COLLEGE OF BUSINESS | FALL 2024
Letter from the Dean
It has been a record-breaking year for the ISU College of Business in countless ways. We were very excited to be notified by U.S. News and World Report that our undergraduate programs were one of only four ISU programs designated in their ‘Best Colleges of 2025’ rankings. These rankings reflected surveys from academic leaders, employers and alumni. This year is the highest U.S. News ranking in the history of the College. This is another testament to the incredible work our faculty, staff, donors, and community are doing, as well as the worldclass business education we are providing our students.
We finalized an agreement this fall for a gift that will create six new Endowed Professorships, one for each of our six program areas. This doubles our current number of Professorships. It also doubles the number of Professorships in the history of the University, as now all 12 Endowed Professorships will be in the College of Business. This is one of the most important and significant gifts in the history of our College.
We have experienced record enrollment growth in the College over the past two years, and thanks to the support of our alumni, donors and community partners, we have been able to support those increasing numbers of students with record amounts of private scholarship dollars. We also gave out over $50,000 in prizes to a record number of students who participated in our competitions across the College. Finally, through our volunteer efforts, community partnerships and events like Festival of Trees, the
College of Business family provided a record amount of support to help the amazing community that we are blessed to call home.
Graduation in December was awesome, as we got to celebrate an extraordinary group of students as part of the Class of 2024. In talking with our Business graduates as I shook their hands as they walked across the stage, and in visiting with many of them during the semester, I was overwhelmed by the number of students wanting to say thank you to Professors, Advisors, Staff members and so many people in the College who made their journey towards a degree so positive and special.
2024 by any metric was the best year in the history of the College of Business, and the best part is 2025 is going to be better. Thank you all for everything you do to make this possible for our students, faculty, staff and community. I look forward to visiting in 2025.
SHANE HUNT, PH.D. Dean, College of Business
Michael C. Ruettgers Professor of Marketing
Happy New Year, and Go Bengals!
Back to Business
Back to Business, hosted by College of Business clubs during the first week of the fall semester, is a way for the College’s clubs, faculty and staff to welcome back returning students and introduce themselves to new ones. Held for the fourth year, activities included lunch, giveaways, music, club booths, yard games, a dunk tank and pie throwing - the last two specifically for students to dunk or pie a professor.
“This event is always so fun, and a great way for students to see their professors in a different light,” said Assistant Professor of Marketing
and Director of Professional Development John Ney, who has spent time in the dunk tank at every Back to Business event since its inception. “I think our Marketing Director Presley Arrowood had it right when she said ‘John, I think we’ve worn out this rental dunk tank. We should probably just buy our own!’”
Executive in Residence
The Executive in Residence program invites successful alumni to visit campus and present to a variety of classes, meet one-on-one with students, participate in panels, network with students and faculty, and hold a college-wide presentation. The Executive in Residence event is an incredible opportunity for College of Business undergraduate and graduate students to gain valuable connections with high-level leaders in a variety of business fields and learn about their rise to success. This semester’s Executive in Residence was Senior Vice President and COO of St. Luke’s Health System, Sandee Gehrke.
“Sandee’s visit was invaluable for both our students and faculty,” said Director of Advising and Student Services Tara Smith. “Her deep expertise in healthcare leadership and remarkable career trajectory provided unique insights into the challenges and opportunities facing the industry. Sandee not only shared her wealth of knowledge but also inspired the next generation of healthcare leaders. Her commitment to mentorship, both during her visit and throughout her career, exemplifies the true spirit of the program and continues to leave a lasting impact on our College of Business community.”
Homecoming parade college of business tailgate
Homecoming with the College of Business
The College of Business took Bengal Pride to the next level during Homecoming Week, participating in classic Homecoming traditions and launching a variety of new student and alumni opportunities.
Founders
Circle
Thursday of Homecoming Week brought the inaugural reception of the Founders Circle - a new mentorship program and the first of its kind at ISU. Undergraduate and graduate students were paired with College of Business alumni based on interests, geographic location and academic background. The current alumni mentors have extensive experience in fields
like accounting, cybersecurity, sales, technology, marketing, healthcare, finance, and more. Students participating in the program receive advice on internships, jobs, resumes, interviewing, entering an industry or specific organization and more.
