News Release


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April 22, 2005

Boise State Alumni Association Names Top Ten Scholars and Distinguished Alumni

BOISE STATE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION NAMES TOP TEN SCHOLARS

Later this month 10 of the best and brightest among Boise State�s Class of 2005 will gather to be honored by the BSU Alumni Association at the university�s annual Distinguished Alumni and Top Ten Scholars awards banquet. The event will be at 6 p.m. April 28 in the Rose Room, 714 W. Idaho in downtown Boise. Boise State�s 2005 Distinguished Alumni award winners also will be honored. (See separate press release.)
 

The banquet is open to the public. Tickets are $25 and are available at the Alumni Center, 1173 Grant St. Call 426-1959 for more information.
 

Top Ten Scholars are chosen from among the top 10 percent of Boise State�s graduating class for 2004-05. They are selected based on academic performance, recommendation from college deans and extracurricular and research activities. Each student also honors a Boise State professor who was particularly influential to his or her success. This year�s award winners, in alphabetical order, and their honored professors are:
 

Elisa Carlsen, Winnemucca, Nev., is an anthropology major with a minor in Native American studies. She has served as the Boise State Anthropology Club president and treasurer. Carlsen is the recipient of a scholarship from the Ewey Memorial Foundation and the Boise State Anthropology Department. She received the Liljeblad Cultural Anthropology Book award for distinguished academic achievement in the social sciences and was named to the dean�s list four times. Carlsen plans on pursuing her master�s degree in environmental policy with the goal of developing a new nonprofit natural preservation agency. Her honored faculty member is Robert McCarl, associate professor of anthropology.
 

Rachel Corey, Weiser, is a nursing major who has been involved in numerous community activities and plans to direct her career in the area of health promotion and nursing intervention. She has coached third- and fifth-grade students for the Girls on the Run program and was a member of Rural Connection�s Pneumonia Task Force, which created a pneumonia vaccine educational video and pamphlet. A graduate of Weiser High School, Corey is a recipient of numerous scholarships including the Anna Marie Barnes Payne, Stirn Memorial Health Sciences, Palmatier, Cunningham and Nagel Foundation scholarships. An avid runner, she has twice finished the Portland Marathon and is a member of the Boise Y Striders. Her honored faculty member is Mary Hereford, associate professor of nursing.

Stephanie Nichole Davison, Wilder, is an accounting major who has served in various capacities in student organizations at Boise State, including vice president of technology with Beta Alpha Psi and treasurer of the Boise State chapter of the Golden Key honor society. In addition, she is a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and the National Scholars Honor Society. In October 2004 she was named the College of Business and Economics Student of the Month. Davison has been awarded numerous scholarships, including Arthur Anderson/Bunderson, Langroise, Lightfoot Foundation, Samsung/American Legion, VFW and congressional scholarships. She plans to earn a master�s degree in accounting and hopes to pass the CPA exam. Her honored faculty member is Paul Bahnson, associate professor of accountancy
 

Scottie �Bree� Draper, Boise, is a biology major with a minor in mathematics. She has been heavily involved in various research programs, including the Complex Biological Systems Summer Undergraduate Research Program in 2004. In 2003 she was awarded a travel grant to attend a symposium in mathematical biology funded by the National Science Foundation, the Whitaker Foundation and Texas Tech University. She also has served as the co-president and secretary of BSU�s Societas Biophilia club. Draper has received several scholarships, including two Obee Biology scholarships, an Idaho Academy of Mathematics and Science scholarship and Math and Biology department scholarships. Her career goal is to earn a Ph.D. in math and conduct research in mathematical ecology. Her honored faculty member is Jim Smith, professor of biology.
 

Melody Sky Eisler, Boise, will graduate with a BFA in visual arts with a double major � sculpture and art history � and a minor in gender studies. A 1998 home-school graduate, she received a 2005 Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Award and was awarded several scholarships, including two study abroad scholarships and a Clark and Ada Hatch Scholarship. Her internships included the Boise Art Museum, Treasure Valley Public Access Television and the Snake River Alliance. While at Boise State she served in a number of leadership positions, including president of the Visual Arts League and vice president of the BSU chapter of Amnesty International. She is currently employed as the assistant public arts manager for the Boise City Arts Commission. Her honored faculty member is Nicholas Newman, assistant professor of art.
 

