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Gear Up page 8

Volume1, Number 2 Winter 2005-06

Upcoming eventspage 12

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Service Learning: fostering the development of empathy, personal values, beliefs, self esteem, self confidence and social responsibility

Pickinguptrashbyariverbankisservice. Studyingwatersamplesunderamicroscopeislearning. Whenstudentscollectandanalyzewatersamplesandthelocalpollutioncontrolagencyusesthefindingstocleanupariver...thatisservicelearning. ServicelearningisaCentralWyomingCollegeclassandtheconceptsarealsointegratedintothecurriculumofothercollegecourses,suchasProfessorJewelDirk’shumanservicesclass.Re-gardless,servicelearningengagesyoungpeopleinsolvingproblemswithintheirschoolsandcommunitiesaspartoftheiracademicstudies. IntheservicelearningclassatCWC,astu-dentmustcommit30hourstoservicetoearna

credit.ButaccordingtoinstructorMaryFlohr,thestudentlearnssomuchmore. Theprojectsoftenfosterthedevelopmentofem-pathy,personalvalues,beliefs,selfesteem,selfconfidenceandsocialresponsibility.Theservicereinforcesandstrengthensthelearning,andthelearningreinforcesandstrengthenstheservice. JessicaKonicek,asocialworkstudent,isgiv-ingupsomeofhertimeontheweekendsdoingactivitieswiththeresidentsoftheWestwardHeightsCareCenterinLander. “I’mgettingalotmoreoutofitthanIexpected,”saidJessica,emphasizingtheexperi-encehasbeen“humbling.” Thefacesofthenursinghomeresidentslightupwhentheyseehereachweekend.Someof

themdon’tgetmanyvisitors,sheadds,andtheycometodependonseeingafamiliarface. TheservicelearningprojectgivesJessicaanopportunitytousenewlyacquiredskillsandknowledgefromtheclassroominreal-lifesitu-ations.Italsoallowshertofocusinareasofsocialworkshemaywanttolateremphasize. StudentsinJewelDirks’classhavetheop-portunitytoenhancetheirgradebyparticipatinginaservicelearningproject.“She’sbeenamazedathowsomeofthemaretakingtoit,”FlohrsaidofDirks’students.“Thestudentsaregoingaboveandbeyondandreallydoingsomecommunityserviceratherthanlittleprojectsjusttogetthegrade.”

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Service-learningalsohelpsyoungpeopledeveloparangeofserviceskills,fromactsofkindnessandcaring,tocommunitystewardship,tocivicaction. Dirks’studentAnessiaA.PorterwaspartofaWindRiverReservationgroupthatparticipatedinaneventinCheyennecelebratingrecoveryand“wellbriety.”Anessiasawfirsthandhowalcoholanddrugswereaffectinglivesonthereservationwhiledoingsocialworkthere.“IwanttobeabletomakeadifferenceevenifIonlyhelponeperson,”shesaid. ForSusanBenepe,whorunsFremontCountyBigBrothersBigSisters,college-agedstudentsareimportanttothesuccessofherprogram’smission.“Collegekidsaretherightage,”shesaid. Themajorityof“Bigs”inherprogramareCWCstudentsandBenepeisconvincedtheywill“doamazingthings.It’sgreattohavethosetentaclesoutinthecommunity,”shesaid.WhileBigBrothersBigSistersreceivesAmericorpsfundstorecruitcollegestudentstotheprogram,mostdon’tvolunteerforthemoney.“IdoitbecauseIenjoyspendingtimewithkids,”saidCWCstudentVictorSza-blewski,whoisa“Big”toSkylar,a12-year-oldwhowasmatched

withVictorbecauseoftheirsharedinterestintheoutdoors. Victoristhenon-custodialparentofthreedaughterswholiveinWisconsin,sospendingtimewithhis“littlebrothersfillavoidforme.”He’sanexperienced“Big”ashewasinaBBBSprograminCodybeforerelocatingtoRiverton.Anaccountingstudent,Victordoesn’thaveabackgroundinsocialworkorcounseling.Yet,heunderstandsthatwhatthekidshesharestimewithneedmost:consistency.

