Boise State University

Once upon a time, Classical Queens was only a research paper. Then it was a podcast. On Saturday, January 11 in The Morrison Center for the Performing Arts, it will be a theatrical orchestra experience known as Classical Queens: Our Time.

Created by local Black artist Jessica Joy Harned, Our Time blends classical music, rap, poetry, and dance in an exciting theatrical experience that defies traditional orchestral norms. The show's storyline explores the untold stories of two groundbreaking Black women composers, Florence Price and Margaret Bonds, and their unlikely friendship during Chicago's Black Renaissance in the late 1920s and early 1930s.

A Boise State Department of Music alum with a Master of Music in violin performance, Harned has dedicated her work and artistry to championing and centering BIPOC voices. She is a Boise Philharmonic violinist and a Mariachi Sol De Acapulco member and has amplified education about marginalized individuals in classical music as a performer, producer, and teacher. Harned’s podcast, in particular, began her journey into the forgotten, yet extraordinary lives of women of color in classical music. It is Harned’s unique background and her desire to understand belonging and her place in classical music that drew her to Price and Bonds, women who did the most in their time and are remembered the least.

Tickets 🎫: https://www.morrisoncenter.com/events/detail/classical-queens

A historic season to remember, from start to finish. Full of memories, milestones, relentless effort, and unwavering support from the best fans in the nation. Thank you, Broncos, for an unforgettable ride.

Happy New Year, Broncos! 🧡💙

Bronco Nation showed up and showed out at Monday’s Fiesta Bowl Pep Rally! The best fanbase in the country 💪🐴

𝔽𝕚𝕖𝕤𝕥𝕒 𝔽𝕝𝕒𝕤𝕙𝕓𝕒𝕔𝕜 🏈

In the 2014 Fiesta Bowl, Boise State defeated Arizona 38-30 in a thrilling, hard-fought game. The Broncos raced to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter, highlighted by a Statue of Liberty play and two touchdowns from Jay Ajayi.

Arizona mounted a comeback, but Boise State's defense sealed the victory, including a pick-six by Donte Deayon and a crucial sack by Kamalei Correa on the game's final play. The win marked Boise State's third Fiesta Bowl victory and a successful first season under head coach Bryan Harsin.

𝔽𝕚𝕖𝕤𝕥𝕒 𝔽𝕝𝕒𝕤𝕙𝕓𝕒𝕔𝕜 🏈

In the 2010 Fiesta Bowl, Boise State triumphed 17-10 over TCU in a defensive showdown between undefeated teams and the first BCS matchup between non-automatic qualifiers.

The game featured a pivotal fourth-quarter fake punt, where Kyle Brotzman passed 29 yards to Kyle Efaw, setting up Doug Martin's game-winning touchdown. Brandyn Thompson, with two interceptions including a pick-six, earned Defensive MVP honors. Kellen Moore and the Broncos finished the season undefeated, becoming only the second team in BCS history to go 14-0.

The pride of Bronco Nation echoed through the streets of Phoenix during Saturday morning’s Fiesta Bowl Parade!

𝔽𝕚𝕖𝕤𝕥𝕒 𝔽𝕝𝕒𝕤𝕙𝕓𝕒𝕔𝕜 🏈

The 2007 Fiesta Bowl between Boise State and Oklahoma stands as one of the most iconic games in college football history. In a dramatic David vs. Goliath matchup, the underdog Broncos stunned the Sooners with bold play-calling, capped by the legendary "Statue of Liberty" trick play for a game-winning two-point conversion in overtime.

First-year head coach Chris Petersen led Boise State to an undefeated season, showcasing resilience and creativity against a powerhouse Oklahoma team. The game’s unforgettable moments earned ESPY awards for Best Play and Best Game, solidifying its legacy as a defining moment in college football.

𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝-𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 📈

Boise State Athletics surpassed its all-time best NCAA Graduation Success Rate (GSR) according to data released by the NCAA. The Broncos recorded a four-class average GSR of 96 percent which is the top overall score in the Mountain West this year and is the highest score in conference history. Boise State has set or tied its department record in each of the last 16 reports. The latest figures include the cohort that entered college during the 2017-18 academic year.

"Congratulations to our student-athletes who are maximizing their time representing the Blue and Orange in the classroom and on the playing field to achieve academic excellence," said Jeramiah Dickey, Boise State Director of Athletics. "This is a testament to the culture and support system we have built for all of our student-athletes. I also want to thank our Academic Services staff for all of their hard-work and the care they pour into our Bronco student-athletes every single day. Those who commit to Boise State, stay at Boise State and finish, and we are pleased to see the success our Broncos have reached."

Read more: https://broncosports.com/news/2024/11/20/general-broncos-graduation-success-rate-rises-again

𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝-𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 📈

Boise State student-athletes continued to set the standard for academic excellence during the 2023-24 school year – they combined for the highest department cumulative grade-point average (GPA) in department history with a 3.42 at the conclusion of the spring semester.

In addition, the all-department spring semester GPA of 3.37 is the second-highest for a single-semester – trailing only the 3.42 set during Fall 2023. Over half of Boise State's sports programs earned a new GPA record, whether cumulative or semester, during the school year, while women's golf (3.82), softball (3.57) and football (3.18) set all-time records for semester GPA in the spring.

All 18 sport programs earned above a 3.0 GPA, whether semester or cumulative, during the spring semester.

Read more: https://broncosports.com/news/2024/5/16/general-boise-state-continues-standard-of-academic-excellence

𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝-𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 📈

For the third consecutive year, Boise State University broke its philanthropic record in fiscal year 2024, with giving totaling $61.3 million from 28,146 individual donors.

Publicly launched in October 2023 and running through 2028, Unbridled: The Campaign for Boise State University is the university’s most ambitious philanthropic and alumni engagement campaign in its history, with a fundraising goal of $500 million to make key investments in endowed scholarships, endowed faculty positions and Bronco Athletics.

To date, Boise State has raised $346.9 million through the Unbridled campaign, including $81.4 million in student support, with nearly $60 million of this for endowed scholarships; $37.0 million for faculty and research support; and $130.8 million for Athletics’ What’s Next initiative.

The continued success of Unbridled is making an impact at Boise State, in Idaho and beyond.

Read more: https://www.boisestate.edu/news/2024/07/25/university-credits-unbridled-campaign-with-third-consecutive-record-setting-philanthropic-fiscal-year/

𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝-𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 📈

Boise State University has exceeded its largest student enrollment ever with a fall 2024 total of 27,250, marking another record-setting year.

The university is up 2% overall, or 523 students over last fall, primarily in degree-seeking undergraduates. Idaho degree seeking undergraduate enrollment saw an increase of 657 students or 6.5% over last year. First-time undergraduate student enrollment from Idaho increased by 11.5% with 2,185 students enrolled, making this the largest incoming class of Idaho students in Boise State’s history. New Idaho students are up more than 51% from 2020.

Boise State’s enrollment has grown 13% since 2020. The university was just named one of the most innovative in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. At number 53 on the 2025 most innovative universities list, Boise State was the only Idaho institution and one of only three in the Northwest to make the list.

Read more: https://www.boisestate.edu/news/2024/10/17/university-sets-enrollment-record-for-undergraduate-idaho-college-students/

𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝-𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 📈

The Winter 2024 Commencement ceremonies featured a record 43 graduates earning doctoral degrees.

Boise State is designated a doctoral research institution with high research activity by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. We have strong ties to our community, region and the area’s industry leaders, and that leads to a multitude of opportunities for students within and beyond their majors.

The Boise State University College of Education, along with the Pesky family, honored two local K-12 teachers with the 14th annual Pesky Award for Inspirational Teaching at the university’s Winter Commencement ceremony on Dec. 14, 2024. The award was founded in 2010 by Alan and Wendy Pesky.

This year’s selected teachers were Benjamin Ott, a biology, chemistry and physical science teacher at Les Bois Junior High in Boise and Nicole Rapp, a second grade teacher at Taft Elementary in Boise. The award includes $2,000 for each honoree, and $500 is awarded to their respective schools.

“We are proud to recognize outstanding teachers like Benjamin and Nicole for their passion and dedication to their students,” said College of Education Dean James Satterfield, Jr. “We thank them both for the mentorship they provide in their classrooms to our Boise State teacher candidates.”

“My wife Wendy and I established The Pesky Award for Inspirational Teaching to recognize the critical role teachers play in our society,” said Alan Pesky. “It is my pleasure to recognize this years honorees, Benjamin Ott and Nicole Rapp.”

Read more: https://www.boisestate.edu/news/2024/12/04/boise-state-announces-2024-pesky-award-for-inspirational-teaching-winners/