Top Ten Scholars
Presented by the Boise State Alumni Association and Boise State Honors College, the Top Ten Scholar Award is one of the highest academic honors granted to a Boise State University undergraduate student. Each spring the recipients are recognized, along with their honored faculty, at the annual Top Ten Scholars Award Ceremony. Join us on May 2 to celebrate the 2024 Top Ten Scholars.
What Makes a Top Ten Scholar?
Qualification
To qualify for consideration, the student must have a 3.8 or higher grade point average and be nominated by their respective deans.
2024 Top Ten Award Ceremony
Join us on May 2 in the Stueckle Sky Center to celebrate the 2024 Top Ten Scholars.
Meet the 2024 Honorees
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Phoebe Cain
College of Engineering
Degree: Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering with a certificate in Biomedical Engineering
Future Plans: Return to Washington state and work full-time as a mechanical engineer within the power and sustainability industry
Honored Faculty: Dr. Erin Mannen, Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, Boise Applied Biomechanics of Infants (BABI) Lab Director
Wenatchee, WashingtonDegree: Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering with a certificate in Biomedical Engineering
Future Plans: Return to Washington state and work full-time as a mechanical engineer within the power and sustainability industry
Honored Faculty: Dr. Erin Mannen, Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, Boise Applied Biomechanics of Infants (BABI) Lab Director
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Rhys Cooper
College of Business and Economics
Degree: Bachelor of Arts in Economics with a Quantitative emphasis
Future Plans: Complete Masters of Science in Economics program at Boise State University while working as a Graduate Assistant
Honored Faculty: Dr. Rafael Ribas, Assistant Professor, Department of Economics
Morton, IllinoisDegree: Bachelor of Arts in Economics with a Quantitative emphasis
Future Plans: Complete Masters of Science in Economics program at Boise State University while working as a Graduate Assistant
Honored Faculty: Dr. Rafael Ribas, Assistant Professor, Department of Economics
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Grant Goertzen
College of Engineering
Degree: Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering
Future Plans: Currently on track to graduate with an accelerated Master of Science in Civil Engineering from Boise State in December of 2024. Afterward, he intends to pursue a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering with the long-term goal of becoming a professor.
Honored Faculty: Dr. Bhaskar Chittoori, Ph.D., P.E., Chair and Professor, Civil Engineering
Vancouver, WashingtonDegree: Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering
Future Plans: Currently on track to graduate with an accelerated Master of Science in Civil Engineering from Boise State in December of 2024. Afterward, he intends to pursue a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering with the long-term goal of becoming a professor.
Honored Faculty: Dr. Bhaskar Chittoori, Ph.D., P.E., Chair and Professor, Civil Engineering
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Amy Johnson
School of Public Service
Degree: Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies, minor in Native American and Indigenous Studies, minor in Music, German Intermediate Certificate
Future Plans: Summer 2024 Andrus Scholar internship with the Boise BLM; pursue graduate research in environmental studies
Honored Faculty: Jared Talley, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies, School of Public Service
Meridian, IdahoDegree: Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies, minor in Native American and Indigenous Studies, minor in Music, German Intermediate Certificate
Future Plans: Summer 2024 Andrus Scholar internship with the Boise BLM; pursue graduate research in environmental studies
Honored Faculty: Jared Talley, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies, School of Public Service
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Tyler McFarland
College of Arts and Sciences
Degree: Bachelor of Arts in Integrated Media and Strategic Communication with a +Business Minor
Future Plans: Work full-time at Boise State managing the first Athletics Photography Department.
Honored Faculty: Shelton Woods, Associate Dean of the Honors College and Professor of East/Southeast Asian History
Boise, IdahoDegree: Bachelor of Arts in Integrated Media and Strategic Communication with a +Business Minor
Future Plans: Work full-time at Boise State managing the first Athletics Photography Department.
Honored Faculty: Shelton Woods, Associate Dean of the Honors College and Professor of East/Southeast Asian History
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Catherine “Cat” Merrill
College of Arts and Sciences
Degree: Bachelor of Science in Biology with a Cellular, Molecular, and Biomedical emphasis, and minors in Chemistry and Applied Data Science
Future Plans: Become a biomedical researcher to improve outcomes for cancer survivors.
Honored Faculty: Dr. Don Warner, Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Boise, IdahoDegree: Bachelor of Science in Biology with a Cellular, Molecular, and Biomedical emphasis, and minors in Chemistry and Applied Data Science
Future Plans: Become a biomedical researcher to improve outcomes for cancer survivors.
Honored Faculty: Dr. Don Warner, Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
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Madeline Patterson
School of Public Service
Degree: Bachelor of Arts in Political Science,
Social Science, Secondary EducationFuture Plans: Become a high school teacher to instill the importance of civics.
Honored Faculty: Dr. Jaclyn Kettler, Associate Professor of Political Science
Boise, IdahoDegree: Bachelor of Arts in Political Science,
Social Science, Secondary EducationFuture Plans: Become a high school teacher to instill the importance of civics.
Honored Faculty: Dr. Jaclyn Kettler, Associate Professor of Political Science
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Tori Simon
College of Engineering
Degree: Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with a Cybersecurity emphasis
Future Plans: Attend Aalto University in Finland as part of the SECCLO joint master’s program
Honored Faculty: Dr. Jerry Alan Fails, Department of Computer Science, Professor
Meridian, IdahoDegree: Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with a Cybersecurity emphasis
Future Plans: Attend Aalto University in Finland as part of the SECCLO joint master’s program
Honored Faculty: Dr. Jerry Alan Fails, Department of Computer Science, Professor
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Sevio Stanton
College of Arts and Sciences
Degree: Bachelor of Science in Physics with double emphases in Astrophysics and Biophysics, Chemistry with emphasis in Biochemistry, Biology with emphasis in Cellular, Molecular, and Biomedical Sciences, and a minor in Applied Mathematics
Future Plans: Pursue a Ph.D. in Physics at University of Colorado Boulder.
Honored Faculty: Dr. Daniel Fologea, Professor, Department of Physics
Boise, IdahoDegree: Bachelor of Science in Physics with double emphases in Astrophysics and Biophysics, Chemistry with emphasis in Biochemistry, Biology with emphasis in Cellular, Molecular, and Biomedical Sciences, and a minor in Applied Mathematics
Future Plans: Pursue a Ph.D. in Physics at University of Colorado Boulder.
Honored Faculty: Dr. Daniel Fologea, Professor, Department of Physics
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Jocelyn Stephens
College of Arts and Sciences
Degree: Bachelor of Science in Chemistry with an emphasis in Biochemistry
Future Plans: Pursue a career in medicine, specializing in sports medicine while exploring research
Honored Faculty: Dr. Ken Cornell, Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Seattle, WashingtonDegree: Bachelor of Science in Chemistry with an emphasis in Biochemistry
Future Plans: Pursue a career in medicine, specializing in sports medicine while exploring research
Honored Faculty: Dr. Ken Cornell, Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry