Boise State Alumni Support Nursing Student Loan Debt Relief Through Sale of Beverage
A Boise State University College of Business and Economics alumni couple is providing financial support to the College of Health Science RN and BS graduates who have graduated with student loan debt. The gift comes from the sale of the couple’s contemporary adult beverage, boozie, cocktails in a can. The Ketchum couple sponsored a campaign where a portion of the sales from their company’s adult beverage, boozie, cocktail in a can, was donated to the COVID-19 Idaho Relief Fund. Of the $45,000 raised for local needs, $33,603 went to help with nursing student loan debt. The fund was established to support nurses and others working the front lines of the COVID-19 global pandemic.
“We wanted to support people who are dedicated to not only bettering themselves and pursuing higher education, but also to helping those most affected by the pandemic, all at the same time no less,” said Kasey. “We’re honored to have the opportunity to work with Boise State in order to help hardworking people who have prioritized their betterment and are dedicated to helping others.”
Luke agrees.
“Boise State worked with us to create a way for boozie to directly assist students facing the financial burden of student loan debt and the frontlines of COVID-19. This partnership allows us to make a direct impact in the lives of others,” he said.
Part of the reason the Ketchum residents say they support Boise State and its students is the solid education they received while earning business degrees at their alma mater.
“The people at Boise State fostered an environment that combined formal education with real-world experience, which is what made me appreciate my journey at Boise State most,” Luke said. “We were pushed to think outside the textbook, which was really beneficial.”
The boozie farm-to-can premium cocktails are made in Idaho with all-natural ingredients including natural Monk Fruit that is fortified with natural oxidants. The company brand supports clean living, social awareness and community outreach. Part of the foundation for the success of the company came from the fundamentals the couple learned at Boise State.
“I had fantastic professors who influenced me greatly,” said Kasey. “Many of them focused on the new and emerging marketing landscape, which felt relevant and exciting.”
A Boise native and former member of the Bronco football team, Luke earned his degree in finance where his career lead to him co-founding a private equity firm before entering the beverage industry.
Hailing from Kansas City, Kasey earned her marketing degree at Boise State and went on to work in the industry for 10 years before her entrepreneurial insight lead to the concept of creating boozie in 2017