College of Western Idaho Foundation Inc

This year for Idaho Gives, the CWI Foundation has chosen to support a scholarship established by College of Western Idaho employee Nikki Houston. Called the "LTH Don't Give Up Scholarship,"  Nikki's goal is to help single parents achieve their dreams of going to college.

“I am in no way rich, but I felt strongly enough about this cause that I had to do something.”

Nikki is an enrollment advisor at CWI. She visits local high schools and talks to students about the benefits of going to college. Many of the people she talks to are at-risk students. She says a conversation with a single, pregnant teenage girl pushed her over the edge. The girl wanted to go to college but thought she couldn’t afford it.

“It absolutely broke my heart,” she said. “Money should never be an obstacle for a person who wants to go to school. So I asked my family to match my $250 donation to start a scholarship through the Foundation, and they did it.”

The  scholarship is named after her son; Logan Thomas Houston.

“I named (it) after him because he makes me want to do better,” she said. “I wouldn’t be where I am without him.”

To date, two students have been awarded the scholarship.

"Thank you to the people who have devoted their time and money to this scholarship. I want them to know how much I really appreciate the opportunity they're bringing to people like myself. It's important that they know their effort is not taken for granted!" 

~ Christina N., LTH Don't Give Up Scholarship Recipient 

 

ABOUT THE CWI FOUNDATION

The CWI Foundation is the only charitable, nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting College of Western Idaho. The Foundation plays a vital role in helping the College meet its diverse missions. The Foundation works in partnership with the community to help students access education by awarding scholarships, providing start-up funds for new educational programs, and funding the long-term capital plans to support growth and provide vital educational opportunities for our community.

Here are just a few reasons to support our scholarship donations:

• 100 percent of every dollar donated to the scholarship fund goes directly to students
  
• 74 percent of CWI students receive some form of grant or scholarship
• By 2018, 61 percent of jobs in Idaho will require postsecondary education
• The lifetime earning potential for those with an associate’s degree is nearly one-third more than those with a high school diploma
• Your donation is tax deductible
• CWI tuition is nearly half the cost of four-year universities – your money goes farther here!