Several Grace graduates choosing to continue their education at Idaho State University

GRACE — One thing that a large percentage of Grace High School's Class of 2024 graduates have in common is that they're attending Idaho State University this fall.

Shane Hunt, ISU's dean of the College of Business, said it is amazing that all these students decided to attend ISU.

"It's such a great thing that so many students from Grace will get to experience the life-changing and transformational impact of an ISU education," Hunt said.

Hunt said the experiences these Grace students will have at ISU will change their lives forever.

"As a first generation college student, I've seen the impact it can have on your life," he said.

The Grace students are part of the fall semester's "really big" freshman class at ISU, Hunt said.

Liz Andersen, the mother of one of the Grace students who will be attending ISU, said her daughter Lydia will be attending the school with one of her cousins.

"She's living with a girl from Grace," Liz added about her daughter.

Liz said she thinks it's a good thing that so many students from Grace are going to Idaho State University because they will all be close to home while still going to another city.

"That's sometimes viewed as not very exciting," Liz said. "But I think they can get a good education there."

Liz is glad her daughter will still be close to home while she is away at ISU. Her other children all traveled farther away to attend college.

"I'm excited for her to start pursuing a degree and to get to experience college life," Liz said about Lydia.

Jason Moss, superintendent of the Grace School District, said he is proud that so many recent Grace High School graduates are going to ISU.

"It's awesome," he said.

Moss is an ISU alum himself and said several teachers in the Grace School District also attended ISU.

"ISU is a great school with a great campus," he said. "There's a lot of great programs for (students) to choose from."