Presidential Scholars
If you are interested in being part of the Presidential Leadership Program visit our website for more details.
2024/25 Student Leadership Students
Zak Rhoades
Hometown: Twin Falls, ID
Major: Education
Career Path: Foreign Language Teacher
Why CSI?: Because it's affordable and it's in my hometown
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?: Well, I hope to be teaching in Sweden, Japan, or South Korea. However, if that doesn't work out, I hope to teach Japanese and/or Korean here in the states.
Fun Fact: I lived in South Korea for a year.
If you were a superhero what would your superpower be and why?: I would have teleportation. The reason for this is that it would allow me to go anywhere I want, and so, I could explore the world wide.
Savanna Selley
Hometown: Preston, Idaho
Major: Health Science
Career Path: Registered Nursing
Why CSI: It is not too far away from home, smaller class sizes, and a good nursing program
Where do I see myself in 5 years: Working as a RN and when I am not working, I see myself sitting on a beach reading a book
Fun Fact: I have done a couple half marathons and a full marathon
If I were a superhero, what power would I have: Time-travel, to be able to see and change things in the past and learn about the future.
Hannah Skinner
Hometown: I was born and raised in Twin Falls, but I graduated from Hansen.
Major: Health Science
Career Path: Occupational Therapy
Why CSI?: I have always lived in the Magic Valley, and I wanted to be able to transition from high school to a university. I also wanted to be able to connect with my family and create some memories before I transfer.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years? I plan to be an occupational therapist and starting to settle down. I'm not sure of all the details yet, but I'm excited for many new adventures and hopefully some traveling.
Fun Fact: In high school, I competed in poultry for FFA because I am obsessed with chickens. Whenever we have eggs at my house, I grade them and love to share my chicken knowledge with whoever will let me.
If you were a superhero what would your superpower be and why? I'd want to be able to time travel but not just on my own. I would want to be able to take someone with me so that I can relive memories and be able to share that with someone else.
Christina Handy
Hometown: Idaho Falls, ID
Major: Outdoor Recreation Leadership
Career Path: Seasonal Outdoor Guide
Why CSI? I chose CSI for the amazing community. Starting college can be scary, but the CSI community is so supportive and helpful. I have made many friends through the events, clubs, and councils at CSI.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years? I see myself traveling wherever I can, exploring new rivers, learning new skills, and connecting with others. I plan to use my degree to improve my skills as a raft guide and open up opportunities for other outdoor positions. I hope to one day share my knowledge by teaching Wilderness First Responder and Swift Water Rescue classes to incoming rookies.
Fun Fact: I am obsessed with peanut butter.
If you were a superhero what would your superpower be and why? My superpower would be omnilingualism, the ability to speak every language. With this power, I could make friends anywhere in the world!
Adriana Valdez-Sarmiento
Hometown: Castlefor, Idaho
Major: Civil Engineering
Career Path: Architectural Engineer
Why CSI?: I decided on CSI because I strongly believe that CSI will be able to help me reach my goals. My understanding of how warm and welcoming this school can be, makes me very excited and confident to be able to prosper academically here. I know that CSI offers a very amazing engineering program that I wish to be a part of. With this engineering program I will have a very solid foundation to start my career of engineering. Most importantly I believe that CSI will be able to help me reach my goals because it will help create the stepping stones of my education and career. Overall I believe that CSI is the right fit for me.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?: I see myself reaching the final year of my bachelor's degree in architectural engineering, while hopefully working as an intern at a company that I would like to work at in the future.
Fun Fact: I love the color pink! I mean LOVE!!
If you were a superhero what would your superpower be and why? I would like to be able to stop time. I would like to have this ability because at times life can get hectic and sometimes it feels as if there needs to be a pause button. Therefore I would like to have this power in order to help others have the ability to take a break from their hectic lives or schedules.
Draycen Lamm
Hometown: Wendell, ID
Major: Fire Science
Career Path: Firefighter
Why CSI?: I chose CSI, because it is nice and close to my home here in the Magic Valley, which is where I plan to settle down eventually. CSI also offers Fire Science, which is what I am wanting to major in, and with CSI having a low tuition, it makes this college a great math for me.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?: I hope that in 5 years, I will be working towards settling down here in the Magic Valley, and continue to find ways to interact and serve my community.
Fun Fact: I love recreation in Idaho, and love nurturing all of our plants, trees, and outdoor environment!
If you were a superhero what would your superpower be and why?: I would want telekinesis to be my superpower, because it would make simple tasks in life easier, and would be real handy to help get things off the top shelf!