Boise State University

Happy Labor Day, Broncos!

Rest, relax and enjoy. Classes resume and campus offices will reopen on Tuesday, Sept. 3.

Balloons and Broncos – the perfect weekend combo 🎈🐴

Steve Baxter has always been an athlete. Now, he’s putting his life experiences — and two Boise State degrees — to use as he builds out an adaptive sports program at Boise State.

Baxter is the director and head coach for Boise State Adaptive Athletics. The program is currently a high-energy wheelchair tennis team, but Baxter intends for it to include wheelchair basketball, track and other adaptive teams and participants going forward, and for those participants to go big at national competitions if they want to.

One of the goals is to develop student athletes at all skill levels and give them opportunities to compete in sports. Students of all levels of physical disability can participate in the program and they do not need to have any sports experience.

Read more: https://www.boisestate.edu/news/2024/07/09/department-of-kinesiology-partners-with-community-athletes-to-serve-up-adaptive-sports-options/

Happy National Dog Day! 🐾 Fetch the perfect calendar for 2025 by purchasing the newest edition of the Dogs of Boise State calendar.

All proceeds from the calendar sales will go towards the Campus Food Pantry, which provides Boise State students in need with free, nourishing food and hygiene items.

Get your calendar today:
https://ponyup.boisestate.edu/campaigns/2025-dogs-of-boise-state

Happy National Dog Day — it's paw-sitively amazing!

What better way to celebrate National Dog Day than purchasing the official 2025 Dogs of Boise State calendar?

Purchasing a 2025 Dogs of Boise State calendar provides Boise State University students with free, nourishing food and hygiene items with dignity, respect, and care. The Campus Food Pantry offers a variety of fresh produce, fresh bread, refrigerated items, frozen items, canned and boxed foods, snack options, and personal hygiene products.

In the Spring 2024 semester, the Pantry served over 18,000 student visits! This is a substantial increase in usage; they expect it to increase even more during this fall semester.

Get your calendar at https://ponyup.boisestate.edu/campaigns/2025-dogs-of-boise-state.

The first week of classes flew by 🐴💨

Welcome to the Bronco family, Class of 2028! Blue looks good on you 😎💙

Over 100 new international Broncos representing 42 countries have arrived on campus for the start of the fall 2024 semester. Welcome, Boise State International Students!

The halls are beginning to buzz with excitement as our incoming Broncos settle into their new campus homes.

Rise and shine, it’s move-in day! New faces, new friends, new home. We can’t wait to meet our new incoming Broncos!

Boise State University continues to break records and is thriving across academic programs, said Dr. Marlene Tromp during the annual State of the University address, touting success during the most recent academic year.

The address celebrated record growth in research, philanthropic giving and total graduates for the third consecutive year. During that same time, Boise State has seen a 20% increase in first-time student enrollment of Idaho residents, and total enrollment growth of 2.8%. She also shared that Boise State student-athletes achieved a 3.42 cumulative GPA, the highest in program history, along with a record 94% graduation rate.

“This is an extraordinary place, full of extraordinary people. Because of you, we have accomplished much more than most people imagined we could,” Tromp said. “We are achieving remarkable things for our students, for our state and region, and in the production of pathbreaking knowledge … When Boise State sets a goal, we achieve it.”

Boise State has served 3,586 veteran students over the past five years. In addition to assisting veterans who enroll as Broncos, Tromp said she is proud that the university also supports veterans who wish to attend any college or university.

Research expenditures topped $83 million last year, a 57% increase in the last five years. Since the launch last year of the five-year Unbridled fundraising and alumni engagement campaign, Boise State has raised $346.9 million of its $500 million goal. The campaign supports students, faculty and athletics. Tromp noted that 24,686 students have earned degrees over the past five years, since she joined Boise State as president.

The address was followed by the President's Picnic on the Intramural Field.

You can feel the excitement of fall semester approaching when the Blue Thunder Marching Band and Boise State Fight Song echo across campus.

Jeramiah Dickey has made an incredible impact on Boise State Athletics, forging relationships within our community from the moment he arrived. His heart is in his work, and he is a Bronco through and through. Since last spring Jeramiah and I have collaborated and prioritized doing everything that we can to keep him at Boise State. And today, I am thrilled to announce that he has committed to stay. Jeramiah is leading the way in collegiate athletics as an innovator, and his work has been invaluable building the strength of our athletics programs nationally. I am excited for the future and for Jeramiah to continue building on our tradition of excellence, helping us compete in the dynamic national landscape and positioning Bronco Athletics for What’s Next.

Dickey’s contract extension will go to the Idaho State Board of Education for review in October.

-Dr. Marlene Tromp, President

Boise State University is excited to host the U.S. Council on Competitiveness and its members from across the country on August 6-8 for their series “Competitiveness Conversations Across America.”