“Kidsneedattention;peoplewhopayattentionandpeoplewhowillbethere,”saidVictor.“De-pendabilityisreallyimportanttothem.”“Consistencyismyultimatewordformatches,”Benepeadds,explainingthatmanyofthe“Lit-tles”have“disheveledkindsoflifestyles.”Sheadvisesagainstspoilingthechildren.“They’lltakeanythingtheycanget,butit’stimethatissoprecioustothem.Timeisthegreatestgiftofall.”Typically,BigsandLittles“hangout”onweek-ends.“Theylovethesimplestuff,”Benepesaid.

“Theylovejustbeingincluded.”ThechildrenenjoybeinginvitedtotagalongwiththeirBigswhiledoingweekenderrands,forex-ample.WhenstudentTerraHubenkajoinedBBBSshedidn’texpectitwouldchangeher.“I’vealwaysbeenagiver,butnowIfindmyselfdoingthingsforotherpeoplejusttomakethemsmile.”ParticipantsofCWC’sHonorsPro-gram,agroupofselectstudents,createdaservicelearningprojectentitled“BooksforBabies.”Topromoteliteracyataveryyoungage,thestudentsraisedmoneytopurchasecopiesof“GoodNightMoon,”apopularchildren’sbook.EverybabyborninFremontCountylastDecemberreceivedacopyofthebook.

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TheequineindustryinAmericaisbigbusinessandstudentsfromacrossthecountryandevenfromforeignnationsareflock-ingtoCentralWyomingCollegetoearntheskillstoworkinthetrade. Thehorseindustryisa$15billionbusinessintheUnitedStates,saidCWCEquineProfessorPattiStalley,whoaquartercenturyagobegandevelopingCWC’sequinestudiesprogramintoanationallyrecognizedcurriculum. FormanyofStalley’sstudents,thecollege’shorsemanshipprogramisabletotransformastudent’sloveforhorsesintoameaningfulandproductivecareer.CWCgraduateshavegoneontoworkasequinefacilitiesmanagers,horsetrainersandshowhorsesinternationally.

“Ourprogramhasbecomeknownasaprogressiveprogrambystayingcurrentwithnationalandinterna-tionalequinetrends,”Stalleysaid.“Weencourageourstudentstobecomewellrounded.”

Word-of-mouthaccoladesaboutStalley’sinstructionandtheequineprogramatCWChasspread.StudentscomefromacrossthenationtoRivertontoenroll,andtheprogramhasevenattractedsomeinternationalstu-dents.Justrecently,Pattitookacallfroma

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youngwomaninNewYorkwholearnedabouttheprogramfromtheU.S.OlympicEquestrianTeam’sveterinarian,whoStalleyhasnevermet. She’salsobeenrecentlyinvitedbytheBlackHillsEquineExpocommitteetojudgetheirTrainer’sChallengecompetitionandtopresentaseminaron“CollegesandCareerswithHorses.” With1.9millionAmericansowninghorses,therearemanyjobsrelatedtoequine,Stalleysaid.Mostofhergraduatesearnanincomeorsupplementanincomewithhorses.Someofthesestudentshavehadlifelongassociationwithhorses,whileothershadnevermountedahorseuntiltheyputtheirfeetinstirrupsatCWC. Wyoming,thenation’sleastpopulatedstatewithonlyahalfmillionpeople,has99,000horses.AccordingtotheAmericanHorseCouncil,theequineindustryinWyomingproducesgoodsandservicesvaluedat$191mil-lion.Itdirectlyprovides1,400full-timeequiva-lentjobsinthestateforatotalemploymentimpactof4,900jobs.AccordingtoAHC,33,100stateresidentsareinvolvedintheindustryasowners,serviceprovidersorvolunteers. Stalleydoesn’tneedthestaggeringstatis-ticstoknowhowbigtheequinebusinesshasgrown.WhenshebeganofferingCWCclassesin1981,shewaswarnedtheclasswouldnotbeheldunlessshehadatleasteightstudentsenroll.Sixty-fourregisteredforthosefirsttwoclassesandfromthereithassnowballedintoa

CynthiaSchellisamentorforCWC’slongtimeEquineProfessorPattiStalley. Betterknowninequinecirclesas“Cinch,”the88-year-oldCrowheartwomanhashadalifelongloveaffairwithhorses. “Sheissoworldly,”saidStalleyindescribingCinch,whoasapart-timeinstruc-torfortheequineprogramintroducedmanyCWCstudentstoEnglishriding. Thoughshewastheleaderinequineeducationinthestate,PattienrolledinthefirstclassofferedbyCinchatCWCtorenewherownpersonalEnglishskills. WhilemostridersinthisarearideWesternstyle,theinterestinEnglishridinghasgrowntremendously,Stalleysaid,especiallybecausestudentsareenrollingatCWCfromcoastalstatesandtheeast. Inadditiontobeingagreatpromoterofriding,PattisaysCinchisalsoanavidreading.She’shelpedkeepPattiabreastofthechangingtrendsinequineeducationbybringingherarticlesfrommultiplepublications. Therehasn’tbeenatimeinCinch’slonglifewhenshewasn’twildabouthorses.

