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THE COLLEGE OF IDAHO
THE MOST DIVERSE 55 ACRES IN IDAHO
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FROM THE DESK OF THE CO-PRESIDENTS
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hanksgiving is our favorite holiday and there is much for which we are thankful. The timing of this issue could not be better in terms of expressing our gratitude. We welcomed our largest incoming class ever this fall and it is our strongest academically in recent years. Our fall sports teams are excelling in and out of the classroom with record numbers honored for academic achievements at the conference and national level. Football is on a roll and we are headed to our first-ever playoff appearance. Our men’s and women’s cross country teams are ranked 2nd and 3rd in the country! Homecoming was our biggest ever, and in some cases, getting folks back on campus for the first time in more than 40 years. Our debate team is off to a great start and our student research presentations are being well-received at conferences with much larger schools. This issue focuses on our Global Mindset. We welcomed our most diverse freshman and transfer class ever. They come from 24 states, represent rural and urban communities, military vets, first generation students, and we now have 89 different countries represented! We are still proudly 60 percent Idaho students, which makes for an incredibly rich experience as we “bring the world to Idaho.”
GLOBAL MINDSET
The vast majority of our international students come as Davis Scholars through the remarkable generosity of Shelby and Gale Davis. Students who graduate from one of the 18 United World Colleges around the world are provided with college scholarships by the Davis Foundation. The first of the UWC schools was formed in 1962 as a means to create peace through education. Most UWC students are “high need” financially. There are about 100 schools in the U.S. which receive these Davis Scholars and the list includes Harvard, Stanford, Yale, MIT, Princeton and Middlebury. This year we received the most Davis Scholars of any college in the nation, winning the “Davis Cup” from the University of Oklahoma, which has nearly 32,000 students and has won the cup the last six years. While this is a great opportunity for Davis Scholars, we believe it is equally beneficial for our domestic students. To have a student from Jordan Valley develop a lifelong friendship with a student from Yemen, Nepal or Rwanda is wonderful to see. Of our graduating senior class, 95 percent report improved ability to get along with people of different values or lifestyle. We feel blessed to be here at such an exciting time and are inspired every day by our students, faculty, staff, coaches, alumni and friends of the college. The culture of “making the circle bigger” is thriving on campus! Culture drives everything including financial stability. While there is much work ahead, we are pleased to report that we have had a great year on that front and are more than a year ahead of schedule in meeting our business goals. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and holiday season. Come visit our campus for an event. Thanks for all of your support.
Doug Brigham ’87 and Jim Everett Co-Presidents
CONTENTS
04 THE MOST DIVERSE 55 ACRES IN IDAHO by Joe Hughes and Will Hoenike
EDITOR
Joe Hughes
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EDITORIAL BOARD
Jack Cafferty ’97, Adam Eschbach, Will Hoenike, Jeannine Mars ’77, Hannah Matsen, Alan Minskoff, Sally Skinner ’78
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WRITERS
Danielle Dougherty Durham, Adam Eschbach, Clayton Gefre ’15, Will Hoenike, Joe Hughes, Alan Minskoff , Sally Skinner ’78
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Adam Eschbach, Isabela Lete ’19, Liza Safford, Shawn Zhang, senior
DESIGN
Hannah Matsen
COVER ART
Hannah Matsen
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COLLEGE NEWS
An Idahoan in Indonesia; Arnoldo Hernandez's Lifetime of Achievement; College Sets Enrollment Record; New Housing Coming to Campus; College Scores Well in National Rankings; Wells Fargo Grant; Washington Foundation Funds Horatio Alger Scholarships; Mike Shines Endowment; Gala Preview
THE SPIRIT OF SERVING OTHERS
by Clayton Gefre Alumni bring Boise-based Jitasa to Bosnia
YOTE NOTES
A Family Assist; Record-Setting Football Year; Volleyball Advances to Postseason Again; Cross Country Wins CCC Titles; Soccer Teams Advance to Playoffs
ALUMNI NEWS
Gabbard Tapes Online; Student Debt Strategies; 2019 Homecoming Recap
10 RESIDENT ADVOCATE by Adam Eschbach
Transitioning from Isolation to Influence
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CLASS NOTES
CAMPUS NOTES
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ALUMNI PROFILE
ALUMNI CALENDAR
12 ISO CULTURAL SHOW
by Hannah Matsen, Adam Eschbach, Isabela Lete ’19 and Shawn Zhang, senior
JOE HUGHES W I LL H O E N I KE
THE MOST DIVERSE 55 ACRES IN IDAHO 4
Left to Right: Dennis John Bava, Brian Bava
PLANTING THE SEED
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n argument can be made that the genesis of one of the most significant advances in the makeup of The College of Idaho’s student body was birthed in Seoul, South Korea by a man who was not an alumnus and you could count the total number of times he stepped onto The College of Idaho campus on one hand. In 1989, Dennis John Bava, who was in charge of all of Asia for International Paper, faced the prospect of moving his family from Seoul, South Korea to Taipei, Taiwan, without knowing the quality of education that would await his son in Taiwan. A professional colleague informed Bava of a school he had sent his son to, a United World College in New Mexico. He researched the UWC program, talked more about it with colleagues, and eventually decided to send his son there for his junior and senior years of high school. As an American student living abroad, attending international schools was second-nature for Bava’s son. Word arrived at the UWC in New Mexico that a new student from Korea was arriving, which created a bit of an awkward first impression. One of the second-year students there was Korean-Canadian. “She was all excited that there was going to be another Korean student there,” said the younger Bava. But when they met, “she said, ‘you’re not Korean!’ and I said ‘no I’m not. I lived in Korea but I’m not Korean.’” They laughed about it at the time. Those types of introductions, which involved recognizing misconceptions
and accepting differences, finding ways to coexist with cultures from all over the world, are the backbone of the UWC system. The younger Bava arrived on the campus of The College of Idaho in 2005 as the new assistant director of outreach services. “At the time, there were like six or eight international students that were here,” he said. Bava recognized the International Baccalaureate Diploma earned by many graduates of UWC schools transitioned quite well to a liberal arts education model, and before long, the College was “all-in on being I.B. friendly and giving scholarships to I.B. students.” By 2006, the College had officially applied to become a full-member school in the UWC Davis Scholarship Program. The program, funded by the Shelby Davis family, provides scholarship funds to UWC students to attend college at participating institutions in the United States. By the time Bava left the College for a position at a law school in 2013, there were over 100 international students on the Caldwell campus, a good majority of them were Davis Scholars. “The only way that this happens, we get to the point that we are today, is by having support from the administration,” Bava says. Bava returned to the College in 2018 to become vice president of enrollment management. Since then, Brian Bava and his admissions team, particularly Director of International Recruitment Greg Franz, have led a recruitment effort that resulted in the most recent class of international students being the largest in school history and the largest first-year class of Davis Scholars (69) at any American school in the history
of the Davis Scholar program. It earned the College the UWC Davis Cup trophy, which had been held for six-straight years by the University of Oklahoma. The College is currently home to nearly 180 international students representing 88 different countries, with a full 18-percent of the student population coming from outside the United States. “It’s incredibly rewarding to see it happen,” says Bava. “The reason I championed this was … I know the type of students we’re getting. I know the academic background they have. I know the skill development that happens in the UWC in terms of being able to be
“BEING ABLE TO SIT IN A CLASS, A SMALL CLASS, AND HAVE REPRESENTATION FROM THE WORLD IN THAT CLASSROOM. TO ME, THAT’S THE MAGICAL PIECE OF HAVING INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ON OUR CAMPUS.” BRIAN BAVA Vice President of Enrollment Management
away from home, being in a residential community, being part of a community. Why wouldn’t you want students like that in a community like ours?” The College of Idaho does.
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CULTIVATING THE CROP There is another major benefit of having a diverse population on campus. “Being able to sit in a class, a small class, and have representation from the world in that classroom,” says Bava. “To me, that’s the magical piece of having international students on our campus.” This can be particularly beneficial for rural domestic students to learn viewpoints from around the world. Sophomore Josh Andersen is a sixthgeneration Oregonian. His father has only lived in two houses in his life. And Josh admits that it is very possible he winds up back near the community of Vale, Oregon, working in agriculture once he graduates from the College in two years. “I grew up speaking farmer and rancher, so I got that down pretty good,” the political economy major laughed. “Now I’m learning to speak politics and economy and ecology and law because I think it all ties together.” A big part of the puzzle for Andersen has been openly embracing the College’s global mindset and international flavor. “The perspective the international students bring in is something that I appreciate,” Andersen said. “It really helps bring in a broader perspective and it helps me learn more.” He says it started young. His parents, Dan and Lynette, have friends all over the world and help to support
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people working in several countries as missionaries. It led to Josh and his two brothers traveling internationally and being exposed to – and engaging with – a multitude of cultures, which helped drive the sense of value for people whose backgrounds differ from his.
