Like many of my friends, I was born and raised in Idaho and making the decision to come to the University of Idaho was not an easy one. I chose to attend this university in part because of the scholarships that I received. As a product of Idaho’s public schools, I worked hard to prepare myself for college and to earn scholarships to help pay the way. Living in a state that doesn’t prioritize education makes it tough to pay for school without drowning in student loan debt.
The Idaho State Board of Education (a publicly funded agency) gives thousands of dollars in college scholarships to Idaho students every year. This past spring, District 5 legislative candidate, Caroline Nilsson-Troy, co-sponsored a bill that would allow some of these state-funded scholarships to be rewarded to students who chose to go to private, religious institutions. This bill is not only an unconstitutional violation of the separation of church and state, but it also takes money out of the hands of students who are the product of our public education system.
For this reason, I am supporting Laurene Sorensen for District 5. She is committed to improving Idaho’s education system, not just K-12, but through college as well. I appreciate her faith in Idaho’s students and her willingness to invest in our future.
It’s fine to go to private schools, but do it on your own dime — not mine.
— Catherine Yenne
French, Political Science
and International Studies