Legacy of Alumna billie jo Peterson Lives on in Student Scholarship

Legacy of Alumna billie jo Peterson Lives on in Student Scholarship

Among the challenges of 2020, there were also some absolutely incredible moments. One of those moments was provided by a very generous alumna, Wilma “billie jo” Peterson, Class of 1973. Through planned giving, billie jo’s request to provide a full ride scholarship for a student pharmacist was fulfilled. Wilma “billie jo”, passed away on December 6, 2017 but her legacy lives on with Burgandie Bullock, a student in the Class of 2024. Burgandie is arguably the first student pharmacist at ISU to receive a full ride scholarship, which amounts to just over $86,000. She had this to say about billie jo’s generosity and the impact of the scholarship on her education and career: “My name is Burgandie Bullock, and I am a recipient of what I know to be one of the first full ride scholarships offered by Idaho State University College of Pharmacy. It is truly an honor to be one of the first individuals to receive this type of prestigious award. This gift was provided by the Wilma (billie) Jo Peterson estate, an alumna of the College of Pharmacy. When I first received word of receiving this scholarship, I could not believe it was true. I was utterly overcome with emotion as I tried to grasp what type of gift I had just received. My mind was flooded with thoughts of what this meant and how it would impact my life forever. This scholarship enabled me to be fully dedicated to my education without concern of what would have been a huge financial burden. It has also helped me to remain dedicated and driven toward my goal of becoming a registered pharmacist because knowing that I have received that kind of support has motivated me in ways I never thought possible. I have always dreamt of pursuing a degree in pharmacy to fulfill my desire to positively impact the lives of people through medicine. This scholarship is going to make that dream a reality for me. Being an independent student has made the financial aspect of school exceptionally difficult, but with this scholarship, I no longer have that stress and I am able to focus my energy on gaining the best education possible. I have always been extremely dedicated to achieving my goals throughout my life and I am more motivated than ever to graduate with my PharmD. I plan to apply for a residency after graduation to expand my knowledge and focus on a more patient-centered care approach. I am confident in myself to achieve these aspirations and this scholarship has boosted that confidence astronomically. I will forever be grateful to the donors of this scholarship, and I hope one day to get the chance to thank them in person for this unbelievably generous contribution.” Archie Schum, billie jo’s husband and also ISU alumni, (’70, Microbiology) manages his late wife’s estate, and says he would eventually like to provide additional scholarships in memory of billie jo. Thank you billie jo and Archie for your tremendous support of our students!