“Being able to share that experience with others really does mean a lot to me,” he said. “It helps them understand who I am and why I am that way, and it helps us build our friendships. Some of my best friends are people from all around the world.”
“They (his parents) understand the perspective and how much it adds to a person’s life,” Andersen said. “It’s something I’ve grown up around and it’s something I’ve grown up appreciating.”
THE FRUITS OF THE LABOR
The perspective humanizes places and events that otherwise may seem distant. “When I hear about developments in Nigeria, I’ll think about my friends I know from there. When I hear about developments in Costa Rica and Panama, I’ll think about it,” Andersen continued. “I’ll think about my friends from Peru and Chile and Argentina. There are faces associated with these places now.”
“WE WERE ALREADY CLOSE BEFORE, BUT THEN ONCE WE BECAME ROOMMATES, THE BOND JUST GOT DEEPER AND DEEPER. WE JUST TALK ABOUT EVERYTHING TOGETHER.” LAMINE KEITA, JUNIOR International Student from Senegal
He told a story of taking students from Nepal to the farm once and it grew into a gathering of friends from the community around an apple cider press with the family and students. Now, there are plans in the works for Andersen to take all of the College’s Nepalese students to Vale to share in that experience.
Andrew Clifford is a super-smart junior from Meridian, Idaho, double-majoring in math/physics and chemistry, has broken 14 school records in his collegiate swimming career so far and is an eight-time All-American in the sport. He is soft-spoken, tended to keep to himself when he arrived on campus, and is a gifted musician. Lamine Keita is an equally smart junior from Senegal, a country in West Africa, graduated from the UWC in New Mexico, is double-majoring in mathematics and computer science, doesn’t have a problem expressing his emotions, and is more likely to be found on a soccer pitch than anywhere near water. In the best way possible, these two have become great friends, roommates, and amazingly, teammates on the College’s varsity swim team. They ran into each other a few times in Hayman Hall when they were freshmen, had a few classes together in Boone Science Hall, and when they learned of their shared drive toward academic excellence while keeping similar sleep schedules, they thought they might be good roommates for their sophomore year. They agreed by text message. Nothing is an endorsement for the success of a roommate relationship more than the commitment to do so for a second year, which Andrew and Lamine have done. Each will tell you they are a better student and person because of the other. “We were already close before,” says Lamine. “But then once we became roommates, the bond just got deeper and deeper. We just talk about everything together.” Evidence of each other’s influence on the other can be found in the type of music Andrew now enjoys that was
introduced by Lamine, and an electric guitar that is in their room, purchased by Lamine after finding he enjoyed playing Andrew’s bass guitar. Their relationship has inspired more significant changes too. Andrew describes himself as “very mellow.” But now, “I try to be more expressive of what’s on the inside. Expressing your emotions, making people know that you appreciate them, I’ve learned all of that from him.” The changes in Lamine are much more public-facing. While roommates their sophomore year, Lamine took notice of Andrew leaving at 6:00 a.m. for swim practice and heading off to the pool in the afternoon for a second practice nearly every day. He admired the commitment he saw. “I mostly stayed in my room,” Lamine said of his own extra-curricular activity level. “I needed something to fill a void.”
out there and you swim. Even though you swim slow, you just finish the race.” And he reached the goal. Lamine made the team. “He just keeps getting better at an astonishing rate,” Andrew says. “It’s really amazing that he’s made it this far because I don’t know if there’s anyone on the team as dedicated as him and Danny (Mendez-Castrillo, another international student who made the team).” Lamine has not advanced to the level yet where he has made the competitive team. When he gets discouraged, Andrew is there. “Sometimes when I’m a little down, he’s like ‘don’t give up. You are new to this. Don’t be so harsh. We’ve been doing this for our whole lives and you’ve been doing this for like, two years. Don’t put yourself down too much,’” Lamine recalls. They’ll tell you with a smile, though, that one area where there is no sign of influence from Lamine to Andrew is Lamine’s peculiar culinary tastes. Says Andrew: “He’ll just drink half-n-half instead of whole milk. I don’t think that’s normal in any culture. I think it’s just Lamine.”
So Lamine decided to try out for the swim team; a sport he barely knew. “That is something I would enjoy spending my time on because it could make me a more well-rounded person.” Lamine started practicing with the team a bit during his sophomore year before making the full-commitment decision to try out in the fall of his junior year. “It takes some willpower,” Lamine says. “It’s hard when everybody is so much better than you. You take your courage, and you say ‘I don’t care.’ You just throw that fear of looking bad in front of others away and you just put yourself
very gratifying,” said Bava, “and at the end of the day, when I’m retired, it’ll be the thing that I’m most proud of doing.” Which brings us back to the beginning of our story. Dennis John Bava passed away in 2011. But his influence on the cultural richness of The College of Idaho was already in motion, starting with the care he took in choosing his son’s education. A fund exists at the College in Bava’s name. It is an emergency fund to assist struggling students. It gives help in the name of someone who helped bring the world to Caldwell. JOE HUGHES is the editor of Quest, WILL HOENIKE is a staff writer for Quest.
Despite the difference in taste buds, the two roommates from opposite ends of the globe know they have built a bond that will endure. “I think our friendship is going to last,” Andrew said. “There’s no way around it.”
A LIFELONG HARVEST These are precisely the types of bonds the founders of UWC schools envisioned when they started the first venture in 1962. Bonds that not only educate, but build peace. Those bonds and the value of multiple viewpoints to enrich academic discussion and perspective are the same values Brian Bava experienced as a teenager in a UWC school. “The fact that we can replicate the UWC experience in terms of classroom dynamic here is to me very special and
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CLAYTON GEFRE
THE SPIRIT ALUMNI BRING BOISEBASED JITASA TO BOSNIA
OF SERVIN
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Igor Samardzic
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ll students who attended the United World Colleges (UWC) before traveling to The College of Idaho know the UWC’s mission statement: to make education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future. Bosnian College of Idaho alumni Igor Samardzic ’13 and Jasmina Hasic ’12 didn’t just memorize these words as graduates of UWC Mostar – they internalized them, and continue to live them. The pair are the founders and leaders of the Sarajevo branch of the Boise-based Jitasa, an accounting organization committed to improving the effectiveness and efficiency of nonprofit organizations that serve millions of people and causes worldwide. Together, the duo work to carry out the vision of Jitasa, which takes its name from a Thai word meaning “the spirit of serving others” – a spirit not unlike the values they learned as students.
NG Jasmina Hasic
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“I am a mission-driven person,” Samardzic said. “UWC’s mission was embedded into my personal mission, which is well-aligned with Jitasa’s mission. Providing support to nonprofit organizations that do a lot of good worldwide is a great mission I can contribute to.”
THE RIGHT THING TO DO After graduating with honors from the College with a degree in business administration in 2013, Samardzic began working for Jitasa at its Boise headquarters, providing accounting and bookkeeping services to a variety of nonprofit clients across every sector. Although Samardzic made an immediately positive impression on his coworkers in Boise, he ultimately returned to his hometown of Sarajevo in 2014. Undeterred by the distance, Samardzic proposed his services to Jitasa as an international contractor about six months after his move. Jitasa CEO and founder Jeff Russell said he initially turned down Samardzic’s proposal, but Samardzic’s positive reputation with the company combined with the strategic positives an additional international location could bring to Jitasa’s capabilities caused Russell to reconsider. With a location in Sarajevo combined with its already
established locations in Boise and Bangkok, Thailand, Jitasa could work with clients 24 hours a day, shifting accounting and data entry work around each location as needed. “We already had an international location in Thailand, so I wasn’t sure what we would do in Sarajevo,” Russell said. “But the more we talked about it, the more it felt right. It happened somewhat accidentally, but it all worked out and felt like the right thing to do.”
BUILDING BRIDGES Jitasa’s Sarajevo location started with humble roots, operating entirely out of Samardzic’s apartment. While Samardzic was still working as a contractor, he reached out to Hasic about the possibility of her joining Jitasa in the spring of 2015. Hasic, herself a business administration graduate, had just completed an internship with Ernst & Young in Sarajevo and found herself eager to join in Jitasa’s mission. “The whole story [of Jitasa] was inspiring, and most importantly had a purpose that was aligned with my own,” Hasic said. “Being able to give your contribution back to the world through the work we do and working with nonprofit clients that inspire you to be better is very rewarding.” With Hasic on board and with Russell laying the groundwork for formal office space in Sarajevo, the twosome began to plan for rapid growth in Sarajevo, specifically targeting what Hasic described as “young, ambitious, smart, cross-functional individuals.” Samardzic’s vision for the budding Sarajevo branch focused on the high youth unemployment rate in the city; Bosnia has one of the highest youth unemployment rates in the world at more than 50 percent. “This was the opportunity for me to bring Jitasa to Sarajevo, provide meaningful careers to the Bosnian youth, keep working for this awesome company, and keep living a global life where our work could help create a peaceful and sustainable future,” Samardzic said.
