At our March 18, 2026 meeting, representatives from North Idaho College (NIC) joined us to share an encouraging update on the College’s progress and future direction. The presentation was led by NIC President Dr. Nick Swayne, along with Rayelle Anderson, Executive Director, and Melanie Droesch, Development Operations Manager.
The presentation provided an upbeat and forward-looking overview of NIC’s current position and its near- to mid-term plans.
The Trustee Board governance challenges of recent years have now been resolved, and NIC’s accreditation is once again in “good standing” as of February 9, 2026. President Swayne highlighted the work of the newly seated Board of Trustees, which has been recognized nationally for implementing best-in-class governance practices through updated policies and procedures. These improvements are expected to provide lasting benefits for the College and the broader community it serves.
The College has experienced strong student enrollment growth over the past couple of years. Dr. Swayne shared NIC is serving nearly 4,600 students in credit programs. Of that 4,600, over 1,700 students are high school dual credit students attending high school and taking NIC courses at the same time. NIC serves an additional 7,000 students through NIC’s Workforce Training Center which offers short-term, focused career and apprenticeship offerings.
Looking forward, NIC has many exciting plans for the future. President Swayne shared the following list and then stood for questions:
- Expanded partnerships with the University of Idaho and Lewis Clark State College
- Expanded workforce development partnerships
- Cardinal Classical pathway launching Fall 2026
- NIC X-Labs
- Continuous improvement in assessment metrics
- Enhanced student support and streamlined pathways
- Preparing campus facilities for the future
- Commitment to governance excellence and transparency
- Accreditors lack the tools to manage rogue boards – ELECTIONS MATTER
Photograph: (left to right) Melanie Droesch (NIC), Jim DeShazer, Rayelle Anderson (NIC), Dr. Nick Swayne (NIC), Kim Cummings (President Elect), Dick Jurvelin
Last Updated: April 10, 2026 by Matt Palmer Leave a Comment
KTEC Update Highlights Growth and Opportunity
Bill White from the Kootenai Technical Education Campus (KTEC) joined us at our April 8 meeting to share an update on the campus’s programs and recent developments.
KTEC is a dynamic partnership between business and industry leaders, local school districts, and regional manufacturers. The campus provides tuition-free, industry-level training for high school juniors and seniors, offering dual enrollment credits, industry certifications, and a practical pathway to career success through applied, hands-on learning. Students can explore a wide range of technical fields, including automotive repair, healthcare, welding, and residential construction. A recently introduced plumbing program has already proven to be especially popular. Many KTEC programs also offer credit that counts toward apprenticeship requirements, giving students a strong head start as they enter the workforce.
KTEC serves students from eight local public high schools in three districts, as well as private and homeschooled students. Demand for enrollment has historically exceeded capacity, often resulting in long waiting lists. In response, the KTEC Board recently approved a schedule change that has increased student capacity by approximately 30%—from about 580 to nearly 800 students annually.
KTEC continues to play a vital role in strengthening our local workforce by preparing students with the practical skills and certifications needed to succeed in high-demand careers—benefiting both the students and the broader North Idaho community.
Photograph: (left to right) Jim DeShazer, Bill White (KETC), Matt Palmer (Treasurer), Mike Lane (President)
Last Updated: April 9, 2026 by Matt Palmer Leave a Comment
Shantaya Esler – March 2026 Student of the Month
We honored our March 2026 Student of the Month – Shantaya Esler – during our April 8 meeting. Dick Jurvelin presented Shantaya with her scholarship check and certificate, and Certificate. Her list of leadership and academic accomplishments is very impressive, and will launch her to a successful career in whatever field she chooses to pursue.
Photograph: Shantaya is joined by Dick Jurvelin (left) and her Mom (right)
Last Updated: April 10, 2026 by Matt Palmer Leave a Comment
Addison Sprague – KTEC Scholarship Recipient
At our April 8, 2026 meeting, we proudly congratulated Addison Sprague as the annual recipient of the Kiwanis Club of Coeur d’Alene’s $500 KTEC (Kootenai Technical Education Campus) scholarship!
Addison is in the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) at KTEC and will graduate this semester, and plans to attend North Idaho College in the fall to pursue her goal of becoming a nurse. She was joined by her Mom and Dad, and Jim DeShazer honored her achievements on behalf of the Club.
Photograph: Addison Sprague is joined by her father Jason (left) and Jim DeShazer (right)
Posted: April 2, 2026 by Matt Palmer Leave a Comment
Welcome Bill Bell – our Newest Club Member!