The Mountain West Competitiveness Conversation will focus on the region’s emergence as a global innovation leader, specifically exploring its success in semiconductors, clean energy, advanced nuclear, and cybersecurity. Leadership panels will discuss strategies for accelerating innovation, boosting competitiveness, and fostering prosperity and security in the Mountain West and the United States.

The event kicked off Tuesday, August 6 inside the historic Boise Train Depot.

Event info: https://compete.org/mountainwestconvo/

Boise State President Marlene Tromp will deliver the annual State of the University address at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 14. The event will take place in ExtraMile Arena. Faculty and staff are invited to the President's Picnic on the Intramural Field immediately following the address.

https://www.boisestate.edu/events/event/state-of-the-university-address-2/

This summer, Marco Ovando (BS, political science, 2024) was chosen as one of 12 recipients from across the country for the Native American Congressional Internship on Capitol Hill. Sponsored by the Udall Foundation, this fully-funded, ten-week program in Washington D.C. is designed for American Indian and Alaska Native students. Participants gain practical experience with the federal legislative process to understand the government-to-government relationship between tribes and the federal government.

Ovando, a descendant of Sarah Winnemucca and citizen of the Shoshone-Paiute Tribe of the Duck Valley Reservation that straddles the Idaho/Nevada state line, is working with Senator Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada. “After being selected and considering Nevada my home just as much as Idaho, I wanted to serve in a capacity that can really make a positive difference,” he said.

“Being a Udall intern means I am immediately connected to the immense and intricate network of Indigenous leaders working in the federal government,” said Ovando. “We are beyond the era of removal and termination and in a new era of cooperation and self-determination. I hope to contribute to this progression in any way I can.”

Ovando's dedication to his heritage and his commitment to public service, along with the bipartisan nature of tribal law, exemplify the spirit of the Udall Internship Program.

The Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve (CIDSR) STEM Network of the Boise State Department of Physics was granted funding from NASA’s Science Activation Program to purchase 50 telescopes to be distributed throughout classrooms in Idaho.

Launched this summer, teachers from pre-K classes to high school and every grade in between received a long-term loan of a user-friendly Unistellar eQuinox2 robotic telescope. Each of the telescopes have been named after an influential woman in astronomy or physics.

“I can already tell this program has had a large impact on the teachers,” said Dr. Rachel Huchmala, a Postdoctoral Research Fellow for the (CIDSR) STEM Network. “In our trainings, we’ve been able to bring together teachers from small schools across the state that may not have otherwise met, we’ve had a chance to talk about new ways to get students interested in science, and I’ve had multiple teachers tell me they can’t wait for school to start, a sentiment they shared they had not said in a while.”

Additionally, Huchmala’s team is developing ways in which members of the program can get involved in exoplanet transit research. For more information, including First Friday Astronomy lectures and other stargazing events, visit boisestate.edu/physics-cidsrsn.

Reasons to be hyped it's August:

🐴 Bronco Welcome
🏡 Move-In Day
🏈 Boise State Football

💙🧡

In early July, Boise State and National Economics University (NEU) in Vietnam renewed their “2+2” academic partnership program, strengthening the institutions’ 30-year relationship. The program invites Vietnamese business students to study for two years in Hanoi followed by two years in Boise to earn a Boise State degree.

A delegation from Boise State including President Dr. Marlene Tromp and Boise State University College of Business & Economics Dean Mark Bannister visited Hanoi to meet with NEU leaders, participate in the signing ceremony and meet with students about the program.

“Vietnam is an important partner for the U.S. in both trade and world politics,” Bannister said. “U.S. companies are aggressively building partnerships in Vietnam, opening markets for products and services and developing manufacturing alternatives to China. Boise State is an educational innovator, and our leadership is helping bring these two countries closer together through initiatives like the 2+2 program.”

Since the 2+2 program began in 2016, a handful of students took part before COVID-19 halted the exchange. This visit was a joint effort to refresh and revive the program.

Read more: boisestate.edu/news/2024/07/23/boise-state-renews-innovative-business-program-with-vietnamese-university/

No individual has touched the nation, Idaho or Boise State University quite in the same manner as Frank Church. Church served his native state for 24 years in the U.S. Senate, creating a legacy of unequaled public service.

On Thursday, August 1 from 5–8 pm, enjoy free admission at the Idaho State Museum and visit the newest pop-up exhibit “Fighting the Odds: The Life and Legacy of Senator Frank Church.”

This week marks the would be 100th birthday of beloved Idaho Senator Frank Church. Born on July 25, 1924, Frank Church was a politician from Boise who was well known for his early and effective advocacy for civil rights, defense of civil liberties and protection of civil rights for disenfranchised populations, notably the aged.

He was also one of the nation’s leading conservationists in preserving vast areas of wilderness, protecting wild and scenic rivers, and establishing national parks and recreation areas.

Frank Church remains widely recognized as one of the great statesmen of the United States Senate during one of its most progressive eras.