Russell noted the significance of Samardzic seeking out Hasic given the country’s ethnic tensions following the Bosnian War that ended in 1995. Although the pair come from formerly opposed ethnic groups in the region, neither see ethnicity in Bosnia as a barrier. “To me, it’s powerful that the first thing Igor did was seek out Jasmina. They’re creating a company that’s modeling the future of what Sarajevo should be, that even deeply-divided groups can come together for a greater purpose.” In December 2015, Jitasa organized a two-week educational “Boot Camp” in Sarajevo as a way to kickstart formal hiring efforts in the city. These hires became the core group of Sarajevo’s formal branch opening in January 2016. Today, Samardzic is managing director of Jitasa Sarajevo, with Hasic working as the team manager. The duo works together to manage Jitasa client operations, acquire new talent, and handle day-to-day duties for the location. As of October 2019, Jitasa Sarajevo employs over 60 staff – one of the largest U.S. employers in Sarajevo today. With the branch continuing to grow, Samardzic and Hasic are continuing to draw on their experiences they gained at the College to continue in the service of others. “Who I am today was very much influenced by the opportunities I had the luck to be gifted with,” Hasic said. “Having spent years with international students and professors that come from different backgrounds has helped me grow a lot, both academically and as a person.” “The C of I will not only teach you theory,” Samardzic added, “it will provide you a chance to practice and experience it, and even more important, a chance to inherit some awesome values that will shape you as a person for life.” To learn more about Jitasa, visit www.jitasagroup.com. CLAYTON GEFRE is a writer for Quest.
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ADAM ESCHBACH
RESIDENT ADVOCATE W
hen Sophie Trobitzsh arrived on campus at The College of Idaho in the fall of 2018 as a freshman, she came with just a suitcase. The native of Germany didn’t know anyone, didn’t have a support system of friends and family. It was just her. Now a sophomore, the international political economy and environmental studies double-major remembers that feeling of isolation, and it motivates her to make an impact on all corners of campus. She has become part of a support system that’s building a more inclusive community on campus. “You think it’s so hard to make friends or to approach people but they may think the exact same thing,” says Trobitzsch. “I just want to encourage people to make different connections.”
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Trobitzsch’s desire is to become a mentor and leader on campus, a resource for all students and to encourage interactions between different groups to find commonality. There are students from nearly 90 countries represented on campus. And with the largest incoming freshman class in the College’s history, the sophomore is finding ways to meet the need for bridge-building.
topics of community and inclusion. “When you talk with Sophie, you know she is always thinking — about those around her, about the world we share, about integrating ideas and theories with her lived experiences, and about how to serve the greater community,” said Nelson. “Sophie’s intelligence and warm smile personify a College of Idaho student.”
For the 2019-20 academic year, Trobitzsch is the Resident Assistant and Senator for Hayman Hall. “I really wanted to support other people,” Trobitzsch said on why she became an R.A. “I feel like it is really important to create an inclusive community.”
“She is always thinking about the student experience,” said Hall Director Justin Waldron. “It is fascinating to work with her because you know she is always thinking about the whole community, not just one population.”
Director for Residence Life Jen Nelson has been particularly impressed by her intellect and insight, especially around
As a first-year R.A., Trobitzsch was an active participant and group leader for the McCall Wilderness Experience that the entire freshman class attends.
There, she helped facilitate workshops and encouraged them to be open and form friendships. “I was really surprised by how open people were,” said Trobitzsch. “The main thing I was trying to show people was that no matter where you’re from, no matter what your past is, we all share common fears; we all share common hopes.” For Hayman Hall, Trobitzsch facilitated a program to create door stoppers for firstyear students to paint. She organized it with Political Economy Professor Kerry Hunter. Together, they cut and sanded over 70 wooden door stoppers, which were made available for students to paint. Trobitzsch loves how a simple activity like painting door stoppers can make lasting personal interactions. “I love doing the small things,” Trobitzsch said. “We have a great community.” With the growth of diversity on campus, the College is experiencing positive changes toward the way students advocate for themselves, and for each other. Support comes from students, faculty and staff, as well as numerous clubs and organizations that celebrate different cultures and beliefs. “There are huge communities of people who are now speaking together in one voice,” said Aurora Cossairt, a senior from Boise. They are saying, “we want inclusive spaces on campus. I’m glad to know people like
Sophie are in positions where they can positively affect change on campus.” Sustainability and equality are passions for Trobitzsch. She serves on the Sustainability Committee and a member of TERRA: The Environmental Resource and Recreation Association. She is one of two College of Idaho student recipients of the 2019 Environmental Leadership Initiative. The other recipient is senior Andrea Rojas-Escot, a student from Guatemala. Additionally, the ELI awarded Trobitzsch $1,000 for her summer internship at the Association for German Nature Conservation (DNR) and she is using the leftover money to work toward a sustainability proposal on campus. “Being a senator really helps because I can present my ideas and get student feedback,” said Trobitzsch. “It really helps from a decision-making process of improving proposals.” Outside of being an R.A. and senate member, Trobitzsch helped start a new club that’s driving a dialogue between students of different backgrounds. The Eco-Feminist Student Union focuses on the representation of women in society and the environment. “We were really afraid that no one would sign up,” said Trobitzsch. But within an hour at the club fair, the sign-up sheet was filled with over 80 signatures from international and domestic students.
“In our second club meeting, we had three of our Latina members present what it’s like being a Latina woman in Caldwell and on campus and how their migration background affected them,” said Trobitzsch. “It was so cool to unite people and have people share their experience about their lives. It’s not just about teaching, but uniting people too.” “Sophie is one of those students who is working to build a more inclusive community wherever she can,” said Cossairt. “I think the work she’s doing as an R.A., as a senator, and as vice president of the Eco-Feminist Student Union is hugely important: everywhere she goes, she’s advocating for a world that is more inclusive for everyone.” Since arriving on campus last fall, Trobitzsch still doesn’t keep much more than what she can fit in her suitcase. But what she lacks in personal belongings on campus, she has gained by making connections and creating a space for students to come together and be engaged. Whether it’s her role as an R.A., senator, club leader or friend, Trobitzsch is building a support system for everyone. ADAM ESCHBACH is a staff writer and photographer for Quest.
“SHE IS ALWAYS THINKING — ABOUT THOSE AROUND HER, ABOUT THE WORLD WE SHARE, ABOUT INTEGRATING IDEAS AND THEORIES WITH HER LIVED EXPERIENCES, AND ABOUT HOW TO SERVE THE GREATER COMMUNITY.” JEN NELSON
Director for Residence Life
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ISO CULTURAL SHOW The College of Idaho’s annual International Student Organization (ISO) Cultural Show features a variety of performances from the College’s extensive international population. Students from all around the world have the opportunity to share their respective cultures with the campus through song, dance, skits and more.
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AN IDAHOAN IN INDONESIA
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avid Losinski came to The College of Idaho from the other side of the state and then an academic fellowship took him to the other side of the world. “It was really overwhelming at first, it’s about as far as you can get from eastern Idaho,” Losinski ‘17 said of his studies in Indonesia. “It is pretty surreal to think about the opportunities students have to go and engage in their studies like that.” Losinski, a political economy major, earned the Boren Fellowship, which is a fellowship specific to foreign languages. When it comes to studying the languages of the region, he says that there are 170 distinct languages – not dialects – in Indonesia alone. He is just the fourth Boren Fellow from the College, joining Ali Rabe ’10, Matt Fouts ’14, and Ryan Gibson ’15. The Idaho Falls native is spending several months in Indonesia studying and doing research in preparation for a career in renewable energy. Losinski was first introduced to Indonesia almost by accident. He was a member of the College’s Model United Nations team with Professor Rob Dayley that was originally slated to go to South Korea. “There was some issue and we weren’t able to compete there,” he recalled. “So we ended up going to Indonesia.” After the competition, he spent time traveling in the region, immersing himself in the people and the culture. He completed his degree at the College and then finished his first year of graduate school at Boise State University. He’s spending this academic year
back in Indonesia for the Boren Fellowship before returning to finish his graduate degree next year. As part of the fellowship, he is required to work for the U.S. government for a period of time once he has completed his graduate degree. Before leaving for Indonesia, he came back to campus to talk to students about his Boren Fellowship, the value of his education at the College, and the importance of high-impact practices for students. Like people had done for him, he was giving back to others. “People helped me when I was applying for the fellowship,” Losinski said. “I think it’s important to try to pass that along to others.” Losinski says the roots of his education and goals were shaped at The College of Idaho. “By the time I graduated, I had the personal contact information of every professor in the (Political Economy) department. I was able to talk to them, sometimes multiple times a week,” he noted. “At a college that isn’t a small, liberal arts college, you may not have that luxury.” Along with Model U.N., he participated in internships in Washington, D.C. and traveled to conferences as part of his membership with the Delta Tau Delta fraternity at the College. “Attending school is just the baseline of college,” he reasoned. “There are other ways to use your experience at the College to get ahead.” WILL HOENIKE is a staff writer for Quest.