On April 1, 2026, the Kiwanis Club of Coeur d’Alene proudly welcomed its newest member, Bill Bell! We’re thrilled to have Bill join our Club and are excited for the energy, passion, and commitment to service he brings as we continue making a difference in our community.
Photograph: (left to right) Mike Lane (President), Megan Tollackson (Past President and Membership Chair), Bill Bell, Matt Palmer (Treasurer and Bill’s sponsor)
Last Updated: March 23, 2026 by Matt Palmer Leave a Comment
Go, Chiefs, Go… or Go, Comets, Go?
The evening of March 21, 2026 brought a special “turn-back-the-clock” tribute at Spokane Arena, as the Spokane Chiefs honored the historic Spokane Comets (1959–1963). For one night, the Chiefs took on the Comets name and donned vintage-inspired jerseys—later auctioned off to benefit local charities.
Members of the Kiwanis Club of Coeur d’Alene gathered for a fun and memorable night at the arena, cheering on the home team in front of a sell-out crowd. After a competitive start, Spokane found its rhythm late in the first period and never looked back, powering their way to an impressive 6–1 victory over the Tri-City Americans.
It’s safe to say the enthusiastic support from our Kiwanis group didn’t hurt!
Most importantly, it was a great opportunity to spend time together and enjoy an exciting evening of hockey, community, and camaraderie.
Last Updated: April 9, 2026 by Matt Palmer Leave a Comment
North Idaho College
At our March 18, 2026 meeting, representatives from North Idaho College (NIC) joined us to share an encouraging update on the College’s progress and future direction. The presentation was led by NIC President Dr. Nick Swayne, along with Rayelle Anderson, Executive Director, and Melanie Droesch, Development Operations Manager.
The presentation provided an upbeat and forward-looking overview of NIC’s current position and its near- to mid-term plans.
The Trustee Board governance challenges of recent years have now been resolved, and NIC’s accreditation is once again in “good standing” as of February 9, 2026. President Swayne highlighted the work of the newly seated Board of Trustees, which has been recognized nationally for implementing best-in-class governance practices through updated policies and procedures. These improvements are expected to provide lasting benefits for the College and the broader community it serves.
The College has experienced strong student enrollment growth over the past couple of years. Dr. Swayne shared NIC is serving nearly 4,600 students in credit programs. Of that 4,600, over 1,700 students are high school dual credit students attending high school and taking NIC courses at the same time. NIC serves an additional 7,000 students through NIC’s Workforce Training Center which offers short-term, focused career and apprenticeship offerings.
Looking forward, NIC has many exciting plans for the future. President Swayne shared the following list and then stood for questions:
Photograph: (left to right) Melanie Droesch (NIC), Jim DeShazer, Rayelle Anderson (NIC), Dr. Nick Swayne (NIC), Kim Cummings (President Elect), Dick Jurvelin
Last Updated: October 3, 2026 by Matt Palmer Leave a Comment
Coming Soon…
Last Updated: April 9, 2026 by Matt Palmer
City on a Hill Behavioral Health Center
On March 11, 2026, the Kiwanis Club of Coeur d’Alene welcomed guest speakers Mike Wraith, Executive Director, and Joe Mitrovich, Clinical Director, from City on a Hill Behavioral Health Center. They shared an encouraging update on the significant growth the Center has experienced since its Grand Opening on October 13, 2025. They also expressed their appreciation to the Kiwanis Club of Coeur d’Alene for the financial support our Club provided last year to help the organization get off to a strong start.
City on a Hill provides evidence-based mental health care and, as a faith-based clinic, thoughtfully integrates professional therapy with a Biblical worldview for individuals seeking care that aligns with their faith and personal beliefs. A central component of the organization’s mission is to expand access to mental health services by offering low- or no-cost care to children, adults, and families throughout Kootenai County.
City on a Hill provides timely mental health assessment and intervention for youth, which in some cases helps stabilize crises and prevent the need for inpatient hospitalization. This support is critically important, as youth who require hospitalization are often sent to facilities out of state—such as Montana or Utah—separating them from family and community during an already traumatic time.
Following the presentation, the Kiwanis Club of Coeur d’Alene presented City on a Hill with additional funds to support the purchase of two computers that are urgently needed by their clinicians.
