From the top of Red Hill, just above Idaho State University’s campus, you can see almost everything: the ridges of the Portneuf Valley, the heart of Pocatello, and if you look really close, you can imagine the possibilities of Idaho’s future. But what you don’t see from that hilltop, at least not right away, are the people and partnerships who make that climb and future possible.

And that’s the real story of ISU: purpose, perseverance and partnership. And in today’s climate, where the value of higher education is debated, I think it’s more important than ever to share why your state university matters and why it’s worth investing in.

Let’s start with the students.

Every day, I meet students of all types who are first in their families to attend college. Many are working multiple jobs, and some even raise families while still showing up for early-morning classes because they believe in the potential of the future they are creating. I recently heard about a faculty member who noticed one of his students was struggling. Rather than look the other way, he reached out, offered encouragement and helped that student find a class that aligned with their passion. That personal connection kept the student enrolled. That’s the strength of a university where students aren’t just a number.

Or take the student running our campus food pantry. She’s led food drives, built partnerships with donors and launched a campus garden, all while completing her doctoral degree. Her work is feeding our community, both literally and figuratively. That’s not some ivory tower idealism; that’s real leadership being shaped in a time our communities need it most.

At ISU, we’re not climbing alone. We’re making the ascent with Idahoans across the state. In fact, some of our most impactful projects are born from partnerships.

When we needed to renovate our cross-country track, it became a community effort. Local businesses stepped in with equipment and labor; our faculty and students worked alongside them, helping design and build the course as part of a real-world academic experience. Yes, it saved money, but more importantly, it gave students invaluable hands-on experience and showed how a university and its community can build something great together– a beautiful track ready to be used by the university and the community.

Or consider our new nurse anesthetist program, the first in Idaho. Local clinics came to us with a problem: a critical shortage of trained professionals. We listened, built the program from the ground up and just welcomed our first class. Local health care professionals are even providing some of the instructors, bringing real-world expertise directly into the classroom. That boots-on-the-ground, collaborative problem-solving with Idaho communities and industry defines ISU.

Higher education is not without its challenges. As a public institution, we face intense scrutiny, tight budgets and shifting expectations. But ISU’s not backing down. We’re focusing on what matters: increasing access, strengthening research, building meaningful partnerships and making sure every student who walks through our doors feels valued, seen and supported to meet their educational goals in preparation for their future.

And the results speak for themselves. This fall, ISU welcomed its largest first-year undergraduate class since 2011. Student success rates (retention) are at a record high. Research funding is up. And we’re planning major infrastructure projects, including a new Life Sciences building, to better serve our students and our state.

For generations, universities have been places where people from different backgrounds come together, exchange ideas and solve problems in a safe and open environment. That spirit of dialogue and innovation is at the heart of Idaho values. The people we educate – nurses, engineers, teachers, business leaders, welders – represent Idaho’s future.

Idaho’s success depends on our ability to educate Idahoans, to keep our talent here and to prepare the next generation for the challenges ahead.

So the next time you drive past one of our campuses across the state or look up at Red Hill in Pocatello, I hope you’ll see more than just buildings and classrooms. I hope you’ll see what I see: a climb worth making, a community working together and a future we’re building together, step by step.

Because when Idahoans are given the chance to climb, there’s no limit to how high they’ll go. Let’s keep climbing together.