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A lifelong love of horsesCynthia “Cinch” Schell, right, visits with CWC equine student Jolene Murray.

full-fledgedprogramwithanever-growingreputa-tion. Stalley,whooriginallywashiredatCWCtocoachwomen’srodeo,saidowninghorsesisahugecommitment. “It’sabigmistakeforapersontotakeafewridinglessonsandthengobuyahorse,”saidStalley,whohonedherequineskillsasachildonaNebraskaranch.“Theyreallyneedtoknowhowtotakecareofahorse.” DevelopingridingskillsisonlyonepartofCWC’scurriculum.Studentslearnanatomy,horsehealthcarepractices,equinenutrition,shoeingandhousinghorses.Thiskindofcommitmenttakestimeandmoney. Withhercautionsaside,Pattisaidtraining

studentsvolunteertoputonraisedmorethan$13,000lastyear.ThatwasputtowardanEquineEndowmentwiththeCWCFoundationandwasmatcheddollarfordollarbythestate.Theprogramhasalsoraisedabout$23,000fortheRonnieAlexanderMemorialFund,tohonorahorsefarrierfromCrowheart

whousedtoshoeatthearena. Stalleywouldliketoputonmoreeventsandexpandhercurriculumtoincludetherapeuticriding,equinemassage,vettech,vaulting,andmuleeducation,butsheislimitedbyarenaandparkingspaceatthecol-lege’sNorth8thWestandGasserRoadfacility. Theequineindustryishighlydiverse,supportingawidevarietyofactivitiesinallregionsofthecountry.CWC’scurriculumoffersavarietyofdegreesandcre-dentialstomeettheneedsofthestudents,whoaretaughttoride,trainandtoteachriding.TheprogramisaffiliatedwiththeinternationalCertifiedHorsemanshipAssociation.Studentscanbecertifiedtoteachatfourdifferentlevels.CWCstudentsmaintainahighnationalrateofcertification,Stalleypointsout.

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Maria Laursen, an international student from Sweden, practices English skills at CWC’s Equine Center above, and Equine Professor Patti Stalley, far right, works with Darcie Moody.

horsesgivesyoua“warmfeeling”inside.“Itgivesyousuchafeelingofsatisfaction,”shesaid.WhileamajorityofPatti’sstudentsareintheprogramtolearnacareerinequine,therearenumeroushorseownersinthecommunitywhohavetakenequinecoursestopromotetheiravocation. CommunitysupportisevidentbytheparticipationintheequineprogramsspecialeventsheldannuallyattheCWCEquineCenter. Lastyear,theprogramhostedafreeequinechi-ropracticseminarwithDr.JohnWilson.Sheexpectedabout40peopletoattendandendedupwith120.TheEquineCenterfrequentlyhostsclinicsforEnglishrid-ing,breakaway,barrel,showingandaseriesofJackpotRodeoswhereabout$10,000inprizesisawarded.Theeventsareforyouthandadults,andaregearedtowardthestudentsandcommunity. “Weliveinaverygenerouscommunitywholiketoseetheiryoungpeoplebeingschooledandsucceeding,”Stalleysaid,notingthatthespecialeventssheandher