Photograph: (left to right) Kim Cummings (President Elect), Joe Mitrovich, Matt Palmer (Treasurer), Mike Wraith
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Kiwanis Club of Coeur d'Alene
The Kiwanis Club of Coeur d' Alene meets every Wednesday except the last of the month from noon to 1pm at MacKenzie River Pizza , 405 W. Canfield Ave.
Anyone welcome to join us for a meeting to see what we're all about!
Building Stronger Communities Through Giving!
At the Kiwanis Club of Coeur d'Alene's meeting on October 21, we welcomed Emma Hoagland, Community Engagement Associate for North Idaho with the Idaho Community Foundation.
Emma shared how the Foundation connects generous donors with nonprofit organizations throughout Idaho, investing charitable contributions and distributing grants that help strengthen our communities.
We were particularly impressed by the Foundation's impact right here in North Idaho!
During the 2026 Forever Idaho grant cycle:
💙 $315,000 was distributed to local nonprofits.
💙 40 organizations received financial support.
💙 Approximately $1.2 million has been distributed in our region over the past four years!
We were also pleased to learn more about the Foundation's support for Specialized Needs Recreation (SNR), an organization with close ties to our Kiwanis Club.
Emma also highlighted Idaho Gives, an annual four-day fundraising event that brings Idahoans together to support nonprofit organizations. In 2026, North Idaho donors contributed more than $776,000 to 112 local nonprofits!
📅 Mark your calendars for the next Idaho Gives: May 3–6, 2027.
The Foundation's commitment to strengthening communities aligns closely with our own Kiwanis mission of serving children and improving lives. We look forward to exploring opportunities to collaborate in the future.
Thank you, Emma, for an informative and inspiring presentation!
👉 Read more about Emma's presentation, the Idaho Community Foundation, and its impact on North Idaho on our website:
k00801.site.kiwanis.org/idaho-community-foundation-investing-in-the-future-of-north-idaho/ ... See MoreSee Less
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🥫🚗 320 FAMILIES SERVED — ANOTHER GREAT DAY OF COMMUNITY SERVICE! 💙
On October 8, the Kiwanis Club of Coeur d’Alene once again teamed up with Second Harvest Inland Northwest to distribute food to local families at Community United Methodist Church.
The need was clear! Cars began lining up a couple of hours before the scheduled start, so volunteers got to work early. Over the next 4½ hours, 320 families received much-needed food assistance!
👏 We were grateful to be joined by volunteers from the United Women in Faith, Wells Fargo Bank, our Aktion Club, and other community members who generously gave their time.
🌟 A special shout-out to our amazing Aktion Club members! Several joined us for the distribution, enthusiastically pitching in and enjoying the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to their community. Seeing their pride, energy, and joy in serving others was one of the highlights of the day!
Events like this remind us what can be accomplished when neighbors and community organizations work together.
A huge THANK YOU to everyone who helped make this another successful food distribution!
📸 Read the full story and see photos on our Kiwanis website:
k00801.site.kiwanis.org/kiwanis-and-community-partners-serve-320-families-at-second-harvest-food-... ... See MoreSee Less
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Celebrating a Great Year of Kiwanis Service! 🎉
Our annual Installation Banquet on September 30 was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate an incredibly busy and successful year for the Kiwanis Club of Coeur d’Alene—and, most importantly, to recognize the members who made it all happen.
Throughout the past year, our members gave generously of their time, talents, and resources, participating in a remarkable variety of service projects, supporting local organizations and young people, strengthening our community partnerships, and enjoying plenty of fellowship along the way. Thank you to every one of our members who helped make the year such a success!
And, of course, the banquet marked the beginning of a new Kiwanis year. Kim Cummings was installed as President, Jeanie Nugent as President-Elect, with Kathy Bush continuing as Secretary and Matt Palmer as Treasurer. Mike Lane moves into the role of Immediate Past President, and we welcomed our new and returning Board members.
The evening also included a special recognition as Matt Palmer was named our 2025–26 Kiwanian of the Year, honoring his service and contributions to the club during the past year.
We’re grateful to everyone who served in a leadership role this past year and to those who have stepped forward to lead us in 2026–27. But most of all, thank you to all of our members. Everything our club accomplishes is possible because of your willingness to serve.
It was a great year—and we’re excited to see what we can accomplish together in the next one!
👉 Read more about the past year's accomplishments, our new leadership team, and the Installation Banquet on our website:
k00801.site.kiwanis.org/celebrating-a-great-year-and-welcoming-our-new-kiwanis-leadership/ ... See MoreSee Less
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