Reaching Out Across Districts: Scholarship Program Sets New Record with 97 Awards

The ROAD Scholarship program set a new record in 2025, awarding 97 scholarships to Southeast Idaho high school seniors and building meaningful connections that inspire students and communities to pursue higher education.

The ROAD Scholarship program at Idaho State University (ISU) has reached an exciting milestone in 2025, awarding a record-breaking 97 scholarships to high school seniors across Southeast Idaho. With nearly 250 applicants from 30 schools, including charter and alternative schools, this year marked the program’s most competitive and far-reaching cycle to date.

Each recipient is being surprised and celebrated at their local school, with Dr. Holly Kartchner, Director of Outreach and Retention for the College of Arts and Letters at ISU, traveling across the region this spring to personally present certificates, congratulate students, and connect with their families and educators.

The ROAD (Reaching Out Across Districts) Scholarship was created to reduce financial barriers and foster college-going culture in rural and underrepresented areas of Southeast Idaho. Southeast Idaho students often face a unique set of challenges when it comes to attending college: financial strain, fear of the unknown, uncertainty about career paths, and family obligations. These challenges can feel overwhelming without a support system in place. That’s where the ROAD Scholarship steps in, not only with financial assistance, but also with mentorship and encouragement.

“The most promising solution to address these challenges is relationships,” Kartchner says. “As students determine their pathway, a positive relationship can be the impetus that is needed to take the next step in building a fulfilling future.”

The scholarship awards $2,000 per student and is non-deferrable. Recipients have demonstrated not only academic promise during high school, and financial need, but also a commitment to pursuing higher education at ISU. Students submit a short essay outlining their dreams and goals, alongside their academic credentials and personal story. 

A key component of the program is the intentional outreach and relationship-building that takes place between ISU representatives and local schools. “Introducing the student to an ISU liaison reduces fear as the student has a relationship with an actual ISU individual willing to support the student,” says Kartchner.

Through partnerships with high school teachers, counselors, and administrators, the program identifies students with potential and supports them through the college decision process. Kartchner emphasized that, “the Road Scholarship includes information to build a personal connection as personal support may be more important than financial assistance.”

The impact of the ROAD Scholarship often extends beyond the individual recipients. Kartchner recalls an elementary student witnessing a surprise award event at their school. The student asked, “Can I go to ISU, and will you come see me when I graduate?” Moments like these illustrate the long-term potential of the program, not just to get students into college, but to inspire entire communities to believe in the possibility of higher education.

When students see their peers recognized and celebrated for taking the next step, the idea of “going on” becomes tangible. “’Go On’ becomes more than a catchy slogan,” Kartchner said. “It’s a reality happening to someone they know.”

The goal remains to make college more accessible, remove barriers, and create meaningful connections that empower students to succeed. With each new recipient, ISU strengthens its ties to Southeast Idaho communities and expands its mission to serve students across the region.

“We created the ROAD Scholarship with a simple but powerful idea: every student in Southeast Idaho deserves the opportunity to imagine a future that includes college,” said Dr. Kandi Turley Ames, Dean of the College of Arts and Letters. “Reaching nearly 100 students this year shows what’s possible when we invest in relationships, remove barriers, and meet students where they are. I’m incredibly proud of the way this program has grown and the hope it brings to families and communities across the region.”