Ketterman retires from College of Technology after 17 years at ISU

After 17 years at Idaho State University, Anza Ketterman is retiring and is leaving behind a legacy of teaching and advising students, not only in the classroom but through Business Professionals of America (BPA) as well.

Ketterman received her Bachelor of Science in Business Education and a minor in Social Science from Idaho State University. She also received a Masters of Education with an emphasis in curriculum and instruction. While working on her masters, Anza taught speed writing for the Office Technology program, now called Business Information.

In 1992, Ketterman was hired as a temporary hire for Office Technology and the very next year, became a full time instructor teaching business communications 1 and 2, word processing, and office procedures. She taught in the Office Technology/Business Information program until becoming an instructor in the Website Design and Management program. For the past three years, she taught Desktop Publishing, Fundamentals of HTML, Web Authoring Tools, and helped in developing curriculum for articulation from the Associate of Applied Science degree to the Bachelor of Applied Technology.

During her time at the College of Technology, Anza served as a co-advisor for BPA, served on the curriculum council, was a faculty senate and faculty council representative, served on the promotion and rank committee, and was president of the Christmas party committee. She also served as a member of the Pocatello High School advisory board.

Ketterman was recognized in 2003 with the Outstanding Achievement Award and received the 15 year National Advisor Award for BPA.

When asked about her most memorable times at the University, Ketterman states, “Working with Karla Stroud and all of the things that we have accomplished together has been amazing. It has been rewarding to see our students grow in the classroom and through BPA – competing locally and at Nationals. It is something you cannot describe and the hair stood up on my neck when our students competed at nationals and won 1st , 2nd , or 3rd place.”

She added, “It meant a lot to receive the Outstanding Achievement award. The opportunities the College has provided me to travel all over the United States for Western Business Education conferences and National Business Education conferences was wonderful and made me a better instructor as I was allowed to upgrade my education and skills. Traveling with our BPA members are all memorable experiences. The growth I received through the venues and my travels were unexplainable.”

“I don’t want to forget to recognize my family for all of the support they have given me,” commented Anza. “They spent countless hours working in concession stands, selling candles, etc. to help me and support our students.” Anza has a son Dennis and his family who live in Pocatello and a daughter, Celeste Freiberg and her family who live in Idaho Falls.

Ketterman’s retirement plans include spending time with her partner, Dennis LaBonty remodeling their cabin on Flathead Lake in Polson, MT. She also plans to do some boating, golfing, and traveling back and forth between Montana and Idaho to see her family. She isn’t giving up education completely. Anza will also teach a few online classes for the next few years.