When picking the winner of this year’s Student of the Year award, Associated Students of Idaho State University officers found the selection process to be easy. Kale Bergeson, a former Marine who is now a human resource training and development major and Veterans’ Sanctuary career closet coordinator was the clear winner.
“When I think of ISU, I think Kale Bergeson,” said ASISU President Matt Bloxham. “Kale’s a phenomenal student. I see him all the time helping out with our veterans’ groups. Anytime anyone on campus needs anything, Kale seems to be involved.”
A junior from Saint Anthony, Bergeson, 44, stands out in his commitment to the ISU community. After leaving the Marines, he found steady employment but decided in recent years to attend ISU and get his degree. Since arriving on campus, Bergeson has aided fellow veterans as well as new students.
“How many other students do you know on campus who love ISU so much and bleed orange and black so much that they wear an orange and black mohawk? None,” said Bloxham.
Along with his work with the Veterans’ Sanctuary, Bergeson is an ASISU senator, mentor for the Bannock County Veterans’ Court and Sergeant at Arms with the Marine Corps League.
Bergeson said he appreciates the award but does his work for reasons other than recognition.
“I don’t do the things that I do for the recognition but it’s nice,” he said. “When you do the right thing, the recognition comes. That’s been my motto.”
He continued, “Basically, I like to help [veterans and new students] like I was helped when I first got here, at the Veterans’ Sanctuary and the Veterans’ Club. Working for the Veterans’ Sanctuary and New Student Orientation, I get the best of both worlds. I get to help veterans like myself transition into college and I also get to help the new students.”
Bergeson and other ASISU award winners were honored at an end-of-the-year banquet recently.
“If it were not for the people that I have met here at Idaho State and the experiences that I have had, I wouldn’t be the person that I am nor would I have done the things that I have done,” Bergeson said, echoing the sentiments of his acceptance speech. “They inspire me by the things that I see them accomplish. That’s what keeps me motivated to do the things that I do, which is help other students so they can transition into college.”
Students are nominated for the award by their peers, according to Bloxham. If students noticed certain outstanding students on campus throughout the year, they submit a written nomination for that person to ASISU.
“This year, a great write-up came in for Kale,” said Bloxham. “When it came right down to it, every member of the committee read through it and it was a pretty easy call for us to make.”
Once the nomination period ended, a group of ASISU officers reviewed the nomination write-ups and selected the winner based on whose nomination was most compelling.
He repeated, “To be chosen by my peers is quite an honor. I’m in shock. I’m still trying to take it all in,” said Bergeson. “If it were not for the people that I have met here at Idaho State and the experiences that I have had, I wouldn’t be the person that I am, nor would I have done the things that I have done.”
