to real-world problems. She continually looks for ways to enhance instruction and takes learning “out of the classroom.” Students in her classes have traveled from the Oregon Coast to the Idaho Botanical Gardens as part of her commitment to teach students real-world skills.”  

After years of teaching, Feibert plans to retire from TVCC in June 2022. 

Cynthia Feibert has a Bachelor of Science from the University of California, Berkeley and a Master of Science from the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Jeretta Shoemaker

Starting this fall, Jeretta Shoemaker will transition from lab manager and adjunct to a full-time instructor in the Biology Department. Shoemaker earned her associate degree from Treasure Valley Community College as a nontraditional student, and then went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in Biology from Boise State University and a master’s degree in Science Education from Montana State University. 

Shoemaker began working at TVCC in 2010 as a science department lab technician and later became the lab manager in 2014. She began teaching labs and lectures for TVCC in 2015 and currently teaches non-majors Biology, Medical Terminology, and Human Dissection. 

Jeretta Shoemaker has been married to husband Kevin for 30 years and they have three adult children and one grandchild, son (Doug) and daughters (Alexa and MarLee) and grandson (Case). 

For fun, Shoemaker enjoys traveling, especially to warm places during the cold winter months. She has been blessed to see many parts of the world, including Belize, Mexico, Ireland, Italy, and Spain. She spends her spare time quilting, reading, and enjoying both spin and yoga classes. Her two cats, Tobi, and Poppy are spoiled rotten and give her lots of joy. 

Jeretta Shoemaker has a AAOT from Treasure Valley Community College, a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Boise State University, and a Master of Science in Science Education from Montana State University.

Meet Juno!

He is an axolotl or Mexican walking fish. As you can see, Juno has a permanent grin on his face, and you cannot help but be amazed when you see this social creature. Axolotls can reach 6” – 18” in length and can live longer than 15 years with proper care. Juno and his smiling face can be found in the biology lab.

Arwyn Larson

(Arwyn Larson and Buddy)

During her high school and college years, Arwyn Larson worked a variety of jobs to help pay for her education. As an undergraduate, she had the opportunity to work at the dairy and beef farms at Oregon State University. After earning her bachelor’s degree, she joined the Peace Corps and traveled to Thailand and worked as a Beef Extension Agent for two years. Once back in the United States and working at various jobs, Larson entered into graduate school where she conducted lab research and worked as a teaching assistant. After graduation, Larson conducted animal health work, embryo transfers for a purebred cattle operation on the West Coast and expanded her work experience as a lab tech at St. Martin’s College and as an evening adjunct at South Puget Sound Community College.

In September 2002, Larson was hired as a biology instructor for TVCC teaching non-majors Biology, Anatomy and Physiology, Microbiology and Nutrition. Because Larson believes student leadership is also an important part of student success, she dedicated her personal time as Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) advisor from 2010 to 2019. During her tenure, Larson was recognized and awarded three PTK advisor awards, an award for Student Advocate of the Year by the TVCC Associated Student Government and in 2018 she was awarded Volunteer of the Year by the TVCC Foundation. 

Larson stated, “I am impressed by my students' ability to juggle so many different responsibilities and still make education a priority. I am inspired by them when I see what they do with their life as they move forward. So many success stories, they make me so proud to have been a small part in their path!” “TVCC is unique in that the small class sizes allow students to interact with and get help directly from their instructors. I think it is an incredible place to begin your educational journey!”

Larson has one son, Garrett, who is a Boise State University graduate and who currently works as a wildland fire fighter. Her family also extends to two geriatric pets, her feline companion Jack who is 19 and her dog and best friend Buddy who is 13. 

Arwyn Larson has a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science (Business Emphasis) with a Spanish Minor and a Master of Science in Animal Science (Reproductive Physiology) from Oregon State University.

Kerby Winters

Kerby Winters grew up in Wyoming and moved to Oregon in 1998. His prior work experience before TVCC ranged from being a Hospital Corpsman in the U.S. Navy to teaching high school science for 7 years at Vale High School. 

Winters has been a TVCC Chukar since 2004 and currently teaches Human A & P, Microbiology and Food and Nutrition. During his TVCC tenure, Winters has also taught the Biology for Majors sequence and Ecology and has served in the role of Department Chair for several years. In 2013, Winters was selected as the Ontario Chamber of Commerce Distinguished Educator of the Year.

When asked how he encourages his students, Winters said, “by letting students know that they are able to accomplish collegiate level science courses here at TVCC, then take that knowledge and experience anywhere they would like to go. I hope my students have the confidence to know that they can succeed in any profession they choose or transfer to any University, being as prepared as any other student.” “TVCC is unique because we offer a university-level science education in a small rural community.”

Kerby Winters has a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Physical Sciences with a Minor in Chemistry and a Bachelor in Science in Secondary Education from Idaho State University and a Master of Science from Montana State University. 

Dr. Nate Rawlinson

Before TVCC, Dr. Rawlinson was an adjunct faculty at BYU-Idaho. Since coming to TVCC, he volunteers regularly with the TVCC Admissions and Recruiting Staff to assist with events for local middle school and high school students. He is always a hit among his students since chemists have some pretty impressive demonstrations that they can do! Dr. Rawlinson has taught Survey of Chemistry, College Chemistry, and Organic Chemistry.

Dr. Rawlinson and his wife have four children in grade school, and they enjoy camping and hiking with their kids. In addition, Dr. Rawlinson is a bow hunter, fly fisherman, horse trainer, rockhound and a sports enthusiast.

Dr. Nate Rawlinson has a Bachelor of Science from BYI-Idaho and a PhD from Indiana University.