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Noteverymakeoveriscosmetic. CentralWyomingCollege’sdirectorofCustomizedTrain-ingLynneMcAuliffesaidCWCisofferingextremecareermake-overstoeligiblewomenbyprovidingopportunitiestolearnnewhands-skillsthatwillmorethanlikelydoubletheirearn-ingcapacity. Theprogramprovidesfreetrainingtoqualifiedfemaleapplicantsinthefieldofinformationtechnology.Anotherprogram,offeringsimilarperks,beginsinFebruarybutinthefieldofconstructiontrades. WomeninWyomingearnmuchlessthantheirmalecounterpartsandthatwagedisproportiongivesthestatethedubiousdistinctionofbeingdeadlastinthenation.Wyomingwomenearn67centsonthedollarcomparedtomen,andthenationalaverageis73cents.AnevenmorediscouragingstatisticisthatwomeninFremontCounty,Wyomingmakeonly63centstothemaledollar. TheWyomingDepartmentofWorkForceServiceswantstoelevatethewagesofthestate’sfemaleworkersbysponsoringawagedisparityprogramthroughCWC.Thegrantallowsthetenbestapplicantsinthetwoprogramsthechancetore-shapetheirlivesbylearningtheskillstodemandhigherwages. CWCiscurrentlyeducatingaclassofInformationTechnologySupportSpecialistsandthese10women,carefullyselectedfrom100applicationslastspring,havebeeninaveryintensive,rigorousprogram.

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BornonStatenIsland,N.Y.in1917,itbecametooexpensivetotaketheexpensiveponyridesatAsburyPark.Solikelotsofyounggirls,shedevouredbooksabouthorses.Shestillholdsontohermother’scopyofRiding and Driving for WomenbyBelleBeach,abookshefirstreadwhenshewasjust10yearsold. Shegotherfirsthorsein1933,abaysaddlebredgelding.WhileattendingintheKnoxSchoolinCooperstown,N.Y.,shehadtheoptionofridingforanextrafee.HerinstructorwasaRussiancolonel,whotaught“forwardseat”riding. Cinchwasthefirsttoenrollinananimalhus-bandryprogramatPennState,wheresheearnedadegreein1940.Aboutthesametime,shegotherfirstthoroughbredmareandworkedasa“ridingcounselor.” In1946,shemarriedveterinarianFredSchellandtheypassedontheirloveofhorsesandanimalstotheirthreechildren.Around1950,CinchtookherPonyClubtothefirstevernationalrallyandoneofherstudentswasthefirstyoungwomentopassatest.Herteamalsoplacedfirstinateamdressagecompetition.Afewyearslater,CinchdesignedandbuiltcrosscountryjumpsforthatportionoftheU.S.EquestrianTeamtrials. Cinchandherfamilymovedaroundthecoun-tryandshetaughtatcollegesandprivatestables,includingleadingtheridingprogramatCampGreenCoveinTuxedo,N.C.,for15years. SheconcludedherteachingcareerinWyoming,teachingforCWCandforprivatestudentsattheBit-terrootRanchnearDubois. Lastyear,shereturnedtotheCWCEquineCen-tertodonatealargetelevisiontoenhanceequineeducation.

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“Employersarehopingtohirethemdirectlyoutoftheprogram,”saidMcAuliffe.There’sarealmarketforpeoplewiththebreadthofexperiencethesewomenaregaining. AgoodpartofthereasonWyomingranks51stinthenationinwagedif-ferencesisthattherearemanyhigh-payingjobsinthemineralsindustrythataregenerallyfilledbymen.McAuliffesaidonewayforwomentoearncompetitivewagesisbylearningskillsinnon-traditionalfields,suchasconstructiontradesandinformationtechnol-ogy. “Womenarework-ingmostlyintheservicesector,”sheexplained.“Ifwecanputmorewomeninnontraditionalfieldsthatpayhigherwages,wecanimpactthewagedisparity.”Mostimportantly,thewomencanbecomeselfsufficient.Theapplicantsforthetwoupcomingprogramsmustmeeteligibilityrequirementsandhavedependentsathome.“Thesearewomenwhoarealreadystruggling,”McAuliffesaidwhileemphasizingthecompe-titionwillbefierceforwinningaspotintheprograms.“It’snotfirstcome,firstserved.”

Alltuition,booksandmaterialsarefullypaidbythegrant,shesaid,explainingthatdrugscreensareanewrequirementforappli-cantsbecausethecandidatesintheprogramswouldberequiredtobetestedbypotentialemployers.“Ourgoalistohavean80percentplacementrateofprogramcompletersemployedinthefieldthattheyaretrained,”McAuliffesaid.