“I was truly honored when Dean Dr. Shane Hunt asked me to be a part of the inaugural launch of the Founders Circle,” said College of Business alumna and retired Cybersecurity Channel Executive Tamela Gates May. “As a former senior leader at some of the world’s most cutting-edge technology companies, I know first-hand the importance of our nation’s business schools providing well rounded, mission-ready candidates.
The ability to sell immediate value-add is what will help ISU’s College of Business students become more sought after. The Founders Circle program allows me, and the other mentors, to work closely with student members to help them embrace their goals more fully, to guide them with a strong and proven road
icbsc reunion Founders Circle
map based on our professional successes, and to help them stand out uniquely in the interview process. I, and the other mentors, would have loved to have had a similar program in place while we were doing our coursework at ISU. Getting to be at the forefront of the Founders Circle program’s creation and launch, meeting the other mentors, and getting to know our first student inductees has been a true privilege. I can’t wait to watch each of these special students succeed, and to become future mentors themselves!”
ICBSC Reunion
The International Collegiate Business Strategy Competition (ICBSC) Reunion, the first reunion of its kind for the College of Business, invited past and present ICBSC team members to campus to celebrate ten years of competition success for the College. Past team members were able to reconnect, as well as meet members from other teams and talk with current students interested in being part of a future team. Idaho Central
Credit Union Senior Vice President for Consumer Lending Wade Saunders also spoke during the event, congratulating the teams on their success and expressing ICCU’s pride in supporting ICBSC with mentorship as well as financial backing through the ICCU ICBSC Endowment. The event concluded with the unveiling of an ICBSC trophy case, located in the Walter Brown Center for Sales Excellence.
“The ICBSC reunion was everything we had hoped for and more,” said ICBSC Advisor and Professor of Management Dr. Alex Bolinger. “The turnout of our ICBSC alumni exceeded our expectations, and it was fun to reconnect and catch up on the remarkable careers that our College of Business alumni are pursuing. Unveiling the trophy cases was also a highlight of the weekend. The excitement from this reunion also translated into so much student interest in the competition that we were able to select two teams for the 2025 ICBSC, including ISU’s firstever all-undergraduate team. Here’s to the next decade!”
There’s a roar like never before rumbling through the halls of the Idaho State University College of Business. It’s in the cheers of competitors as the $1,000 Sales Competition winner is announced. It’s in the deep breath of a freshmen as she walks into her first career fair. It’s in the applause of onlookers at the Professional Development Month Fashion Show. It’s in the sigh of relief as a senior finds out he got the scholarship he wouldn’t have been able to afford his last semester without.
This roar is a statement to our Bengals’ desire for more. For every College of Business student who dreams of doing more and being more with their degree, the College of Business answers back - we have more to give. This year, the College of Business has established more scholarships, given more prize money and offered more professional development opportunities than ever before. A testament to the kindness of donors and the drive of College of Business students, this roar can be heard throughout campus - and we’re not quieting any time soon.
A generous gift from an anonymous donor will result in the creation of six endowed professorships within the College, which doubles the current number of endowed professorships in the College and at the University.
The professorships will be named for Susan Bruestle, a graduate of the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program at ISU. Susan graduated from Purdue University with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. Several years later, while living in Idaho Falls, Susan commuted to Pocatello to complete her MBA, graduating in 1978. She enjoyed her studies and valued the opportunities that her education in business provided. Her career began in administration at the then Idaho National Engineering Laboratory. Following a move to California, Susan developed an interest in public mass transportation. She had a satisfying and successful career in mass transit planning. She worked for AC Transit and then Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority as the Director of Marketing and Planning.
“Endowed professorships support faculty research, classroom innovations and ongoing professional development. They also support the College’s efforts to recruit and retain the best faculty who excel in teaching, service, and research,” said College of Business Dean Dr. Shane Hunt. “This gift will have an enormous positive impact on our faculty and students forever."
