Features & Profiles

Curtis Family

Monte Nickles '12

Powell native Monte Nickles has always been immersed in the music world, even from a young age. Whether it was learning the piano in first grade or experimenting with the new family stereo as a young boy, music was part of everyday life.

Ralph Newell

It’s rare that just the mention of a name can bring a smile to your face.  At least, that’s certainly the case for the late Ralph Newell, a longtime advocate and champion of Northwest College. A major proponent for the value of community colleges,...

Jennifer Lynn '01

For many students, college isn’t just about time spent in the classroom, but the small moments and connections made along the way.

David Rach '13

Since graduating from Northwest College in 2013, alumnus David Rach has committed to helping others through what he knows best: science.

Thea Marx ['18]

After becoming a mom and caring for her grandmother during her last years, Northwest College alumna Thea Marx’s childhood dream of becoming a veterinarian was resurrected with a new twist: naturopathic medicine.

Mechelle Rivera [‘18]

When Northwest College alumna Mechelle Rivera took her first biology class in college in the early ‘90s, she eyed the diagrams of cells in the classroom and could only think, “I am so glad I am not going into the medical field.”

ShayLe Stewart

Growing up in Joliet, Montana, Northwest College alumna ShayLe Stewart considers home to be where God blessed her with some of the best summer pastures, an abundance of family memories, and an everlasting supply of rhubarb pie.

Tawna Herrera ['20]

Last semester, Northwest College student and biology major Tawna Herrera learned her winter break was going to be vastly different than it’s been in the past.

Condia Gonzales ['13]

When it came to picking a major, alumna Condia Gonzales knew it’d be important to select something that would fulfill both her artistic and analytical tendencies. A 2013 graduate of the drafting technologies program at Northwest College, she currently...

Neil Waite

Often found working quietly in his office, Neil Waite describes himself as someone who prefers to stay behind the scenes and out of the spotlight. However, as an assistant professor of mathematics, he’s made a huge impression, positively impacting...

Amy McKinney

For Northwest College associate professor Amy McKinney, history is not something to simply be learned from a textbook and memorized. Instead, vibrant visions of the rugged American frontier and trailblazing women of the West are brought to life in...

Harold Elton

Being surrounded by a surge of sparks and smoke is just a normal day at work for Powell native Harold Elton. As an associate professor of welding, he’s been helping students master their craft at Northwest College since 1999.

Bossan Abdyyeva ['20]

Hailing from a small district in Mary, Turkmenistan, sophomore Bossan Abdyyeva has big dreams for her future. A Spanish and international studies major, she’s also Student Senate president, a Coca Cola Leaders of Promise Scholar, student employee...

Quentin McHoes ['18]

It takes courage to venture into the unknown, but Northwest College alumnus Quentin McHoes is no stranger to embracing challenge. After graduating from NWC in 2018, he transferred to George Washington University—a private institution in DC with...

Rachel Hanan

When it comes to English classes, Rachel Hanan isn’t afraid to put a twist on tradition. A scholar of Renaissance literature, Hanan describes her interests as “old school”; her Ph.D. research examined how the Gutenberg printing press and 17th...

Lindsay Linton Buk ['10]

Artist, photographer and fifth-generation Wyoming native Lindsay Linton Buk grew up in Yellowstone Park - Grand Prismatic Spring. After earning her bachelor’s in history from Middlebury College, she returned to Wyoming to study photographic communications...

Hannah Becker ['19]

Northwest College sophomore Hannah Becker knows the importance of planning for her future. As an Agriculture Business major and integral member of the campus community, she serves as the current Student Senate president, member of Campus Ventures,...

Morgan Tyree

Often spotted cruising campus on his bicycle or longboard, Morgan Tyree, assistant professor of graphic arts at Northwest College, has been educating emerging graphic designers for 27 years.

Randy Quarles [‘18]

Northwest College student Randy Quarles embodies the spirit of Trapper Pride—even when times were tough, grit, determination and an adventurous spirit allowed him to find his calling and discover a second home in the NWC Photographic Communications...