As Boise State celebrates its Spring Commencement on May 10, three student speakers have been selected by faculty and university leadership to represent the spring 2025 graduating class: Jenna Kline, Tryphene Bulape-Mishambo and Molly Balison.
Jenna Kline
Jenna Kline, a graduate from Fort Worth, Texas, received her degree in finance, finishing on the dean’s list with high honors. In 2022, she approached faculty with a bold idea: to create a student-led sales organization. Within a year, she not only launched the Student Sales Club but grew it into a nationally recognized sales team, securing over $25,000 in funding and placing in 90% of competitions entered. Her leadership drew students from across disciplines, including engineering, health sciences and communication.
Kline will represent the College of Business and Economics at the 9 a.m. ceremony.
After a successful career fair in 2023, Kline took the initiative to connect with Allen Dykman, CEO of Dykman Electrical. According to Frank R. Veltri in the Department of Marketing, Kline shared her vision for the future of professional selling at Boise State. She demonstrated how a strong investment could elevate the university’s standing and provide unmatched opportunities for students. In response, Dykman partnered with the College of Business and Economics to establish two endowed sales positions within the Department of Marketing. These positions represent the largest contribution to the College of Business and Economics in its history.
Peers and faculty recognize Kline for her mentorship, humility and advocacy for Boise State. As student sales program coordinator, she has helped fellow students refine their skills, secure internships and launch careers.
“She has the insight and confidence rarely seen in college students today,” said Veltri, who nominated her as a speaker. “Without her, the program wouldn’t be what it is today.”
Tryphene Bulape-Mishambo
Tryphene Bulape-Mishambo has received a Bachelor of Social Work, capping off a transformative journey marked by courage, resilience and a deep commitment to justice. Born to Congolese parents and raised in Cameroon, Bulape-Mishambo is a former refugee who has emerged as a powerful advocate for underserved communities.
Bulape-Mishambo will represent the College of Health Sciences at the 2 p.m. ceremony
As a Gilman Scholar, she studied in England, and later traveled to Jordan with a State Department-funded program focused on international refugee policy. These experiences broadened her worldview and deepened her passion for global health and forced migration policy. She was recently accepted to graduate programs at Columbia University, Boston University and Queen Mary University of London. As an Associate Students of Boise State University Senator for the College of Health Sciences, Bulape-Mishambo advocated for expanded emergency financial aid and served as a voice for first-generation students and those with refugee backgrounds. Tapping into her own lived experience, she has spoken at regional conferences and on student panels — always with authenticity and warmth.
“She intentionally opens doors so that others may walk through after her,” wrote Gail Shuck, a professor of linguistics. “She radiates energy, enthusiasm for learning, and caring for others as a critical part of how important education is.”
Bulape-Mishambo plans to pursue graduate study in global public health and international policy. She hopes to one day work for the United Nations, influencing systems and uplifting communities.
Molly Balison
Originally from Sandpoint, Idaho, Molly Balison leaves Boise State with a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies with minors in journalism, communication and a Certificate in Content Production.
Balison will represent the College of Arts and Sciences at the 7 p.m. ceremony.
Balison came to campus with a passion for storytelling and a deep sense of purpose. She has built her Boise State journey on stories—writing them, sharing them and using stories to help others feel seen. As a longtime content writer for the Boise State Student Life team, she crafted blog posts, newsletters and podcast episodes that helped students navigate campus and find support.
“She’s never hesitated to share her own vulnerabilities in her writing,” said Rebecca Stich, associate director of student communications and marketing. “She knew she could make a difference in her peers’ lives.”
Balison took that philosophy even further by launching Get a (Student) Life, a student-hosted podcast that explores life at Boise State. It was her fearlessness and initiative that made the new venture possible, Stich said. Balison quickly learned the technological intricacies of podcasting as well as the art of narrative. She has shared her talents with the larger community, recently becoming editor-in-chief of Word on the Street, the Interfaith Sanctuary newspaper written by and for Boise’s unhoused community. There, Balison oversees a writing team and coordinates with a local publisher, building relationships with shelter guests, helping them tell their stories with dignity.
“She’s always pushing herself out of her comfort zone—and encouraging others to do the same,” Stich said.
After graduation, Balison hopes to continue using media to amplify the voices that drive social change.