Ayush Goyal, Boise, is a major in electrical and computer engineering who is on track to finish his college career with a 4.0 grade-point average at age 17. He has served as the president of both the Boise State Vedic Philosophical and Cultural Society and BSU chapter of Eta Kappa Nu, the electrical engineering honor society. He is also a member of the engineering honor society, the Golden Key international honor society, the National Scholars honor society and the Phi Kappa Phi honor society. Goyal is a recipient of the Idaho Biomedical Research Infrastructure Network research fellowship as well as a multi-year Micron Scholars Program scholarship. He intends to pursue a career in biomedical engineering with an emphasis in artificial intelligence, robotics and control system applications. His honored faculty member is Scott Smith, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering.
 

Jared Hoskins, Boise, is a political science major who plans to enter law school after he graduates in May. Hoskins served as the student government�s director of conservation, a position in charge of energy conservation and recycling in the Student Union, and was the co-founder and director of the Civic Advocacy Foundation, a nonprofit agency designed to coordinate civic volunteer projects among area students. He also worked with the city of Boise to spearhead an on-campus environmental awareness project designed to reduce the pollution of the Boise River by placing warning signs on campus storm drains. He earned scholarships from the Political Science Department and the Idaho Humanities Council. Hoskins intends to practice law and eventually hopes to enter the political arena as a policy maker and adviser. His honored faculty member is Scott Yenor, assistant professor of political science.
 

Megan Jensen, Eagle, is an art major who will earn a BFA with an emphasis in printmaking. Her work is already receiving favorable reviews on the BSU campus with the 2005 Printmaking Best of Show in the Student Juried Exhibition and 2003 Jurors� Choice Award in the same event. A member of Boise State�s Honors College, Jensen is the recipient of a Clark and Ada Hatch Art Scholarship and the McNair Scholar Fellowship. Jensen plans to continue her education, earning a master of fine arts with a goal of being a college professor. She hopes to create connections and understanding in the community about the value of art. Her honored faculty member is Kimiko Miyoshi, assistant professor of art.
 

Wendy Mercer, Meridian, is a chemistry major who has served in various on-campus leadership roles, including president, vice president and treasurer of the BSU Chemistry Club; president of the BSU chapter of the Intervarsity Christian Fellowship; and vice president of the Honor Student Association. She also is a student affiliate with the American Chemical society and is a four-year recipient of Chemistry Department and Brown Honors scholarships from Boise State. Mercer has been awarded numerous awards and scholarships, including an Idaho Biomedical Research Infrastructure Network summer fellowship and a National Science Foundation REU (Research Experiences for Undergraduates) fellowship. Her career goals include medical research after earning her Ph.D in biochemistry. Her honored faculty member is Susan Shadle, associate professor of chemistry.
 

Nichole Billetz Moos, Post Falls, is an early childhood studies major and member of the Boise State Honors College who has received numerous scholarships and awards and has participated in various clubs and programs. She served a president of both the Honor Student Association and the Kappa Delta Pi educator honor society and is a student member of the Teacher Education Association as well as BSU�s Student Programs Board, Women�s Center Advisory Board, Golden Key honor society and others. Moos is a multi-year recipient of the Honors College Foundation and Albertsons Foundation scholarships among others. She intends to teach in the public schools and work toward a master�s degree and Ph.D. Her honored faculty member is Gregory Raymond, professor of political science and director of the BSU Honors College.

Contact: Renee White, Alumni Association, 426-1698

Media Contact: Bob Evancho, University Relations, 426-1643.

BSU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION NAMES 2005 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI

The Boise State University Alumni Association will honor the three 2005 Distinguished Alumni Award winners at its annual Distinguished Alumni and Top Ten Scholars banquet. The event will be held at 6 p.m. April 28 in the Rose Room, 718 W. Idaho in downtown Boise. Boise State�s 2005 Top Ten Scholars also will be honored. (See separate press release.)

The banquet is open to the public. Tickets are $25 and are available at the Alumni Center, 1173 Grant St. Call 426-1959 for more information.

