Thank you!
Thanks to you, Boise State’s College of Business and Economics is making a real difference. Your support fuels student opportunities, empowering the next generation of business leaders–and supporting our mission to create societal impact by inspiring purpose, growing people, creating knowledge and powering innovation.
INSPIRING PURPOSE
COBE is establishing a new Professional Sales curriculum thanks to a transformational gift from alumni Allen and Dixie Dykman. This investment will grow students’ essential communication and relationship-building skills important in today’s business landscape.
“We’re all sales people. If you’re not selling yourself, you’re not going anywhere,” Allen Dykman said. “We saw this opportunity to help students build those skills and we hope our gift will encourage others to give back to Boise State.”
GROWING PEOPLE
Boise State will award 10 new True Blue Scholarships annually, starting this fall, thanks to a donation from Mike and Lori Mers, founders of Aspen Capital Management. Both COBE alumni, their gift will support Idaho residents with financial need.
“Boise State University has been a great partner to Aspen Capital Management by providing a pipeline of amazing talent to help our business run and grow,” Mike Mers said. “We are making an investment in the university and its students because they are our lifeblood. We view this donation as a partnership distribution since the university is a valuable business partner.”
CREATING KNOWLEDGE
The Department of Economics at Boise State recently launched The Academic Incubator Program, a unique initiative designed to cultivate the next generation of researchers. The program offers students structured opportunities for academic engagement and research, even without prior experience.
Support The Academic Incubator to empower students to pursue impactful research and prepare for advanced academic and professional careers.
POWERING INNOVATION
This spring, Sandbox startup incubator program, launched at COBE. This donor-funded program originated at BYU in 2020 as a successful, credit-earning capstone course, and has now expanded to Boise State and five other universities. Sandbox gives students academic credit and hands-on entrepreneurial experience, guided by mentors in a collaborative workspace. Stay tuned for a story on COBE students’ experience in Spring 2026.
Invest in Sandbox to directly support the next generation of tech entrepreneurs. You’ll help students gain invaluable experience and create businesses that can launch careers and shape Idaho’s future.
What else has been happening at COBE?
Our digital Year End Update shares notable news and inspiring student and faculty stories.