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ARNOLDO HERNANDEZ’S LIFETIME OF ACHIEVEMENT
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he College of Idaho’s Director of Inclusion and Intercultural Engagement Arnoldo Hernandez recently received the lifetime achievement award from the Idaho Commission on Hispanic Affairs, where he himself served for 22 years. His job includes directing ALAS (Association of Latin American Students), which means wings in Spanish and is the campus organization for Latino students; ISO (International Student Organization); he also co-directs AFRO (Africans Friends Relatives and Others), the African student organization and the Interfaith Council with Adan De La Paz. Hernandez more often than not can be seen on campus chatting with students in English or Spanish. His commitment to inclusion and diversity springs from his early life. Born in Mexico, his family migrated first to Texas then settled in Wilder, Idaho. While still in grade school, he took on a narrow-minded, bullying teacher and confronted his high school football coach who used to “yell Alamo” as signal for his students divide into brown kids verses white kids for dodgeball. When Hernandez refused, the coach took a
swing at him and was ultimately fired. Hernandez comes from a family of 14, he is second from the oldest. He attended Boise State University but thought it odd that at that time he lived in Caldwell and could have walked to The College of Idaho but “didn’t ever consider going to the College.” An activist by nature, he had a meeting with then president Bob Hendren and told him that all Hispanic students needed was a chance to succeed at the College. He remembers pointing out that “what we lack is funding.” He added the students were poor so “could qualify for FAFSA and fill empty seats.” Hendren applied for a grant and started a three-year pilot program that succeeded in welcoming Latinos on campus. Before the three years were over, Hendren asked Hernandez to come work at the College. Arnoldo, who had another job at the time, eventually took the position. This was a quarter of a century ago. A time when the college had very few—Hernandez recalls three students from India— international undergraduates and virtually no Latinos.
Today the College has around 15-percent Latino students. Many are the first generation in their families to attend college. Diversity is now an indelible fact at the College. Arnoldo quickly credits VP of Enrollment Management Brian Bava for the campus commitment to diversity and his work attracting international students to Caldwell. Arnoldo Hernandez smiles and takes pride in the administration’s recent statement about representation, inclusion and equity (the four-paragraph statement can be found on the College’s website). A goal that he has been working toward for 25 years. And it must be noted that while Arnoldo did not attend the College, all three of his sons did (Joel ’12, David ’15 and Jaime ’17). ALAN MINSKOFF teaches journalism at The College of Idaho, his new book “The Idaho Traveler,” was recently published by Caxton Press. This past year he and his wife Royanne established a scholarship fund for journalism students at the College.
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COLLEGE SETS ENROLLMENT RECORD
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his fall’s incoming class at The College of Idaho has set a new mark and it won’t be easily duplicated – the new class is the largest in the history of the school. There are 406 total new students on campus this fall, which includes 361 incoming freshmen and 45 transfer students. The previous highwater marks for enrollment both came in 2013, when the College welcomed 355 total students, 291 of which were freshmen. “Not only did we grow our freshman class, but we grew our students from Idaho, we grew the number of female students, we grew the number of students from the Boise high schools, we grew the number of international students,” Vice President of Enrollment Management Brian Bava said. Perhaps more impressive, according to Bava, is that the mark was reached without compromising the academic integrity of the institution or the class itself. The overall grade point average of the incoming class was 3.73 and nearly a quarter of the group ranked in the top-ten of their graduating class.
MOVE-IN DAY/FIRST DAY OF CLASS Late August was abuzz with activity around the College. Move-in Day welcomed the largest incoming class in the history of the school and, along with the 400-plus newcomers, campus was scattered with volunteers to help the new members of the YoteFam. From sports teams and clubs to faculty and staff, the areas around the dorms were lively with activity, smiles, and welcomes for everyone. After the freshmen class spent a few days at the annual McCall Wilderness Experience, it was time for classes to begin. Mark Smith, who has been teaching at the College for three decades, opened his Western Civ class with a pop quiz by asking if everyone was in the right place.
“I’d say there’s at least one a year,” Smith said with a laugh about new students discovering they were in the wrong room. “But I didn’t have one today.”
DAVIS PROJECT FOR PEACE UPDATE
Sophomore Anniella Kabitso Sophomore Anniella Kabitso accomplished a noteworthy amount over her summer. She returned to campus in late August after spending the break in her home country of Burundi working
on a service project for Davis Project for Peace. The goal of her project was to reach out to the Twa minority group in Burundi, provide them with knowledge and skills, and provide affordable electricity to a rural study center. “The impact of this project was to help alleviate the number of dropouts,” Kabitso said. “It also brought to the region IT skills which is not really common back home, especially in rural areas.” Kabitso was unable to equip the study center with solar power because of a lack of sun in the region. Instead, her team offered to pay the electricity bill.
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COLLEGE NEWS | QUEST MAGAZINE
NEW HOUSING COMING TO CAMPUS With a record influx of new students on campus this fall, The College of Idaho is turning to an innovative Caldwell company to assist with a quick and sustainable housing solution. And that solution is coming from an unexpected source: decommissioned shipping containers. Caldwell-based indieDwell has made national headlines for its unique approach to provide quality, affordable housing. And it did again in this case. After the announcement of the new housing coming to campus, media outlets in Texas, Washington, Kentucky, and Washington, D.C., among others, talked about the concept. The record inflow of students has pushed the available on-campus housing to maximum capacity. The two new buildings, which will house a total of 54 students, will be built on the south side of campus, near the existing Village Apartments. At least one of the buildings is scheduled to be open in time for Spring Term. “The College’s primary goal is to find ways to enhance the student experience,” said Richard Erne, Vice President for Finance and Administration. “This residential housing solution provides an exceptional living space for our students and is consistent with the College’s desire to support sustainability of the environment.” The cost per bed of an indieDwell complex is roughly half the cost of a large-scale conventional dorm construction and can be completed in less than half the time.
2019-2020 ACCOLADES
#1 TOP
120
College in Idaho - Wall Street Journal
Best National Liberal Arts Colleges - U.S. News & World Report
#4
In The Nation in Social Mobility - U.S. News & World Report
Idaho’s
TOP SCHOOL for job placement -Zippia
BEST IN THE WEST - Princeton Review
TOP
100
Liberal Arts College in the U.S. - College Consensus
COLLEGE SCORES WELL IN NATIONAL RANKINGS
T
he College of Idaho continues to excel in national eyes, moving up in national rankings produced by both the Wall Street Journal and U.S. News & World Report. The College moved up 23 spots overall in national rankings, from no. 383 to 360, in the Wall Street Journal’s rankings while earning the top spot among all Idaho schools for the third consecutive year. It’s the only Idaho school to rank among the WSJ’s top 400 overall. In the U.S. News & World Report rankings, The College of Idaho checks in at no. 117 nationally on its list of “Best National Liberal Arts Colleges,” an increase of 14 spots over
last year. Additionally, the College ranked as the No. 4 school in the nation in Social Mobility, which is generally defined as upward movement of students and graduates from one socioeconomic status to another. “Social mobility in the U.S. has declined sharply during the past decade, and young Americans now have far fewer opportunities to find financial security,” said College of Idaho Vice President of Academic Affairs David Douglass. “In light of this downward trend, it is heartening to know that The College of Idaho continues to succeed in transforming the lives of students in need.”
QUEST MAGAZINE | COLLEGE NEWS
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WASHINGTON FOUNDATION FUNDS HORATIO ALGER SCHOLARSHIPS The College of Idaho’s commitment to its students left a lasting impression upon Mike Halligan, the executive director of the Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation. “I can see that this isn’t going to be something that just gets pushed off to the side and onto a shelf and then somebody gets a scholarship each year,” Halligan said. “These kids are going to have the support structure around them that they need to be successful.” Part of that support comes in the form of the Horatio Alger Scholarships, which the Washington Foundation announced a $1.3 million commitment to fund at the College for the next eight years. The first five students are on campus. Five more will be selected each year through the commitment. The Horatio Alger Scholarships focus on students with financial need who have overcome obstacles in their lives.
