The Kasiska Family continues long tradition of donation to ISU with another $800,000 contribution

The Kasiska Family Foundation has been a steadfast supporter of Idaho State University, contributing over $21 million to educate students in health care fields. Their most recent donation of $800,000 continues this tradition of generosity.

Among the 34 ISU employees who are former Kasiska Scholars is Dr. Tom Wadsworth, who now serves as dean for the College of Pharmacy. This is what Tom Wadsworth had to say about the impact the Kasiska Scholarship has made in his life. 

"Twenty-five years ago, I was a poor kid from a small Idaho town - full of ambition but with little to my name. I worked multiple jobs to put myself through pharmacy school, knowing that every step forward would be something I had to earn. Then came the Kasiska Scholarship. It wasn't just financial help; it was validation. It was a reminder that someone believed in me, that my hard work mattered. That encouragement kept me going through the toughest days. Now, a lifetime of experiences and opportunities later, I look back with deep gratitude. The education Kasiska made possible didn't just shape my career - it changed my life."

The latest contribution to the Eva Kasiska Scholarship Endowment will continue to provide scholarships for students pursuing health professions at ISU, ensuring support both now and in the future. The goal for this endowment is $5 million, which ensures 40 scholarships each year.

During Bengal Giving Day, donations to the Eva Kasiska Endowment will be amplified five times. Rex Force, vice president for health sciences and senior vice provost for ISU, will match contributions 2:1 up to $10,000, which can then be further matched 3:1 by the Kasiska Family Foundation. This means a $50 donation can grow to $150, with an additional $450 added, bringing the total to $600 for students in the Kasiska Scholars program. All gifts to this scholarship will help grow the endowment to ensure funding is available in perpetuity.

Kasiska support for ISU dates back to the 1940s, inspired by sisters Eva and Mabel Kasiska, who inherited their father’s strong philanthropic spirit. The family legacy began with their father, William F. Kasiska, who arrived in Pocatello in 1890. An astute businessman, William invested in land, operated banks and ranches, and even served as mayor of Pocatello. The Kasiska family owned significant real estate in the area. During the 1930s Mabel Kasiska owned the home now occupied by the president of ISU. Through hard work, William and his wife, Mary, built a substantial estate, which they left equally to their daughters, Mabel and Eva.

William Kasiska, who passed away in 1945, was well-known for helping young people finance their education and for generously assisting friends in need. After their father’s death, Mabel and Eva continued his work, preserving the family business and his commitment to philanthropy. In his memory, and in honor of his birthday, Mabel and Eva established a scholarship program at Idaho State College in December of 1949, funding scholarships for young women studying to become nurses.

In 1968, they founded the “ISU Scholarship Club”  as a means to encourage others who may be capable of giving to support student scholarships. To date, thousands of students have benefitted from Kasiska Scholarships. Funds have also provided opportunities for the Kasiska Division of Health Sciences (KDHS) at ISU to host conferences and events, update equipment and facilities, and offer professional development for faculty and students.

“We take our commitment to honor the Kasiska family very seriously, and are so grateful for the continued support of the Foundation and family,” says Force. “Even decades after Eva and Mabel’s passing, students at ISU know and understand the significance of the Kasiska family legacy. This gift will ensure that students have access to scholarships to help pay for their education in the high-demand health professions.” 

Alan Van Orden, board manager of the Kasiska Family Foundation says, “This recent contribution to the Eva Kasiska Endowment is another step in establishing a fund that will in perpetuity provide scholarships to qualified students enrolled in colleges and departments within the Kasiska Division of Health Sciences. We encourage former recipients of the Kasiska scholarship and others to help grow the endowment fund so that there will be even more funds available to help students.”