Susan’s affinity for the Master of Business Administration program and the faculty who supported her on her academic journey inspired the gift of the following endowed professorships:
The Gene W. Kulzer Endowed Professor of Accounting
The Susan Bruestle Endowed Professor of Economics
The Susan Bruestle Endowed Professor of Finance
The Susan Bruestle Endowed Professor of Healthcare Administration
The Susan Bruestle Endowed Professor of Management
The Susan Bruestle Endowed Professor of Marketing
First Gary D. and Susan G. Campbell Dr. Bill Phillips Endowed Professor of Finance
Professor of Finance Dr. Steve Byers is now the first recipient of the Gary D. and Susan G. Campbell Dr. Bill Phillips Endowed Professor of Finance. The Professorship, established by alumni Gary and Susan Campbell, was created to support professors who demonstrate similar qualities to those of Dr. Bill Phillips, a College of Business professor who taught finance for several years and impacted many students with his dedication to their success.
“I am deeply honored [to receive this professorship] and want to express my heartfelt gratitude to Gary and Susan for their incredible generosity and support,” said Dr. Byers. “This endowment is of course a very proud moment for me, but is also a testament to the Campbell’s commitment to
The Darrell and Jeremy Brown Endowment
Established by Idaho State University alumni Darrell and Jeremy Brown, this scholarship will provide support to College of Business students majoring in management, with preference to students who are a member of Alpha Kappa Psi or Gamma Beta Phi. Darrell and Jeremy established the endowment to show their appreciation for ISU and help support College of Business students.
Both Darrell and Jeremy noted that the experiences they had outside of the classroom in organizations like co-ed business fraternity Alpha Kappa Psi and honors society Gamma Beta Phi contributed greatly to their career success.
“When I interviewed for jobs, no one was asking about my GPA. They were asking about what clubs I had been a part of and what experiences I had had outside of the classroom,” said Darrell. “It was club involvement that helped me develop leadership and decision-making skills. It also taught me about planning, organizing, setting goals and working with other people.”
“We hope that if a student is looking at multiple universities, scholarships like this one will make them choose ISU.”
“I didn’t have to worry about money during my time at ISU because of the scholarships I received, and I was able to do well [in my classes] because of it,” said Jeremy. “I wanted to pass along the same opportunity to future students, with the hopes they will do the same when they are able. It would be great to see the number of scholarships continue to grow.”
“Understanding the importance of positive relationships was a major stepping stone into my career, and it’s something I learned from clubs and professors at ISU,” said Jeremy.
“We hope that if a student is looking at multiple universities, scholarships like this one will make them choose ISU,” concluded Darrell.
Established in honor of Daniel (Dan) and Helen Hodgkiss, this scholarship will be used to assist Idaho State University College of Business accounting students in perpetuity.
Dan Hodgkiss graduated from high school in Petoskey, Michigan, in 1974. Like many young people, Dan struggled to find what his passion was. He attended a community college in Michigan, but after a couple of years decided to take a leap and move to Pocatello, Idaho, to attend ISU. It was at ISU where Dan found (continued on page 10)
The Daniel M. and Helen D. Hodgkiss Scholarship Endowment Fund
(continued from page 9) his true passion: accounting.
ISU gave him the tools necessary to embark on a successful career, and after graduating in 1979, Dan began an extensive career in mining operations and accounting. His passion and expertise led him to successfully run Platte Valley Accounting in Saratoga, Wyoming, for twenty-five years. For many years, he impacted the community by serving as a valuable member of the Carbon Power and Light Board of Directors. His active involvement in the Saratoga Lion's Club further demonstrated his commitment to service. Dan was grateful to ISU, and his time at the University was very special to him. His time in the accounting program set him on a path for success in his life. He and his wife, Helen D. Hodgkiss, set aside a portion of their trust to benefit future ISU accounting students with the Daniel M. and Helen D. Hodgkiss Scholarship Endowment Fund.
The
Ron H. Ostermeier and Sharon K. Ostermeier
Memorial Scholarship Endowments
“If I can help other students reach their true potential through these scholarships, I know I’ll be doing what my parents would have wanted.”
Established by Idaho State University alumnus Shane Ostermeier, these scholarships will provide support to Idaho natives in the College of Business management program and the College of Education elementary education program, respectively. Ostermeier established the scholarships to honor his parents who attended the colleges and to support students following the same career paths his parents did.
“My parents loved their experience at ISU and fell in love there,” said Ostermeier. “My mom was a lifelong teacher, and my dad helped people reach their goals and enabled them to follow their dreams throughout his career. It’s my hope that
these scholarships will support students in reaching their own goals while worrying less about money.”
