Loyal Broncos: Jim Kerns

In the chronicles of Boise State alumni, few are as storied as Jim Kerns. After graduating from Boise State with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in criminal justice (1982, 2014) and the FBI National Academy, he retired in 2011 as deputy operations chief from the Boise Police Department. Kerns has devoted himself to service, especially at Boise State, where he has been president of the Alumni Association, and became a member of the Bronco Advocacy Network and Alumni Ambassador program. In 2009, the university gave him the Distinguished Alumni Award.

Regulars at Bronco sports and alumni events, Kerns and his wife Nancy are familiar faces just about anywhere fans, friends, alumni and donors gather. Kerns made his first gift — Alumni Association membership dues — in 1984. Since then he and Nancy have given to Boise State auctions, the Alumni and Friends Center Operating Fund, and other areas of critical need. This year, the Kerns have announced a planned gift to the Intercollegiate Knights (IK) Endowed Scholarship, which helps students from foster care backgrounds attend Boise State.

“Jim has such a passion for helping foster kids and wanted to make a significant impact. After a few conversations with Nancy and their kids, Jim designated funds from his retirement plan to make a legacy gift to the IK scholarship,” said Senior Executive Director of Gift Planning Jennifer Neil. “The beauty of it is, Jim maintains his retirement benefits during his life, but knows there is a future gift to help foster kids at Boise State.”