2026 President’s Community Service Awards announced

Sandina Begic, an associate research professor in the College of Health Sciences, has supported the Idaho Home Visiting Program in partnership with the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare for nearly 15 years. The Idaho Home Visiting Program is an evidence-based early intervention program, providing targeted home-based services to at-risk families, expectant mothers, and children up to kindergarten age.

Casey Iezzi is a professor of linguistics and the lead faculty member on Project SHINE, which provides English-language skills for elder refugees. Project SHINE is a response to a critical gap in resettlement services: while many programs focus on younger refugees entering the workforce, elder refugees often face significant isolation and a lack of tailored educational resources. Iezzi works with the non-profit organization, Jannus, the English Language Center and Boise State students to deliver these courses. By integrating Project SHINE into the classroom Iezzi has created a self-sustaining ecosystem of engagement. Importantly, the joint impact of this project has improved educational access and civic empowerment of the elder refugee population in Boise.

Gundars Kaupins, a professor in the College of Business and Economics, was recognized for his community engagement contribution in his long-running live-case program in which human resources students create employee handbooks and other HR tools for real organizations at no cost. The impacted community includes local nonprofits, small and mid-sized employers, and mission-driven organizations serving vulnerable populations. The community impact is practical: partners receive usable employee handbooks and related HR tools that strengthen compliance, clarify expectations, improve onboarding, and reduce risk.