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University of Idaho

Physical Address:
1031 N. Academic Way,
Suite 242
Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814

Phone: 208-667-2588

Fax: 208-664-1272

Email: cdactr@uidaho.edu

Web: uidaho.edu/cda

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Coeur d'Alene Newsletter - Spring 2021

A balcony overlooking Coeur d'Alene Lake, with the text "Spring 2021."

From the desk of Charles Buck

From all of us at U of I Coeur d’Alene, congratulations to the latest U of I graduates! Coeur d’Alene grads were invited to attend commencement on the main campus this year. With six discrete ceremonies, graduation was certainly different, but the Moscow team did a great job with some steep logistics. After only a virtual ceremony in 2020, it was good to get back to an in-person event.

At U of I Coeur d’Alene, we look forward to connecting with generations of alumni this summer. Mark your calendars for Vandals in the Park from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 27. Come out to McEuen Park in downtown Coeur d’Alene for an evening of food, drink, fun and music from alumnus Colby Acuff. We hope this extends our celebration of our local graduates while connecting the newest alumni and incoming students with fellow Vandals.

While we might think of slowing down a bit to rejuvenate after the academic year, activities in Coeur d’Alene pick up with the summer outreach season. Our Dig’nIT program will again provide hands-on STEM learning for regional youth. For a third year, we will partner with the Boys & Girls Club to bring our coding camps to both the Post Falls and Coeur d’Alene locations, led by master teacher and Vandal alumna Azure Wilson. We will also team up with Growing the STEM to offer mathematics camps at the Harbor Center. A strong math foundation is critical for success in the modern tech workforce, but 55% of Idaho students are not meeting math proficiency targets. We hope these camps contribute to improved math proficiency among late elementary and early middle school students.

Exciting news for the Dig’nIT STEM internship – we are expanding the program to the Silver Valley with a new tech partner, Gravis Technologies. Now in its ninth year, the program will include about a dozen companies hosting paid teen interns to work throughout the summer on real-world tech and other STEM projects.

Integrating Education and Careers (IEC), entering its second year, connects our commitment to K-12 schools with regional workforce needs. Through interactive tours, companies show teachers current career trends and the skills required for those jobs. Educators receive professional development credit and take their knowledge back to the classroom. This summer we have received grants from the Idaho Workforce Development Council in support of both the high school internship program and IEC.

We’re happy to be busy this summer. Enjoy yours, and please plan to join us July 27 for Vandals in the Park!

Charles Buck
buck@uidaho.edu

Noteworthy

Coeur d’Alene Faculty Honored

the text "University Excellence Awards 2020-21: Julie Amador, Mid Career Award" with a picture of Julie Amador

Associate Professor Julie Amador earned the Mid-Career Award as part of the 2020-21 University Excellence Awards, Amador is the director of the Idaho Region 1 Math Center and currently leads a $2.7 million NSF-funded study on rural math coaching development.

The text "Athena Women of the Year: Leda Kobziar, Faculty Woman of the Year, 2020-21" with a picture of Leda Kobziar

Athena named Associate Professor Leda Kobziar the Woman of the Year for Faculty. As a leading fire science researcher and director of the master of natural resources program, Kobziar will use a nearly $1 million NSF grant to launch a fire ecology lab at the Coeur d'Alene Harbor Center.

Local Class of 2021

Stories from the most recent graduates at the Coeur d’Alene center reveal a resilient class with a broad range of personal, professional and life experience leading them to this point. Patrick shared his mantra “refire, don’t retire” as he looks ahead to his doctorate at 65 years old. Tyler, a first-generation college student who transferred multiple times, writes how a U of I professor helped him identify his passion. Meanwhile, Julie shares her experience as an international student learning alongside Coeur d’Alene Tribal youth. Meet more of the U of I Coeur d’Alene class of 2021.

"My college experience has given me courage to get outside of my comfort zone."

North Idaho Vandal Features

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University of Idaho

Physical Address:
1031 N. Academic Way,
Suite 242
Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814

Phone: 208-667-2588

Fax: 208-664-1272

Email: cdactr@uidaho.edu

Web: uidaho.edu/cda

U of I CDA Directory Directions