MIKE SHINES ENDOWMENT As part of the Homecoming festivities in September, the College unveiled the Mike Shines Endowment. Shines, the long-time director of the Aquatic Center and strength coach, has touched many lives during his tenure on campus. Alumna Shay Doll ’02 and her husband, Buddy Wilton, contributed generously to the endowment. Doll worked with Shines when she was a member of the College’s ski team. The Mike Shines Endowment will benefit all athletics. From equipment to facilities and scholarships for student athletes, the Fund will mimic Shines’ impact on students and the College as a whole. When the Endowment reaches $1 million, the College will rename pool 2 0 2 0 S its CHO L A R after S H I P Shines. GALA
WELLS FARGO GRANT Wells Fargo Bank has long supported The College of Idaho’s first-generation student program but the bank took another step in its support of diversity and inclusion on campus by awarding its largest grant ever in the state of Idaho to the College. “You understand your culture here, you’re building something that makes sense,” said Don Melendez, Western Idaho Regional Banking President for Wells Fargo. “You’re building something that is preparing students for the future of the world.” The grant, when complete, will total $150,000 to the College and will support the College’s Inclusion & Intercultural Engagement program, support scholarships for Hispanic/ Latinx students and help revise curriculum to include more diversity and inclusion outcomes.
REIGN GALA PREVIEW The 2020 Scholarship Gala, “Purple Reign,” is scheduled for February 28 at the Boise Centre at 6:00 p.m. and will have an 80s theme. Tickets are on sale for the black-tie affair by visiting www.collegeofidaho.edu/gala. The 2019 Gala was an amazing success, generating more than $460,000 for student scholarships. It marked the second consecutive year that the Gala set a new fundraising record. The Scholarship Gala raised over $100,000 more than it did just two years ago. Along with bidding on some fantastic auction items, you can mingle with fellow alumni of the College, meet members of the faculty and staff, and also meet some of our incredible students.
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YOTE NOTES | QUEST MAGAZINE
W ILL H OE N I K E
A FAMILY ASSIST
Adnan Sose
W
hen Adnan Sose was meeting the soccer team on a recruiting visit, Cole Fuller approached him and said, “merhaba,” which is a Bosnian Muslim greeting that means, “I greet you as a friend.”
Sose, then a senior at Twin Falls High School, is Muslim. But he was born and raised in the Magic Valley, not Bosnia. Even so, Fuller’s gesture helped kick start a love affair between Sose, his team, and the College that continues to this day. Though Sose was born and raised in Idaho, his ties to Bosnia are tight. His parents are both Bosnian and it remains the predominant language in the family home. He has traveled to Bosnia multiple times to visit what would have been his homeland – if not for the country’s civil war in the early 1990s. His father, Emir, worked in aeronautics in the country while his mother, Amela, was studying engineering in college, when war took over in 1992. Emir spent three months in a concentration camp before the Red Cross came in and offered him an opportunity to leave the country and start
anew. So Emir took that opportunity, leaving the war-torn region behind. “My mother’s house got burned down twice, my father’s belongings, family photos, it all got destroyed during the war,” Sose said of his family’s path to Idaho. “My father came to the U.S. with twenty dollars in his pocket.” Amela was not able to reunite with her husband until three years later in 1995, and the family has been in Twin Falls ever since. His parents took multiple jobs in general labor/manufacturing and housekeeping to allow their two sons the best possible chance at success. “They made a lot of sacrifices, took away a lot of luxuries that they had to allow for me and my younger brother to enjoy life without having to worry about many things,” Sose said. “So, once college came around, I was able to pick and choose where I wanted to go to school.” That led him to the College, where he is double-majoring in international political economy and business. He plans to attend graduate school before working in
diplomacy in the Balkan region where his family came from. It’s a chance for him to finish the college education that his mother didn’t get to finish when the war broke out. “She says she wouldn’t trade it for the world,” Sose said. “She feels like she helped put me on the right path.” Sose is a third-year member of the College’s soccer team. He may not lead the team in goals but head coach Thom Baker says the junior’s impact on the team is immeasurable. “I’ll vote for him when he runs for office and I hope I’m there for a wedding because he’s just that kind of kid,” Baker proudly stated. “He means that much to me because he’s such a good person and he’s what we try to get here at The College of Idaho. When he’s gone, I’m going to miss him tremendously.” WILL HOENIKE is a staff writer for Quest. For more of Adnan's story, please visit our Quest Extra page at www.collegeofidaho. edu/quest-magazine
QUEST MAGAZINE | YOTE NOTES
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RECORDSETTING FOOTBALL YEAR
For the first time since the 1953 Refrigerator Bowl, The College of Idaho’s football team found itself in postseason play in 2019. The Yotes wrapped up a Frontier Conference championship in early November with a home win over Montana Western at Simplot Stadium in Caldwell. It marks just the third time the College’s football team has qualified for postseason play, joining the 1953 Refrigerator Bowl team and the 1948 team, which won the Pear Bowl. The team also concluded the regular season with a school-record 16-game winning streak and a 10-0 regular season record. It marked the secondlongest winning streak among all NAIA teams. Sophomore receiver Hunter Juarez continues to leave his mark on the College’s record book as he tied the legendary R.C. Owens for second on the College’s 100-yard receiving games list with seven, one behind the school mark of eight, set by Marcus Lenhardt from 2014-16.
VOLLEYBALL ADVANCES TO POSTSEASON AGAIN The Yotes volleyball team used a season-ending road sweep at Warner Pacific and at Multnomah to extend its postseason playoff streak to a whopping 21 consecutive seasons, finishing the regular season with 17 wins and a bid to the Cascade Conference tournament. The team has found tremendous success playing in front of its home fans. During Liz
Mendiola’s tenure as head coach, the College is an amazing 204-30 at the J.A. Albertson Activities Center, including nine wins during the 2019 season, but did suffer a home loss in the first round of the conference tournament against Northwest Christian, which ended the Lady Yotes’ season. Freshman Jordyn Boswell and senior Ashley Pagan finished
Senior quarterback Darius-James Peterson continued to climb the College’s all-time rankings as well in 2019. Peterson ended the regular season barely 100 yards away from becoming the program’s all-time leading rusher. He has already reached the top of the College’s all-time mark for total offense with 4,000 yards more than Teejay Gordon, who was the team’s quarterback in 2014 and 2015. And one of the players paving the way for Peterson, senior offensive lineman Josh Brown, has been invited to play in the Hula Bowl, an all-star game that showcases players for NFL scouts and coaches.
first and second, respectively, during the regular season in kills for the Yotes, while junior Drew Dobney led the program in both digs and service aces. Dobney has cracked the school’s all-time top-ten list in digs with over 1,200 with one year of eligibility remaining. The program’s all-time record holder in the category, Whitney (Owen) Brigham ’12 with 2,359, is an assistant coach for the Yotes.
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YOTE NOTES | QUEST MAGAZINE
CROSS COUNTRY WINS CCC TITLES
Photo Courtsey of Liza Safford
B
oth the men’s and women’s cross country teams at the College won Cascade Conference team championships this fall. For the men’s team, it was its second-straight conference title. For the women, it was its first team title since 2013. With the wins, both teams qualified for the NAIA national cross country championships.
For the women, it actually marks the team’s 12th consecutive trip to nationals. Junior Erin Moyer and sophomore Larissa Mauer finished in the top five at the conference meet to help ensure the conference championship. On the men’s side, senior Alex Martin and junior Cole Campbell both finished in the top five to help secure the conference title. Both teams competed in nationals in Vancouver, Washington, in late November. Head coach Austin Basterrechea, himself an alumnus of The College of Idaho, earned Cascade Conference Coach of the Year honors.
It was a banner season for the program as, for the first time in program history, both the men’s and women’s teams were ranked nationally in the top-3. In the NAIA Cross Country Top-25 coaches’ polls that were released in mid-October, the Coyote men were ranked no. 2 overall while the women checked in at no. 3. Among many individual bests, Martin became the program’s first-ever NAIA Men’s Cross Country National Runner of the Week in early October. He joins Hillary Holt (2012, 2013) and Lila Klopfenstein (2014) as the only Yote runners to earn NAIA weekly cross country awards.