The Distinguished Alumni Awards are given annually to recognize excellence among former students of the university. This year the BSU Alumni Association has named three business executives who are leaders in their professions and communities. They are Michael Campbell, executive vice president of Zions Bancorp; Joel Hickman, president of KeyBank�s Idaho district; and Jan Packwood, president and chief executive officer of IDACORP and CEO of Idaho Power.
 

Michael Campbell, BS, psychology, �77

Michael Campbell, executive vice president in the technology and operations group with Zions Bancorporation, came to Boise State from Los Angeles on an athletic scholarship in 1973 to play football for the Broncos. He started as a defensive back on BSU�s 1973 and �74 Big Sky championship teams and served as a graduate assistant under coach Tony Knap in 1975.

Soon after he graduated from Boise State in 1977 he embarked on his banking career, starting as a management trainee with Idaho First National Bank. Over the next decade he earned numerous promotions, including assistant vice president and assistant branch manager. After that he led Idaho First National�s management training and college recruiting programs. From there he was promoted to vice president in charge of the bank�s first treasury management sales force.

In 1987 Campbell returned to his native California. There he held several treasury management positions with Bank of California, Union Bank of California and California Bank and Trust, a wholly owned subsidiary of Zions Bancorp. He was promoted to senior vice president at Zions Bancorp in 1994 and executive vice president in 2003. Campbell volunteers his time with business education classes for the Los Angeles chapter of Junior Achievement. He works in Los Angeles and lives in Westchester, Calif., with his wife, Penni.

Joel Hickman, BBA, marketing, �79

A golf scholarship helped bring Joel Hickman to Boise State in the mid-1970s. He studied in the university�s College of Business, and his marketing degree in 1979 helped propel him to a successful 24-year career in the banking business�culminating in his appointment as president of KeyBank�s Idaho district in August 2003.
 

Hickman joined KeyBank in 1987 as a branch manager in Nampa. In 1993 he was transferred to the Capitol Center location, where as branch manager he developed the company�s Private Banking Group for high-income clients. He continued to rise through KeyBank�s executive ranks, first as vice president of private banking in 1995 then as senior vice president of private banking in 2000. Now, as president of KeyBank�s Idaho district, Hickman directly oversees the operations of 30 branches with 475 employees.

Hickman remains involved with his alma mater. He is a member of the BSU Foundation board, and in 1999 served as president of the BSU Alumni Association. He also is past director of the Boise chapter of Junior Achievement, a volunteer with United Way, an executive committee member of the Boise Art Museum, and serves on the St. Luke�s Regional Medical Center advisory board. He also has been involved with the Idaho Youth Ranch board and the St. Luke�s �Kid for a Night� program. His wife, Marianne, a Boise CPA, also is a 1979 BSU graduate.
 

Jan Packwood, MBA, �84

A 34-year veteran of the utility industry, Packwood joined Idaho Power in 1970. His experience in engineering, construction, operating and maintenance of electrical systems led to management positions in each of the company�s core businesses. He is now president and chief executive officer of IDACORP and CEO of Idaho Power.

Packwood is graduate of the University of Nevada with a degree in electrical engineering who turned to Boise State to bolster his business skills, earning a master�s in business administration in 1984. Coupled with his extensive experience, Packwood�s postgraduate education helped him earn a string of promotions with Idaho Power. From 1989-1996 he served as vice president of the company�s bulk power business unit. In 1996 Idaho Power named him executive vice president responsible for the development of the company�s power marketing business, which in 1998 evolved into IDACORP Energy. In 1999 he was elected president and CEO of both IDACORP and Idaho Power.
 

Packwood is a well-known leader in the utility industry. He also is a community leader and active volunteer. He is a trustee of the Nature Conservatory of Idaho and serves on the boards of St. Luke�s Regional Medical Center, the Boise Family YMCA, and the Idaho Association of Commerce and Industry. He resides in Eagle with his wife, Shery.
 

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Contact: Renee White, BSU Alumni Association, 426-1698

Media contact: Bob Evancho, University Relations, 426-1643

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Last reviewed on Thursday, December 22, 2005