In 1982, Frank’s life partner Bethine Clark Church founded the Frank Church Institute, whose mission is education, leadership, and public service through promoting civic engagement and understanding of public policy with a focus on democracy, the environment, and international relations, in partnership with the School of Public Service at Boise State University.

For the third consecutive year, Boise State University broke its philanthropic record in fiscal year 2024, with giving totaling $61.3 million from 28,146 individual donors.

“We are incredibly excited to announce the success that our Unbridled campaign has already achieved, and we are grateful to the thousands of donors who have shown their support for Boise State University students, faculty, programs, and athletics! These gifts positively impact individuals, often changing their lives for the better, and they also profoundly impact Idaho and our broader world,” said Dr. Marlene Tromp, Boise State president.

Publicly launched in October 2023 and running through 2028, Unbridled: The Campaign for Boise State University is the university’s most ambitious philanthropic and alumni engagement campaign in its history, with a fundraising goal of $500 million to make key investments in endowed scholarships, endowed faculty positions, and Bronco Athletics. Since October, donors have established 41 new scholarship funds, including 22 through the Scholarship Endowment Bridge Program, in which the Boise State University Foundation matches gift commitments to endowed scholarships, allowing the university to begin awarding funds from new scholarships immediately. In total, donors have established 1,081 new scholarship funds since the start of the campaign.

To date, Boise State has raised $346.9 million through the Unbridled campaign, including $81.4 million in student support, with nearly $60 million of this for endowed scholarships; $37.0 million for faculty and research support; and $130.8 million for Athletics’ What’s Next initiative.

The continued success of Unbridled is making an impact at Boise State, in Idaho, and beyond.

Read more: https://unbridled.boisestate.edu/story/boise-state-unbridled-third-year-of-record-philanthropy/

Boise State Alumni and Friends

Orange sunsets lighting up campus 🧡

Thank you to Aaron Dillenbeck with the Department of Public Safety and two Boise State students for their quick response and life-saving efforts during the spring semester.

Another exceptional act of service to share! Back in April, Security Supervisor Aaron Dillenbeck rushed to help two students who were performing CPR on a third student. Aaron deployed an AED and continued with CPR until first responders arrived and took over care. The student was taken to a local hospital where it was discovered that he had an undiagnosed medical condition that caused him to stop breathing. Thanks to the initial quick actions of his roommates and BSU public safety, the victim survived. For their quick response and life-saving efforts, the two students and Aaron were awarded a Boise Police Department Exceptional Service Award.

This week, Boise State’s Institute for Inclusive and Transformative Scholarship hosted the annual Idaho Conference on Undergraduate Research (ICUR) featuring nearly 200 student researchers from colleges and universities across the state.

ICUR provides a forum for students, faculty, staff, and the community to discuss cutting edge research topics in all disciplines happening here in Idaho. The conference includes keynote speakers, poster presentations by students from all academic disciplines, research talks, and networking events.

For more information on the Institute for Inclusive and Transformative Scholarship (IFITS) and the Office of Undergraduate Research, visit http://boisestate.edu/ifits.

Cheers to the faces behind the warm welcomes. A heartfelt thank you to our orientation leaders for their hard work this summer. 💙🧡

The Boise State School of Public Service is hosting the 2024 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders this summer. It brings 25 of Africa’s bright, emerging public management leaders, representing 24 different countries, to town for a six-week Leadership Institute, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State.

While in Boise, Fellows will participate in leadership trainings, site visits with local partners, service opportunities at local nonprofits and collaborative projects.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Mandela Washington Fellowship and Boise State’s second time hosting an Institute. Boise State is one of 28 university partners across the country participating in the program, and the only university representing the Northwestern region of the United States.

Wishing the Mandela Washington Fellows our best as they lead and transform their communities. 🧡💙

Sunkissed campus ☀️💋

The National Weather Service predicts a prolonged heatwave gripping Boise and surrounding areas this week. Temperatures could reach or even surpass record highs, with Wednesday, July 10, likely being the hottest.

Here's how to stay safe during this scorching stretch:

Hydrate: Drink plenty of water and ditch dehydrating drinks like alcohol and caffeine.

Pace Yourself: Limit strenuous activities outdoors and in hot indoor spaces.

Beat the Heat: Wear loose-fitting, lightweight clothing, hats, and sunglasses. Whenever possible, seek shade during peak sun hours and take breaks indoors.

Sun Protection: Apply and reapply sunscreen regularly. Sunburn hinders your body's ability to cool down.

Know the Signs: Be familiar with the symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. If you or someone you know exhibits signs of heat stroke, call 9-1-1 immediately.

Cool Down Indoors: If possible, use air conditioning. Otherwise, try to adjust your schedule to be outdoors during the cooler morning hours.

Stay Informed: Keep an eye on local weather forecasts and advisories for updates.

Stay cool, Broncos 😎