SOCCER TEAMS ADVANCE TO PLAYOFFS The Coyote men’s and women’s soccer programs each advanced to the Cascade Conference tournament in 2019, with both teams finishing .500 or better. The women entered the postseason on a four-match winning streak, outscoring their
opponents 11-1 over that stretch, to enter the conference tournament with a record of 7-5-4 and tied for third in the Cascade Conference, allowing just 0.8 goals per game, before dropping a hard-fought quarterfinal to Rocky Mountain. Sophomore Madison Glascock led the team during the regular season with five goals, while senior Emma Powley and freshman Elise Payne tied for second with three tallies apiece. On the men’s side, it looked like the Yotes would miss the postseason due to tiebreakers but, instead, received a berth when the University of Providence was forced to withdraw. So the Coyotes, with a record of 8-8, moved into the tournament. It marks the 17th time the team has reached the postseason. Junior Jack O’Leary led the team with six goals on the season while Bekir Cinac, Ahmet Huremovic, and Ben Bechor each netted five goals. The team lost 6-1 to Corban in the conference quarterfinals to end the season.
QUEST MAGAZINE | FACULTY REFLECTIONS
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JAS P ER L I CA L Z I
WHAT I HAVE LEARNED IN 27 YEARS AT THE COLLEGE OF IDAHO
W
e often ask students to reflect on their college experience and contemplate what they have learned in our courses. After 27 years of teaching at the College, I would like to reflect on some of what I have learned in my classes and from my students. What students do in class is more important than the substance covered in class: Having students wrestle with knotty problems, speaking or debating in class, or writing concise essays that require deep thought have a longer lasting effect than what information is communicated in the class. High expectations of students yield more impressive results: Requiring students to read extensively, to struggle with complex issues, and to complete numerous and varied assignments makes for more comprehensive student learning than “taking it easy” on students.
Learning should be an enjoyable experience for everyone in class: Showing the joy of teaching an interesting subject transfers to students sharing that joy and learning in an entertaining environment.
Learning only begins in the classroom: Imploring students to enhance their experiences through activities beyond the classroom is essential to a complete liberal arts education.
There is no substitute for preparation: Being prepared to learn, both by the professor and the student, is imperative to achieving any goals for learning.
Probably the most important lesson I have learned over the years is how the liberal arts are so much more important than getting a job or pursuing a career. It is the responsibility of the faculty at a liberal arts college such as ours to help our students understand the world and their place within that world. Working is what you do 40 hours a week; the liberal arts is how you fill the rest of your life.
Reading is the most important learning experience for students: Learning to think, write, or solve problems is enhanced by reading interesting and challenging work from effective writers, who are often not academics. More classes should be taken outside of the student’s major: Pushing students to take classes besides mine expands their horizons and makes them better students in my classes.
Teaching at The College of Idaho has been more rewarding than I ever could have imagined. I just hope my students have learned a fraction as much from me as I have learned from them. JASPER LICALZI is a professor of political economy.
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ALUMNI NEWS | QUEST MAGAZINE
PICTURED LEFT TO RIGHT:
Walter Cerveny Dr. James Gabbard
GABBARD TAPES ONLINE Dr. James Gabbard taught at The College of Idaho for 25 years beginning in 1963. He was a beloved professor, inspiring many to pursue music. He taught with commitment and passion, and music came alive with his direction. One of his students, Bill Buckendorf ‘74, who became a music major with encouragement from Dr. Gabbard says, “Nearly all of us just loved Dr. Gabbard. When he got up on the podium, he was ready to work.” When Dr. Gabbard passed away, the family wanted to preserve the music from the many reel-to-reel tapes stored in the office of the family home. Buckendorf accepted the challenge to get the many tapes digitized and uploaded to YouTube so anyone can listen to selections from various concerts. To find the concerts search “James Gabbard Choir Tapes” on the College’s YouTube channel. Gabbard’s daughter Gini Rosendick ’77, is pleased that the recordings have been preserved as a part of the College’s history. “I think he would have been really proud of the product of his lifelong work here at the College.”
STUDENT DEBT STRATEGIES Young alumni and College of Idaho upperclassmen recently participated in a free workshop on saving money and paying off debts. The presenter, Whitney Hansen, is a millennial finance expert who became a financial coach after paying off $30,000 in student loan debt in just 10 months. This was the first event in a new series of value-added programs the College will continue to offer our alumni. Providing opportunities for personal and
professional growth is a valuable way to support alumni after they graduate—we are truly committed to each other’s success. "Whitney Hansen's workshop was extremely valuable and reignited my interest in personal finance. I now find myself listening to Whitney's podcast on a daily basis, searching for side hustles, and am halfway through one of two books that she recommended to me. Her willingness to stay afterwards and answer additional questions I had was greatly appreciated, and I'm thankful to College of Idaho for providing these opportunities
for both current students and alumni!" – Seth Raver ‘15 “The information provided is relevant and valuable to anyone who feels trapped by their financial circumstances. Whitney did a good job highlighting actions I can do right now to set myself up for a brighter financial future.” – Brittany Thach, junior The topic of the next valueadded alumni event will be “Real Estate 101 – Planning Your Home Ownership”. It will be on January 16, 5:30-7:00 p.m.
QUEST MAGAZINE | ALUMNI NEWS
“THIS ONE WAS THE BEST ONE IN YEARS.”
2019 HOMECOMING & FAMILY WEEKEND
DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD WINNERS PICTURED ABOVE LEFT TO RIGHT: Veryl Harrison ’61, Jeffrey Miner ’84, Harriet Harrison ’61, Brady Harrison ’14, Alexandra Grande ’11, Shawn Harrison ’87, Mary Lou Limbago ’71 (accepting on behalf of Brandi Limbago ’94), Brent Harrison ’85, Diana Dron ’75, Sally Skinner ’78, Teralene Foxx ’62, Jim Everett, Amalka Jayasundera ’13, Doug Brigham ’87, Jordan Komoto ’05. Ted-Y Talks featuring our award winners are available on the College's YouTube channel.
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ALUMNI NEWS | QUEST MAGAZINE
“I HAD A GREAT TIME! THE CAMPUS TOUR, THE DINNER, THE TAILGATE PARTY, AND THE FOOTBALL GAME GAVE ME ALL SORTS OF REASONS TO GET RE-ENTHUSED ABOUT THE COLLEGE AND SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO RECONNECT WITH OLD FRIENDS.”
“HOME-COMING! RETURNING FELT LIKE COMING HOME TO FRIENDS, FAMILY AND COMMUNITY. WE ARE PROUD OF OUR COLLEGE AND THE EVEN MORE BEAUTIFUL CAMPUS IT HAS BECOME.”
“AMAZING EXPERIENCE! A LOT OF ALUMNI SKI TEAM CAME…WE ALL RECONNECTED AND IT FEELS GOOD TO RECONNECT! ALL ACTIVITIES AMAZING!”
“SO MANY THINGS AND PEOPLE TO SEE AND VISIT WITH. ESPECIALLY ENJOYED VISITING WITH THE STUDENTS.”
QUEST MAGAZINE | CLASS NOTES
SEND US YOUR CLASS NOTES! Send us your Class Notes! We want to hear about all the great things our alumni are doing! If you would like to submit a Class Note, please email alumni@collegeofidaho.edu or call us at (208) 459-5301.
1960s
Photo Courtsey of Argus Observer
JUSTICE GERALD F. SCHROEDER ’61 was honored with a gathering to celebrate 50 years of service as a judge at the Ada County Courthouse. Schroeder attended Harvard Law School after his time at the College and also served as an Idaho State Supreme Court Justice. And, though he is “retired,” he maintains continuous service as a judge to help ease case backload.
FERN ANDERSON ’69 was presented a Lifetime Achievement award by the Delta Gamma Gamma educators of Weiser, Payette, Fruitland, and New Plymouth. Delta Kappa Gamma is an honorary international organization for leading women educators, which Anderson joined in 1977. KIMBERLY ROSANDER PLATER ’69 will be walking in the Tournament of Roses Parade on January 1. She and 100 women, dressed as suffragists, will be behind the "Pasadena Celebrates 2020" float, honoring the 100th year that women have had the right to vote. Kimberly owes her love of history to the many classes she took from Professor Leslie Brock at The College of Idaho. RANDY VAN TASSELL ’69 has been installed as a district Rotary governor, overseeing a district that encompasses 58 Rotary clubs over an area of
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160,000 square miles. Randy and his wife, Christine, live in Bishop, Ca., (near Fresno) and their son, Tanner, currently attends the College.