While there was a family legacy of attending ISU, Ostermeier grew up in a household where education in general was considered essential. Ostermeier attributes this focus on education to success he’s found in life and his career.
“My parents helped me reach my true potential by instilling the importance of education. If I can help other students reach their true potential through these scholarships, I know I’ll be doing what my parents would have wanted.”
Largest Entrepreneur Program Gift in College History
This transformational gift from an anonymous donor will dramatically accelerate opportunities we can provide students and further help us prepare the next generation of business owners and job creators in the state.
Students Show Off Their Professional Best During the First Annual College of Business Fashion Show
Part of this year’s Professional Development Month coincided with New York Fashion Week. Joining in the social media storm of runway excitement, the College of Business took to the hallways for a pop-up fashion event of our own. As morning classes ended, runway music began. Students and professors walked the second floor showing off their favorite business professional and business casual outfits. Host John Ney, Director of Professional Development, announced brands and where people purchased their outfits from so audience members could go browse if they saw something they liked.
“This event was so fun,” said Ney. “It was awesome seeing students cheer on their
The College of Business places a strong emphasis on career culture among students with our unique professional development program. Part of this program includes Professional Development Month. Held each September, Professional Development Month offers students opportunities to become more career-ready and find an internship or job. From the Dr. Bill Phillips Etiquette Dinner toting the promise to ‘make meeting and eating less awkward’, to resume review sessions with experts from the College and ISU Career Center, the month was packed full of ways for students to learn about important professional topics in an approachable way.
“This year’s professional development month was truly amazing,” said Director of Professional Development John Ney. “We had record attendance at all of our events, from the Career Fair to the Dr. Bill Phillips Etiquette Dinner supported by alumni Gary and Susan Campbell. These events are so important because they help students develop their personal brand, network and apply soft skills learned in class. The most common reaction we get from students is ‘Well, I really didn’t want to go, but I’m so glad I did!’”
Interested in supporting an upcoming professional development event?
Email John at johnney@isu.edu.
U.S.
Bank Pitch-Off and Shark Tank 101 Pitch Competition
The College of Business offers two pitch-style competitions for students to compete in every semester - the U.S. Bank Pitch-Off and the Shark Tank 101 Pitch Competition. This semester, both events had a record number of student participants for the fifth consecutive year. Overall, 273 students, over 25% of the College’s enrollment, pitched business ideas to teams of judges from throughout the business and University community. Fifty four judges heard nearly 200 different students or teams present an ‘angel fund investment’
formatted pitch of their unique startup business idea.
Since it’s inception nine years ago, 379 upper classmen, graduate students, and faculty have participated in the in U.S. Bank sponsored PitchOff. Held in the Student Union Building Ballroom, professionals from local banks, investment companies, and small businesses visited campus to judge during the event - this year ISU President Wagner and College of Business Dean Shane Hunt also joined in. Notable national organizations that have sent judges to past events include Office Max/Depot, U.S. Bank, Wells Fargo and the United States Office of Management and Budget.
A true campus-wide initiative, the College of Technology partnered with the College of Business to make working prototypes for many of the teams, and Regions 5 and 6 of the Idaho Small Business Development Center helped with coaching and judging. This year, 27 teams and 31 students pitched ideas to win over $16,000
Investing in the Entrepreneurs of Tomorrow
The winning pitch at this semester’s U.S. Bank Pitch-off came from College of Business Senior Hannah Rasmussen. The business idea, 1050 Technologies, centered around the creation of high-quality caution signs for law enforcement officers to deploy on scene to help draw people’s attention to an upcoming incident so they have time to move over and/or slow down. The signs are made of a retro-reflective material that is visible up to two miles away without causing glare for first responders on the scene.
Rasmussen, one of the 30+ students to compete, said she entered the competition as a way to “deep dive into the market and see how [she] could make the business the most successful.”
in prize money. The winning student was senior Hannah Rasmussen, who received $2,000.
Conducted during the same week as the U.S. Bank Pitch-Off, the Shark Tank 101 Pitch Competition targets freshmen students and is conducted completely online using Zoom. Since starting the event in 2020, 1,009 underclassmen in Management 1101 have participated. The most recent event saw 249 freshmen students on 179 teams pitch a variety of business ideas. Over $12,000 in prize money was awarded.
