Dimitria Gomide was a senior at Boise’s Riverstone International School. A native of Brazil, she had enjoyed her time in Idaho and hoped to stay for college. She also knew it would be tough without adequate financial aid.
That’s when admissions counselors at The College of Idaho told her about the Kathryn Albertson Scholarship Competition.
“It (the scholarship) filled a gap,” said Gomide, a freshman double-majoring in business and Spanish. “If I didn’t have a chance to get this scholarship, I don’t think I’d be able to attend college here.”
She said the process was a two-way street. The two sides were getting to know each other.
“I think it’s a great opportunity to get to know the College,” she explained. “They offer tours, you get to know people, you get to know students, you get to know professors.”
This year’s Kathryn Albertson Scholarship Competition runs from February 5 to February 16. It is generally reserved for high-school seniors with at least a 3.0 grade-point average who have applied to the College. There are only about 200 slots available, making the competition very competitive among prospective students.
Students select a day and time to visit the College during the competition where they take a written exam and interview with a professor. The student is treated to lunch at Simplot Dining Hall and then taken on a tour of campus. Interested students can register for available time slots here. Gomide felt the process was less about what candidates knew and more about how candidates fit at the College.
“I put so much pressure on myself about the competition but it was a lot calmer than I imagined it,” Gomide said. “It’s more about yourself. You don’t have to prove your knowledge to anyone. They just want to get to know you.”
Competition winners earn $2,500 per year while runners-up each earn $1,000 per year. Every student who competes will get at least $500 per year.
“I personally competed in and received a scholarship from the competition,” said Madison Najima ’21, Assistant Director of Strategic Enrollment Communication at the College. “It is what made the difference for my financial aid package, which is the reason I came here.”
Kathryn (McCurry) Albertson attended The College of Idaho and, in 1930, met her future husband during a chemistry class on campus. Kathryn and Joe went on to found Albertson’s grocery store. In 1966, they created the J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation to help administer their personal giving and, in 1979, she was awarded an honorary doctorate by the College. She passed away in 2002 at the age of 93. The Foundation and the family, as evidenced by the scholarship competition, have long been strong and consistent supporters of The College of Idaho. The family’s name is proudly part of two buildings on campus, the Kathryn Albertson International Center, which faces the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.
The College of Idaho has a 133-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.