1970s GROVE KOGER ’70 published an account of his visit to Catalonia, “Barcelona & Beyond,” in the Summer 2019 issue of Art Patron Magazine, and his short stories have appeared in recent issues of The Bosphorus Review of Books, Ariel Chart, Sirens Call, Danse Macabre and La Piccioletta Barca. MICHAEL HOUSE ’70 is retired and living outside of Portland, Oregon, after a career as a psychotherapist. He lives with his wife of 40 years while the couple’s daughter lives and works as an art curator in Denver. KRISTINE MCDIVITT TOMPKINS ’72 was featured by CBS Sunday Morning recently when her non-profit turned over a huge swath of land to the Chilean government to establish a national park. McDivitt Tompkins co-founded Patagonia Clothing after graduating from the College. KAY (COTTRELL) FIELD ’78 earned recognition as the 2019 Volunteer of the Year for “Take the Next Step,” a western Washington community resource center created to provide a reliable list of available resources for neighbors in need. She also earned “Outstanding Pro Bono Attorney” for 15 years of service at Pathways Legal Clinic in Snohomish, Washington.
1990s
Stewardship with an emphasis in Restoration Ecology, from Colorado State University in Fort Collins. Ellen works in Alaska for the U.S. Army in the natural resource area. She and husband Robert Gerber have lived in the Alaskin interior since 1996.
CHRISTINE CRYSLER ’94 graduated with her law degree from Concordia University School of Law in May, earning the Richard C. Fields Award for Civility in the process. The award honors a student who demonstrates a commitment to professionalism and civility in the law school and legal profession. RAJEEV MAJUMDAR ’99 was named the state Bar Association president in Washington and, in doing so, became the first person of south Asian descent to earn such a distinction.
2000s CYNTHIA HAND ’00, a New York Times best-selling author, released her latest book, “The How and the Why,” in November. Much of the book was authored inside the Cruzen-Murray Library and there are several references to the College in the book.
at Mountain West Bank. Previously, she currently serves as Idaho Power’s director of business innovation and development.
JILL TWEDT ’01 was recently acknowledged by the Idaho Business Review as a 2019 “Leader in Law,” which recognizes qualities and dedication of individuals whose leadership, both in the legal profession and in the community, has provided a positive impact in Idaho. S. JOLENE HUI, MSW, LCSW ’01 was recently appointed as a city commissioner by Mayor Robert Garcia to the Long Beach Homeless Services Advisory Committee. This commission makes recommendations to the Mayor and City Council how to best meet the needs of the homeless community. She has worked for the National Association of Social Workers, California Chapter since 2014 and has been their director of membership since 2016. She is also adjunct faculty in the California State University, Dominguez Hills MSW program and owns a small private practice.
ADDY WISSEL ’01 recently earned tenure at Gonzaga University, where she is an associate professor of counselor education. KRISTIN PRICE-RUTLAND ’02, a member of the College’s athletics hall of fame, coached her high school alma mater, Wood River, into the Idaho 4A state volleyball tournament this fall. It was her first season as the school’s head coach.
ELLEN CLARK ’90 graduated in May with a Master's Degree in Natural Resources
MEGAN RONK ’01 has joined the Board of Directors
MICHELLE HAZEN ’05 saw her seventh novel, "Unbreak Me,"
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released this August from Penguin Random House. It was named an Amazon Best Book of the Month and also in the Best Books of 2019 by Booklist, and was awarded starred reviews from Publisher's Weekly and Booklist. Her eighth novel, "Breathe the Sky," is scheduled to be released in August of 2020.
AMANDA PEACHER ’05 earned a national Murrow award for her work on the story, "Evicted and Homeless, This 14-YearOld Describes Every Day As 'A Fight,'" for Boise State Public Radio. Along with this Murrow award, she also earned a national Gracie award for this story.
KATE RADFORD ’07 is the new head librarian in Lincoln, Montana, representing a new librarian in the town for the first time in 36 years. She had previously worked for the Boise Public Library. KIM STIENS ’08 has been hired as the Director of Operations & Culture at Employ America, a new organization that seeks to promote positive labor market outcomes through macroeconomic and monetary policy. The company is based in Washington, D.C. KATE ARBON ’09 was invited to provide the keynote inspirational address at the annual Idaho INBRE conference in July. Arbon graduated magna cum laude from the College with biology honors before earning her medical
CLASS NOTES | QUEST MAGAZINE
IN MEMORIAM The following alumni and friends of the College have passed away. When you learn of the death of a College of Idaho graduate, please email the information to alumni@collegeofidaho.edu. 1940S Leslie Dean ’41 Elizabeth (Luntey) Keck ’41 Clara (Wilcox) Miller ’42 Nona (Coffman) Johnson ’43 John Games ’43 Elizabeth Tweedy ’46 Patricia Reed ’48 Hazel (Graham) Clay ’49 William Streets ’49 Diane Cline ’49 1950S Elmer Scaggs ’50 Boyd Cooper ’51 Esther (Skinner) Emmel ’51 Naomi (Emerson) Scaggs ’52 Robert Curtis ’52 Monte Munn ’52 Bernice (Chaney) Kadel ’53 Robert Hembree ’53 Gene Strehlou ’55 Joan (Mitchell) Caldwell ’56 Mary Bronson ’58 Gary Robb ’58
1960S Patricia (Clark) Nelson ’60 William Smiley ’61 Alan Deonier ’61 Ronald Rainey ’62 Maura (Ulcucci) Holly ’63 Richard McDonald ’63 Galen Neher ’64 Stephen Johnson ’65 Gary Calhoon ’68 Stuart Gwin ’68 Denise (Bright) Van Houten ’69 JoAnn (Taylor) Bagby ’69 1970S Steven Roach ’70 Wesley Loveland ’70 Richard Johnson ’72 Martha (Scott) Doty ’74 Patrick Christensen ’78
degree from the University of Washington. She’s a practicing pediatrician in Bellevue, Washington.
treatment services for cognitive behavioral therapy, psychotherapy, solutionfocused therapy, music therapy, and recreational therapy.
BEN VERSCHOOR ’09 recently graduated from graduate school at Northwestern University with a Master of Fine Arts in Writing for Screen and Stage. He had a reading for a feature-length movie screenplay he wrote, “Perversion,” and has also produced an excerpt of his short film, “Jokers.” He lives in Chicago.
2010s
MATT JOHANSEN ’09 has been named the director of outpatient services at Cottonwood Creek Behavior Hospital in Meridian, Idaho. As director, he oversees
COLIN SLAUGHTER ’10, after operating his own accounting firm, entered into a business partnership with Fran Metrics, Inc., in September. He has taken on the role of chief financial officer with the new company. Fran Metrics provides bookkeeping, benchmarking, and consulting for franchisors and franchisees. RACHEL (CAMPBELL) RYBCZYNSKI ’13 graduated from The Johns Hopkins School of Public Health with a master’s degree in public
FRIENDS Rex Langley Michael Gowen Mavis Culver Agnes Thompson Elizabeth (Eames) Pearson Elizabeth Molina Ciro Molina Joe Vander Zanden Timothy Haskell Hans Kretz George Harkovich Betty (Hacker) Harkovich Theodore Baird John Sales Joyce Sales Beverly Cooper J.R. Brewer
health with a 4.0 grade-point average. She’s now working as a campaign engagement specialist for Catholic Relief Services.
CLAYTON GEFRE ’15 was nominated for Best Actor in a Musical or Play (nonprofessional) in the region for 2019 by Broadway World. Gefre was nominated for his portrayal of Sky in Music Theatre of Idaho’s production of "Mamma Mia!"
QUEST MAGAZINE | CLASS NOTES
DAVID LOSINSKI ’17 is spending the next several months in Indonesia as part of his Boren Fellowship, studying Indonesian languages before returning to Boise to complete his graduate degree at Boise State University (see page 14 for more). David majored in political economy at the College, as did older brother Ben ’12, who now works at Clearwater Analytics in Boise. GRAYSON WILKIE ’18 just graduated from the Idaho Peace Officer Standard and Training Probation & Parole Academy. He took his oath and is now a fully-uniformed felony probation & parole law enforcement officer.
NICOLE JORDAN ’19 was named Miss Rodeo Idaho for the year 2020. She will officially take her crown in January. After serving in the volunteer role, she’ll pursue a career in medicine.
STANDOUT STUDENTS
Junior CALY THURSTON (biomedical sciences major) earned second place in the Student Choice category at the annual Idaho INBRE Conference for her research and presentation on the effects of chemotherapy on tardigrades, near-microscopic animals commonly referred to as “water bears.” Tardigrades are nearly indestructible and may be living on the moon right now following a failed Israeli moon landing in April.
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marathon in October. He finished the 56-mile event in 13 hours. The race, which took place in the Boise area, included nearly 10,000 feet of elevation changes.
College of Idaho Student Body President BLAKE COWMAN (political economy/ environmental studies dualmajor) was the only student invited to speak at the 2019 Idaho Governor's Cup event in Sun Valley, an event that helps celebrate the scholarship award winners. Blake spoke about his gratitude for the scholarship and the exceptional education he has received by choosing the College and staying in his home state of Idaho.