“Combined, nearly $30,000 of U.S. Bank funding was awarded to students at these events,” said Assistant Professor of Management and Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development Director Dr. Jeff Street. “This was a record year for participation and for prize money given to our student entrepreneurs.”
“It’s great to be able to reward and inspire our students’ competitive efforts and bright futures through events like these,” said College of Business Dean and Michael C. Ruettgers Professor of Marketing Dr. Shane Hunt. “The economic future of Eastern Idaho will be driven by entrepreneurs and small
businesses that expand and create new jobs in our community. We are very proud that, thanks to the support of our incredible alumni and donors, we were able to make record investments into the entrepreneurial efforts of our students this year. We plan to expand our investment in 2025 and beyond.”
Fall Sales Competition
A College of Business tradition, the Sales Competition invites students from across campus to gain invaluable experience diving into the principles of sales for a chance to win cash prizes. New this semester was the addition of an individual competitor category. This category offered students the opportunity to receive a case study from a real company, this semester Federated Insurance, and pitch directly to professionals from the company. This format best mimics that of other state and national competitions where ISU will soon be establishing teams.
“We’re very excited to start our traveling sales team in 2025,” said Executive Director of the Walter Brown Center for Sales Excellence, John Ney. “We’re planning to attend three events this year - one in Boise, Idaho, one in Corvallis, Oregon and the National Collegiate Sales Competition (NCSC) in Kennesaw, Georgia. These events will be fantastic opportunities for students to network, be recruited by top professional selling companies, and win money!”
Nearly $8,000 in prize money was given out during this semester’s ISU competition alone.
“We had record breaking participation and prize money this semester. It’s a great opportunity for students to practice and apply their skills, but my favorite thing is watching the employers reach out and start recruiting our students. We’re excited to continue growing this amazing program,” said Ney.
The College of Business, in conjunction with Presenting Sponsor Lookout Credit Union, partnered for the third year to host a local holiday favorite – the Festival of Trees. The Festival of Trees aims to capture the magic of the holidays while bringing the community together in support of local education and community needs. This year’s benefiting groups included Idaho State University Scholarships, Make-aWish Idaho, the School District 25 Education Foundation and Southeastern Idaho Community Action Agency Meals on Wheels.
The Festival, which ran November 20-23 at the Stephens Performing Arts Center, started with the Grand Holiday Gala. This year’s MakeA-Wish recipient Crew was also in attendance with several family members. Crew and his family spoke during the Gala about his journey battling leukemia, and how excited he was for his wish to come true - running down the tunnel with the Dallas Cowboys.
(continued on page 16)
Big Checks, Bigger Dreams Bengals Raise Funds and Grant Wishes Through Community Outreach
Throughout the year, College of Business students, faculty and staff go above and beyond to make an impact in the community. Sometimes this impact takes the form of cheering at the finish line of Walk to End Alzheimer’s, other times it’s a monetary donation so a child can attend a highly ranked preschool program. It can even be dancing in a Santa suit to help make a sick child’s Make-a-Wish dream come true. Regardless of where, when, or how, members of the College of Business strive to share knowledge, spread Bengal pride, and truly make a difference everywhere they go.
“All of us in the ISU College of Business are blessed to live in this amazing community,” said College of Business Dean and Michael C. Ruettgers Professor of Marketing Dr. Shane Hunt. “We are committed through our partnerships, volunteer support and putting on events like Festival of Trees to helping make the future be the brightest it can be.”
1. The Make-a-Wish recipient for this year’s Festival of Trees was nine-year-old Crew, who is battling leukemia. Using funds raised during the Festival, Crew’s wish to run out of the tunnel with the Dallas Cowboys will be granted. 2. The College of Business launched the Festival of Trees this year with a social media dance colaborration. Benny the Bengal and Santa (who may be the College of Business Dean in his spare time) showed off their dance moves among the 70+ beautiful trees in the Stephens Performing Arts Center, encouraging community members to stop by. 3. In recognition of funds given to the Alzheimer’s Association during the 2023 Festival of Trees, the College of Business was the Local Presenting Sponsor for the 2024 Walk to End Alzheimer’s. The College of Business was proud to walk with and cheer on community members walking to raise awareness and offer support to those affected by the disease. 4. The College of Business was proud to donate $1,100 to the 2024 United Way Campaign. This money paid for a child in American Falls to be part of an amazing preschool program who would not have been able to attend otherwise. 5. The College of Business was proud to support Women United and during their annual Murder Mystery Dinner, both as audience members and actors. 6. College of Business students and Associate Professor of Management Dr. Jeff Street helped President and Tracy Wagner show their house during the annual Historic Home Tour.