TheparticipantsinthefirstwagedisparityInforma-tionTechnologytrainingatCWCareverymotivatedtosucceedintheprogram.“Ithinktheyappreciatetheopportunitytomakeacareerchange,”shesaid,notingthateachoftheparticipantsunderstandtheinvestmentthathasbeenmadeforthem. Thewagedisparityprogramisalsobeneficialtopotentialemployers. ConstructiontradesinWyomingareindesperateneedforqualifiedworkers.RaJeanFossenofStrubeCon-structionisconfidentwomencandothejob.Andwomenalsocouldbetrainedincon-

structionspecialties,suchasfinishcarpentry,tiling,flooringandthelike. TheInformationTechnologyfieldismoreconduciveforwomenwithchildren,McAuliffeacknowledgesasitmaynotrequiretravel.TheITclassesbeginJan.27andtheConstructionTradesissettobeginFeb.27.

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Coming to CWC Theatre soon

7:30 p.m. – Main StageBased on a story and characters by Damon Runyon

Music and Lyrics by Frank LoesserBook by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows

March 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11

Startwithacolorfulassortmentof1930sGuys and Dolls –gangsters,molls,gam-blers,nightclubsingersandSalvationArmyworkers.ThenaddawildlyfunnystorythatbouncesfromTimesSquaretoHavanatothesewersofNewYork.Finally,stirinonefamoussongafteranother(like“LuckBeaLady”and“SitDown,You’reRockin’theBoat”).ThisistherecipeforoneoftheclassicsofAmericanmusicaltheater.Rated G •ReservedSeating

TicketsgoonsaleFeb.9forseasonsubscribers;Feb.16forallothers. 11

Thenextscreenasksyoutonarrowyourselec-tionofnoncreditclasses.UseapublishedflyerfromoneoftheCWCoutreachofficesforclass

information,orclickonthewordsNon-creditCourseListonthisscreenandseeallclassesavailable.Nowyoumayselectyourclasses.

Followremainingdirectionstocompletethefinalstepsforregistration.

Want to sign up for a non-credit class? Take advantage of the new “Instant Enrollment” feature on the website. You may register for classes online,

and pay for them at the time you enroll. Just follow the step-by-step procedures.Instructions:NewstudentsandformerCWCstudentsmayregisterfornoncredit(continuingeducationorcommunityservice)classesviaWebAdvisor.Youmustuseacreditcardtopaywhenyouregisterfortheseclassesandyoumusthaveanemailaddresstousethisservice.IfyouwanttoexitWebAdvisoratanytime,clickonLogOutintheupperrightcornerofthescreen.

Step GototheCWCwebsitewww.cwc.eduandclickonWebAdvisor(foundontheleftsideoftheCWChomepage.)

TheopeningscreencontainstheinstructionsforloggingintoWebAdvisor.IfyouknowyourWebAdvi-sorusernameandpassword,youcanuseit;ifyoudonot,continuebyclickingonthewordWEBADVISORatthetoporthebottomoftheinstructionpage.

Step OntheMainMenuclickonWebAdvi-sorforContinuingEducation.

Step Onthenextscreen,clickonRegisterandPayforContinuingEducationClasses.(seearrow)

January 6 First Class Stipend deadline

January 9 Faculty return from semester break

January 12-13 New student orientation

January 13 Last day to register for 2006 Spring Semester classes

Jan. 13-Feb. 5 Annual Exhibit of the Art Department Faculty

January 16 CWC closed for Martin Luther King/Equality Day Holiday

January 17 Spring classes begin

January 21 Jungle Book Presented by Missoula Children’s Theatre

January 28 Living Legends Dance Ensemble

January 28 Jackpot Rodeo series begins at Equine Center

Winter activities at CWCFebruary 2 Reception for Art Faculty Exhibit

Feb. 8-March 5 Memory & Meditation exhibit Artists exploring how we remember events in our life and how focusing on those can heal our souls.

February 10 Jazz Night II Free concert featuring CWC jazz ensembles

February 12 College Goal Sunday

February 13 Financial Aid Awareness Week

February 16 Faculty Colloquium Art Department discussion

February 20 President’s Day Holiday

February 21-24 Diversity Week

February 23 Memory & Meditation Exhibit reception

March 2-4, 9-11 Guys and Dolls, CWC Theater Department’s spring musical

March 8-April 2 Slices of Life exhibit

March 14 Craicmore Contemporary, traditional Celtic bandConnectisanewpublicationofthe

CWCPublicInformationOfficeandisscheduledtobepublishedquarterly.

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