Junior MIA GOMEZ (biochemistry/anthropology & sociology dual-major) led the College’s Veterans Club as it hosted a Veterans Day luncheon on campus. The luncheon brought veterans of the U.S. Military to campus to meet staff, faculty, and students in an effort to strengthen the Veteran community on campus. Gomez served in the U.S. Army before returning to the College. Mia is pictured with Mike Elliott ’71.
FACULTY AND STAFF FOOTNOTES
SCOTT KNICKERBOCKER, associate English professor, completed his seventh ultra-
RON BONNEAU announced that he will retire as the head coach of the College’s ski program following the 2020 season. During his esteemed 30-year career, Bonneau has coached nine U.S. Collegiate Ski and snowboard Association individual national champions, 39 All-Americans, and 105 national scholar-athletes.
Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students PAUL BENNION earned “Pillar of the Profession” accolades from the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA). The prestigious award honors distinguished individuals who have served as leaders, teachers, and scholars in student affairs and higher education. The winners are nominated before undergoing a thorough and rigorous vetting process by the NASPA foundation board prior to final selection.
Journalism Professor ALAN MINSKOFF has written a new book, “The Idaho Traveler,” which was recently published by Caxton Press.
The book retraces his journey through Idaho’s small towns that he started back in 1976 and chronicles his new impressions of the old buildings, the people, the food, and the stories that make these locales unique.
COFFEE WITH COYOTES in downtown Boise is a fun and low-key way to get acquainted with other alumni and show your Yote pride. Bring a friend and join us soon!
JOB CHANGES
DEIDRE FRIEDLI has been promoted to the new position of director of external relations & events. Diedre will continue to oversee the Special Events Department as well as overseeing the Boone Fund and Advancement Services teams. She has been with the College since 2015 as the director of special events & conference services and was featured in the Spring/Summer 2019 edition of Quest.
TRISHA (FOSBERG) PHILLIPS ’04 has been promoted to the position of senior events coordinator within the Special Events Department. The coordinator position is a leadership role which manages daily operations.
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INEKE SEVERA ’02 has been hired as the new Enrollment Communications & Design Specialist (Admission)/ Strategic Coordinator (Office of the Co-Presidents). The two positions were set up as a job-share between the Co-Presidents' and Admission offices. Ineke has a professional background in marketing and graduated cum laude from the College with a degree in political economy in 2002.
CLASS NOTES | QUEST MAGAZINE
NEW HIRES
Jonathan Hamrick, English Instructor
Paul Schilli, Data Operations Specialist
Jonathan Comes, Mathematics Visiting Assistant Professor
Misty Koeppen, Administrative Assistant, Orma J. Smith Museum of Natural History
Jason McClelland, Mathematics Visiting Assistant Professor
Sophia Ridgeway, Enrollment Coordinator & Data Specialist Emily Tormey, Administrative Assistant, Academic Affairs Andrew Hensiek, Chemistry Stockroom/Lab Manager
Dawn Frederickson, College Nurse Keith Bower, Director of Information Technology
Jeffery Davies, Head Golf Coach John Crespin, Custodian Sven Alskog, Assistant Sports Information Director Matthew McFadden, Assistant Football Coach Shelbie Bones, First Year Academic Advisor
Courtney Kelly, Student Success Coordinator
The College’s Alumni Department received this striking photo from Morocco as a reply to an email invitation to plan the 1970 50year reunion, which will take place in May. CHARLES JONES ‘70 of La Grande, Oregon simply responded with “Sending my regrets. Cycling in Morocco.”
QUEST MAGAZINE | ALUMNI PROFILE
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YOU FIRST HEARD OF THE COLLEGE AT A PRESENTATION IN INDIA. WHAT DREW YOU TO ATTEND THE COLLEGE? Dennis Bergvall, the College’s dean of admissions at the time, had a pithy presentation that drew my attention. He advertised the opportunity to learn from elite professors from Harvard, Princeton and other prestigious academic institutions in a small class environment. The pitch was augmented by the fact that he mentioned that there were a limited number of spots for “select” international students (he was really selling a ‘scarce commodity’) and few academic scholarships. I guess the “challenge” to be a part of this unique environment drew my attention. WHAT WERE SOME OF YOUR TOP EXPERIENCES AT THE COLLEGE? What comes to mind immediately are the relationships I built with my professors, coaches and administrators, and the lifelong friendships cemented at the College. Even today I am in touch with a lot of folks from the College despite being thousands of miles away from Idaho. Being an international student, my friends served as an extension of my family and the professors, coaches and administrators served (still serve) as great mentors. The support I received from the College was tremendous and that community helped shape me to be a well-rounded person. A true Liberal Arts education. HOW WAS YOUR OWN GLOBAL MINDSET SHAPED DURING YOUR TIME AT THE COLLEGE?
AKSHAY KULKARNI Current Professional Position: Director at Citi, New York Graduated in 2005 Majors: International Political Economy; Business Administration - Finance and Economics First UWC student to attend The College of Idaho
I would say the “global mindset” was all academic for me. As an international political economy major, I learned a tremendous amount about international systems, world order and picked up fancy words such as “hegemony”! In all seriousness, at the College a lot of my global mindset was shaped in the classroom and by the professors. I was blessed to be with American students who were determined to be global citizens and did everything they could to expose themselves to different cultures and perspectives by traveling and studying abroad. I recall that by my senior year a significant majority (if not 100%) of my cohort had either studied and/or traveled abroad. By the time we were in our capstone class, I felt like I was once again in a true international environment given the diversity of ideas and perspectives voiced in class. It was tremendous. AS THE FIRST UNITED WORLD COLLEGE STUDENT ON CAMPUS, DID YOU EVER THINK THERE WOULD BE A DAY WHEN THE COLLEGE WOULD HAVE MORE THAN 180 INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ON CAMPUS WITH NEARLY 90 COUNTRIES REPRESENTED? IN YOUR WORDS, WHAT DOES THAT DO FOR THE LEARNING ATMOSPHERE AND OVERALL EXPERIENCE OF ALL OUR STUDENTS? Not in my wildest dreams. The Davis Scholarship was introduced in my second year at UWC. At the time only five colleges were the beneficiaries of this tremendous scholarship. What Brian Bava has done to bring UWC students to campus is truly remarkable. The student body, both international and domestic, sincerely benefits from a diverse classroom with a plethora of perspectives. I feel like quickly distilling multiple and sometimes complex perspectives is a critical skill to succeed in today’s world. Developing the skill to digest these multiple, complex, international perspectives in a safe academic setting is a huge advantage for the student body. I am sure that for the professors too, the material is a lot richer when it is infused by an international population.
SAVE THE DATE MAY 22-23
Class of 1970 and 2010 Reunions
ALUMNI CALENDAR For a full schedule of events and more information, please visit the Alumni Event Calendar at alumni.collegeofidaho. edu/events. Register online or call (208) 459-5770. We look forward to seeing you soon!
SEP 24-27
Homecoming/ Family Weekend - A Celebration of the 90's decade
DECEMBER 2019 2
Seventh Annual Holiday Tree Lighting
3
Half-Century Luncheon Camerata, Madrigal Group
18
Ugly Sweater Happy Hour
JANUARY 2020 17
Coffee with Coyotes, Boise
21
Half-Century Luncheon Basketball coaches Blaine and Beal
24
Washington D.C. Alumni and Friends
FEBRUARY 2020 18
Half-Century Luncheon Physician Assistant Program, Marvin Sparrell
21
Coffee with Coyotes, Boise
MARCH 2020 17
Half-Century Luncheon International Students, Adan De La Paz
20
Coffee with Coyotes, Boise
APRIL 2020 3
Yotes Night Out in Boise
21
Half-Century Luncheon Historic Bus Tour, Chuck Randolph
UEST
The College of Idaho | 2112 Cleveland Blvd Caldwell, ID 83605
LARGEST INCOMING CLASS IN SCHOOL HISTORY AUG 25 2019
On the count of three, two, one, the newest class at The College of Idaho screamed “Go Yotes!� At Tamarack Resort, a record number of new students gathered and introduced themselves during the McCall Wilderness Experience. Our circle has become a lot bigger with 406 total new students, 361 of which are freshmen. The 2019 incoming class is the largest class in the history of The College of Idaho.
Quest is published by The College of Idaho. Copyright 2019. All rights reserved. Editorial offices are located in Sterry Hall, 2112 Cleveland Boulevard, Caldwell, ID 83605-4432 | 208-459-5219 | communications@collegeofidaho.edu. Opinions expressed in Quest are those of the individual author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The College of Idaho administration or the Board of Trustees. The College of Idaho admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs. www.collegeofidaho.edu/non-discrimination.