Welcoming New Faculty
Ashley (Yaxuan) Li, Ph. D
Assistant Professor of Accounting
Dr. Li joined the Accounting Department at Idaho State University in 2024 after earning her Ph.D. in Accounting from Virginia Commonwealth University. She holds a B.A. in Accounting from Miami University and a Master of Science in Accounting from American University. Dr. Li’s research explores the information content of firm disclosures, focusing on both financial and non-financial aspects. Outside of academia, she enjoys skiing, cooking, and spending quality time with her family.
Annik Martin
Assistant Clinical Professor of Management
Annik worked at the Bank of Montreal as an undergraduate student. After completing her graduate studies, she decided to shift from a future in international money markets to pursue a career in education. She joined ISU in 2001 and became a member of the College of Business in Fall 2024. With over 20 years of experience teaching undergraduate mathematics courses, she is deeply committed to enhancing the student learning experience through evidence-based teaching practices.
Currently, Professor Martin teaches Mathematics for Business and Business Statistics, continually refining her teaching methods to improve student engagement and outcomes. Her dedication to excellence in teaching was recognized in 2024 when she received the inaugural ISU Excellence in General Education Teaching Award for Mathematical Ways of Knowing, followed by the 2024 State Gem Innovative Educator Award in the same category.
(Continued from page 14) In addition to the Grand Holiday Gala, the Festival also included Breakfast with Santa, two Children’s Royal Tea Parties, music, crafts, and a Gingerbread Competition. The People’s Choice winners of the Gingerbread Competition, the Chacons, received $1,000 to donate to the local charity of their choice - the Idaho Food Bank.
“The support we receive through this event, whether it be through sponsorships, tree donation, or volunteerism, truly changes and saves lives,” said Festival Director Suzette Porter. “Supporting the Festival of Trees helps those in need in our schools and throughout the community.”
Recognizing Retiring Faculty
Kenneth (Ken) Khang, Ph. D
Professor of Finance
Dr. Khang taught investments related classes and served as the faculty advisor for the Student Finance Association, the D.A. Davidson Student Investment Fund, and the CFA Global Investment Research Challenge. He conducted research on topics in the areas of investments, financial markets and institutions, and corporate finance and has published in the Journal of Financial Economics, Financial Management, the Journal of Banking and Finance, the Journal of Empirical Finance, Applied Economics, Applied Financial Economics, and the Quarterly Journal of Finance and Accounting.
“Dr. Ken Khang represents everything that is good about being a Professor,” said College of Business Dean and Michael C. Ruettgers Professor of Marketing Dr. Shane Hunt. “His teaching, research and service have made our Finance program forever better and I am incredibly thankful personally for the opportunity to work with him these past five years.”
Robert (Bob) Tokle, Ph. D
Professor of Economics
Dr. Tokle grew up in Wisconsin and discovered economics as an undergraduate at the University of Wisconsin. During both his undergraduate and graduate school years, Dr. Tokle worked six summers in Yellowstone Park, and earned a Ph.D. in economics at Iowa State in 1986. That same year he joined the economics faculty at Idaho State. During his 38 year career with ISU, Dr. Tokle received the University Service Award four times, as well as the University Research Award, the 2007 Credit Union Times Volunteer of the Year Award and the 2004 Credit Union Conferences Director of the Year Award. He also published over 45 peer-reviewed articles and gave over 50 professional presentations.
“Dr. Bob Tokle has made every part of our Economics program better for generations of ISU students,” said College of Business Dean and Michael C. Ruettgers Professor of Marketing Dr. Shane Hunt. “I personally have learned more about Economics from conversations with Bob than any other place in my life, and I am forever thankful to be his friend and colleague.”
Scholarship Endowments: Transforming Lives, Forever
Fall 2024 was a whirlwind semester with successful student competitions, class reunions, and the best College of Business Dean dressed as Santa. I had the pleasure of meeting many alumni, donors, and friends this year who shared how ISU positively impacted their careers, lives, and legacies.
