Impact in action

[Music plays]

Text on Screen: Boise State University’s biggest competition for students is not another institution…It’s those students not going to college at all.

Chloe Sellers, College of Arts and Sciences, Communications: I am pretty much the first person in my immediate family to actually go to college straight out of high school, and have plans to get my degree and go further and everything.

Tryphene Bulape Mishambo, School of Public Service, Social Work: I was born in Cameroon to Congolese parents, but we migrated to the States when I was about seven. My mom has an eighth-grade level education, and my dad has a high school level education.

Alex Bedortha, College of Education, Secondary Education: After I graduated high school, I went and joined the Air Force, where I served for four years as a reservist. And then, I kind of bounced around a little bit job-wise, until I figured out that I wanted to get back into school.

Triston Brooks, School of Public Service, Political Science and Creative Writing: I did wildland fire for a long time as a civilian employee for the National Guard, moved to the BLM, worked on ambulances—did that sort of thing. And then Covid hit, coincidentally, right when I left the fire service for a variety of reasons, and figured I should go back to school. It had always been a personal goal of mine.

Makena Chase, College of Health Sciences, Nursing: Coming to Boise State was definitely tricky at the beginning. Moving a thousand miles away from home.

Jessica Leath, College of Education, Blended Early Childhood / Early Childhood Special Education: So I started college when I was 17, in 2002, and I ended up flunking out in 2003.

Jade Hooker, College of Arts and Sciences, Psychology: I attended Boise State in the fall of 2016, and I went for that fall semester and then my… addiction started. And at that point, I ended up getting incarcerated. But when I got to East Boise Community Reentry Center, when I had six and a half years left, I decided that I really wanted to go back to school because I want to be able to do something with myself.

Bianca Juarez, College of Innovation and Design, Digital Innovation and Design: I really had no understanding of how you pay for school.

Jadyn Hart, College of Engineering, Mechanical Engineering: I was extremely overwhelmed at the idea of going and getting a higher education degree, because I had no idea what I was doing. And, I was blessed and I was given the True Blue Promise scholarship, which has covered a lot of my tuition for the last four years.

Alex Bedortha, College of Education, Secondary Education: Even with being a veteran, I was a reservist. So I have some GI Bill, but not like that full amount that a lot of veterans get, who are active duty. So I’ve been paying like, I think it’s 60% of my tuition out of pocket. Right before the school year started, I was really considering pushing off the last two years of school. And then I got this scholarship, and it was just like a push in the right direction. I’m like, “Okay, I’m not dropping out. I’m staying.” The scholarship is going to heavily alleviate all of the stress that I was having. It’s allowed me to pursue the degree that I’ve always wanted. It’s just made a tremendous impact.

Bianca Juarez, College of Innovation and Design, Digital Innovation and Design: Scholarships mean everything in being able to pursue my education. I really, really would not be able to pursue my bachelor’s degree if I didn’t have scholarship help with the Jones family, and the Lightfoot Foundation, and Idaho Opportunity.

Nick Lloyd, College of Business and Economics, Accounting and Finance: Coming to school, I fully expected to take a gap year because I didn’t have the finances. And as I decided to apply to scholarships and receive funding, it enabled me to stay. And staying also meant that I was able to get involved around campus, and really find myself and what I wanted to do.

Jessica Leath, College of Education, Blended Early Childhood / Early Childhood Special Education: Without the scholarships I’ve received—even with things like FAFSA and taking out loans—I don’t know that I’d be able to continue school. And I don’t want to—I don’t want to fail again. So, having those scholarships is—it’s life-changing.

Jade Hooker, College of Arts and Sciences, Psychology: You’re changing a student’s life, and you’re giving them hope that they can keep going and that they can succeed and do well in their life.

Bianca Juarez, College of Innovation and Design, Digital Innovation and Design: It’s just such a privilege to be able to be an educated person and to be able to go to school.

Makena Chase, College of Health Sciences, Nursing: It’s not just about the money. Like, it’s really about believing in students and believing about what—believing in what they can do with the support that you’re giving them. It really is a vote of confidence.

Tryphene Bulape Mishambo, School of Public Service, Social Work: You’re investing in this case, in my college, the future healthcare of Idaho.

Triston Brooks, School of Public Service, Political Science and Creative Writing: The ripples of your impact are unknowable.

Jadyn Hart, College of Engineering, Mechanical Engineering: You are truly changing a student’s life and—and giving them aid that they never thought they would receive. There are so many students like me that are wondering how they’re going to do this. It’s a blessing to have the aid from the alumni and the donors.

Text on Screen: Thank You Because of your support, Boise State awarded scholarships to 10% more students this year, allowing 1,719 Broncos to pursue their dreams.

[Visual: Boise State University Foundation Logo]