Sven Alskog
News Editor
Strengthening its reputation as one of the top programs at Idaho State University, the College of Pharmacy recently received a $1,500 Powering Tomorrow Grant from Idaho Power.
The grant is awarded for multiple factors, including the need for funds, innovation of the project(s) and any history associated with the efforts of the organization.
“We base the selection process on a number of criteria,” said Kevin Winslow of Idaho Power.
“This includes Facebook voting on posts, how many people the program serves and the need,” Winslow continued.
He said that more than 130 organizations applied for grants this year.
On Facebook, 105,000 votes were tallied. ISU received 4,300 votes.
Some of the outreach efforts that the ISU College of Pharmacy takes part in include immunizations, health screenings and community drug awareness.
Students in the program have the opportunity to become active in the community.
The program does receive donations periodically from corporations.
The grant from Idaho Power will help to ensure the strong presence in the community continues.
“We ask them what they are going to do with the grant,” said Winslow. “ISU said they were going to use it for their outreach programs.”
Another way the College of Pharmacy aims to better the community is through its annual Spaghetti Feed, Raffle and Auction.
The event has been going for 21 years. It is hosted by the Professional Pharmacy Student Alliance (PPSA).
ISU College of Pharmacy also partners with the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
The college donates at least 25 percent of the funds raised to help make a sick child’s dream come true.
“Last year we made $20,000,” said Julie Hillebrant, assistant to the dean for college relations.
“A portion of that goes to Make-A-Wish and the rest goes to the students,” Hillebrant said.
The most recent Spaghetti Feed helped an Idaho Falls leukemia patient with her wish of obtaining funding to study at ISU.
As a result of the emphasis on outreach efforts for the program, the ISU College of Pharmacy has received multiple regional and national awards.
From the Idaho Power perspective, the ISU College of Pharmacy fit its grant criteria well.
“The Powering Tomorrow Grant is one of a lot of community initiatives that we do,” said Winslow. “We are an Idaho-based company and we like to invest in communities and see them thrive.”
The grant began in 2010. The reward that year was a 30-second television advertisement for the winner.
Since then it has expanded into the $1,500 reward, resulting in the high number of applicants.
In total, 32 community initiatives throughout Idaho Power’s Idaho and Oregon service areas were awarded grants.
Along with the ISU College of Pharmacy, Pocatello School District 25 and the Portneuf District Library received grants in Bannock County.
With the added support that the Powering Tomorrow Grant will provide, the ISU College of Pharmacy will look to continue being active in community health screenings and vaccinations.