As the new year begins, I have been reflecting on the past year’s successes, including the announcement of six endowed professorships and several new scholarship endowments. The support from our alumni and donors is inspiring and will transform the future of ISU’s College of Business. Alumni and donor stories of giving back to provide opportunities for future Bengals have been truly humbling and inspiring to hear.
Many have asked about the process of creating an endowment and what it is. An endowment is a permanent donation where the principal remains intact, and the earnings are used for a purpose specified by the donor. Endowments can support programs, faculty or student research, and more. The most common type of endowment is for scholarships. Many ISU students would not be able to afford college without scholarship support. Our donors regularly speak to the impact a scholarship once had on their life and their ability to attend ISU. They once had someone believe in them and support their dreams, and they want to do the same for future students.
Part of the reason I like endowments is because they last forever. If a donor starts a scholarship, students at ISU will forever be impacted by their generosity. The minimum to start an endowment is $25,000, which can be paid over five years. Worded differently, for a gift of just $417 per month for five years, someone can make an impact on ISU students for generations to come.
Donors receive yearly updates on the status of their endowment into perpetuity. For scholarships, this will include thank you notes from students supported by the scholarship.
I am so grateful to our alumni and donors. Our alumni give back in so many ways – starting scholarship endowments, including ISU in their estate plans, sharing their expertise with students as guest speakers in classes, and hiring newly graduated Bengals to work in their organizations- to name just a few. Know that in whatever way you give back or at whatever amount, your contribution to ISU makes a real and profound difference on the lives of our students. I am so proud of all that we have accomplished together in 2024, and I can’t wait to see what 2025 has in store. Thank you, and Go Bengals!
KRISTINE MCCARTY College
of Business Director of Development kristinemccarty@isu.edu
From One Bengal to Another
“Since our endowment was established in 2016, it has been meaningful to receive personal information about each year’s recipient. Don passed away in 2017, but as proud graduates of ISU, we felt it important to be able to give back to our alma mater. I especially enjoy learning more about their majors and extracurricular activities and all the new and relevant programs at ISU. Knowing how our gift is appreciated and how it is helping each student is very important to me. Each student is unique and has ambitious plans for their future. The value of education cannot be overstated!”
-Jeanine
Sauer, Donor, Don and Jeanine Sauer Scholarship
“Being one of the first in my family to attend college has instilled in me a strong work ethic, resilience, and determination to succeed against the odds. I am aware of the sacrifices my parents, who never had the opportunity to pursue higher education, have made to provide me with educational opportunities. I am driven by a desire to make the most of these opportunities and create a better future for myself and my family. Receiving financial aid [like this scholarship] not only alleviates the financial burden of tuition and expenses, but also reaffirms my belief that hard work and perseverance are rewarded.”
-Annely Magallanes, 2024 Don and Jeanine Sauer Scholarship Recipient
Creating an Endowment
1. Decide what kind of endowment you want to create and what amount you are comfortable giving. Reach out to Kristine if you have questions or want to brainstorm ideas!
2. Contact Kristine at kristinemccarty@isu.edu or by phone at (208) 282-4608. She’ll talk with you about the kind of impact you want your gift to have and will work up a gift agreement for you to review.
3. Review the gift agreement, and let Kristine know if you would like to see any changes.
4. Sign the gift agreement via DocuSign, in-person, or by mail.
Not ready to start an endowment but want to support the College? You can provide a gift of any amount to an existing endowment. Visit isu.edu/cob/donors to see a list of our highlighted endowments and (at the bottom) a list of all College of Business endowments.
College of Business
921 South 8th Ave., Stop 8020
Pocatello, ID 83209-8020
ABA005
Less than 200 schools in the world hold accreditation in both accounting & business. We’re one of them.
Help Bengals find their ROAR. Your contribution will allow students to elevate their careers, embrace the future and do more than they ever thought they could. Contact Director of Development Kristine McCarty at (208) 282-4608 for more information. ELEVATE YOUR ORGANIZATION WITH CUSTOM TRAININGS. The Idaho State University Leadership Center is how teams learn and grow together. Whether our top educators come to you, or you utilize the state-of-the-art classrooms inside the College of Business, the Leadership Center is here to make your organization the best it can be.
