Boise State University

02/03/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 02/03/2026 18:10

Bronco Day brings Boise State to state capitol

Boise State students, faculty and staff pose on the steps of the state capitol

On Feb. 2, Bronco Day at the Capitol brought students, community partners and legislators together to celebrate Boise State's role in advancing Idaho.

Highlighted were the many ways in which Boise State connects with Idaho industry and government, supporting the state's economy and preparing students to take leadership roles in their communities. A range of Boise State students, faculty and staff shared information about initiatives - from respiratory care, to construction management, to gelato marketing.

One Boise State representative was Camille Platts-McPharlin, program manager for both the Semiconductor for All initiative and the AWESOME (Advancing Workforce Experience through Semiconductors, Outreach and Mentoring Excellence) Center.

Both programs provide avenues for students to get into the semiconductor industry, in response to the US government's need for growth in the production of semiconductor devices and microelectronics. The Semiconductor for All initiative provides K-12 students across Idaho with introductory engineering courses, including dual-credit classes that allow them to get a head start on their college education. Since its launch in 2023, the initiative has connected with over 20,000 K-12 students across from Sandpoint to Rexburg. Similarly, the AWESOME Center - funded by the largest National Science Foundation award in university history - seeks to advance research in the fabrication of new materials, and give students ample opportunity to prepare for jobs in the growing, lucrative field of semiconductors.

Educational Specialist Hailey Lynch (left) and Program Manager Camille Platts-McPharlin (right) represent microelectronics education

The programs work with companies like Micron to integrate semiconductor-specific career readiness into certain Boise State business, engineering and education courses.

"We're trying to get as much of industry into our education system as we can, so that [Boise State graduates] are actually what employers are looking for," Platts-McPharlin said.

Career Track MBA student Sydney Reinert came to Bronco Day to represent studio\Blu, a product development firm run by Boise State students. The firm offers services such as design, prototyping and manufacturing to companies for a fraction of the regular cost, while providing crucial real-world training to the students involved.

Through studio\Blu, Reinert worked on a range of products for the local small business, Black Market Gelato. She refreshed their website, designed graphics for to-go cups and revamped their social media accounts.

"They were some of the best clients I've ever had," Reinert said. "They're so creative, and they really allowed the students at studio\Blu to flex our skills."

Career Track MBA students Isabella Tomas and Sydney Reinert represent studio\Blu

A priority of studio\Blu, according to Reinert, is advancing Idaho's business ecosystem.

"All of our clients are from Idaho," she said. "We might have a few outliers, but in general, we like to stay here. We also want to make sure that we're showing that we bring in a really good impact to the economy. Increasing manufacturing, increasing production, really helping out small businesses here in the state."

Several Boise State leaders made remarks at Bronco Day, including Athletic Director Jeramiah Dickey, Student Body President Isaac Celedon and Interim President Jeremiah Shinn.

Shinn's remarks emphasized data from the 2025 Economic Impact Report, which found that Boise State contributed a total of $2.2 billion to the state's economy in the last calendar year.

"Not only are we proud to be a sound investment for our state, we are equally proud to be a sound investment for our students," Shinn said. "The average Boise State university graduate earns $24,000 more per year than they would without a Boise State degree in their lifetime. That accounts for almost a million dollars total in added earnings because of their education."

Learn more about Boise State's impact.

Boise State University published this content on February 03, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on February 04, 2026 at 00:10 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]