Foundation for Idaho History Inc

We are not makers of history. We are made by history.

-Martin Luther King, Jr.

This year the Foundation is asking for support for two of our most popular scholarship programs: the Ray Knight Fueling Field Trips and History Day Travel Scholarships. The Ray Knight Scholarship is a memorial for a volunteer who gave many years of service to the Old Idaho Penitentiary and loved sharing the history of the site with school groups. The scholarship provides opportunities for students that normally wouldn’t be able to visit our site the chance to experience the Old Idaho Penitentiary through funding for buses. This year transportation scholarships were provided for sixteen schools allowing memorable fieldtrips for over 600 students around the state from Ririe to Fruitland.

Our second major scholarship program is for our state contest winners of the National History Day in Idaho contest. Every year, approximately half of our state winners are unable to compete at the national competition due to a lack of funds. Funds for this program support these students and provide them travel stipends and the opportunity to represent Idaho at the national competition in Maryland.

One of these Idaho students, Josh White, was actually selected for the national Normandy Institute this year. Josh and his teacher, Mrs. Janelle Gilson, have researched a World War II Veteran over the course of the past year and will actually do further research at the National Archives in Washington D.C. Once their research is complete, Josh will actually deliver a eulogy for the fallen Veteran at the Normandy American Cemetary overlooking Omaha Beach. Your gift will support students like Josh in their quest for historical knowledge.