In a meeting with co-presidents Doug Brigham and Jim Everett, Mary and Dr. James ’64 Smith expressed an interest in helping with a project. They wanted to update the front of Boone Hall, the home of the College’s science programs.
On Friday, the day before the finished project would be publicly unveiled as the backdrop to the College’s 2023 Commencement, Brigham and Everett thanked the Smiths at a ribbon-cutting ceremony in front of a gathering that included legendary College instructors Pat Packard ’49 and Sheri Robison.
“For artists, you have to have a vision,” Brigham told those assembled for the ceremony. “Mary is an artist and clearly had a vision.”
The Smiths, along with the co-presidents, Vice President of Finance & Administration Richard Erne, and trustee Mike Elliott, collaborated with ZGA Architects and Andersen Construction (both of Boise) to bring the vision to life. The idea was not only to enhance the look and functionality of Boone Hall, but also to provide a new home for the statue featuring Dr. William Judson Boone, the College’s founder as well as a long-time science teacher.
“The College of Idaho changed my husband’s life and changed mine,” Mary Smith said. “It is my hope that, in the future, students will have the same opportunities and support that my husband had to achieve his dream.”
The Smiths are no strangers to supporting the College. James Smith, a groundbreaking cardiologist at St. Luke’s Boise Heart Clinic, and his wife, Mary, a long-time member of the College’s Board of Trustees have provided gifts in the past that funded the welcoming arches along Cleveland Boulevard as well as the Smith Science Institute, which has led directly to high school students enrolling at the College.
See more photos from the ribbon-cutting by visiting the College’s Flickr page.
The College of Idaho has a 132-year-old legacy of excellence. The College is known for its outstanding academic programs, winning athletics tradition, and history of producing successful graduates, including eight Rhodes Scholars, three governors, and countless business leaders and innovators. Its distinctive PEAK Curriculum challenges students to attain competency in the four knowledge peaks of humanities, natural sciences, social sciences, and a professional field—empowering them to earn a major and three minors in four years. The College’s close-knit, residential campus is located in Caldwell, where its proximity both to Boise and to the world-class outdoor activities of southwest Idaho’s mountains and rivers offers unique opportunities for learning beyond the classroom. For more information, visit www.collegeofidaho.edu.