‘Powering Potential:’ Mayors’ Scholarship Fund awards $850,000 to 850 students over 20 years

AMMON, Idaho (KIFI) – The Mayors’ Scholarship Fund has evolved into one of the most influential scholarship programs in the greater Idaho Falls region – awarding 850 students $850,000 over two decades – while encouraging students in Districts 93 and 91 to pursue higher education in Idaho.

Idaho National Laboratory Director John Wagner spoke Tuesday to educators, engineers, and local leaders about ‘The New Atomic Age’ arriving in America and the need to grow Idaho’s burgeoning nuclear workforce.

The event was a fundraiser for the Mayors’ Scholarship Fund at the Brickyard Event Center.

Idaho State University student Chloe Barron is a Mayors’ Scholarship Fund recipient, who said the financial support enabled her to continue pursuing her dreams of studying nuclear engineering.

“Nuclear engineering is incredibly challenging,” Barron said. “It requires a strong foundation in mathematics, science, but it also requires people who are willing to carefully solve difficult problems, and understand their decisions have consequences far beyond a classroom or laboratory.”

Barron has persevered in spite of challenges during her university studies. After withdrawing from the university for a year to face medical challenges, she lost $13,000 in recurring funds and scholarships for college.

“I was beginning to feel like there was nothing that I could do, and I had worked so hard to get back to school, but then I couldn't afford to return without the financial support,” Barron said.

Barron took her case to the Mayors’ Youth Scholarship Committee, and they determined to continue supporting her.

“They believed in me when it would have been easy to look at my situation and decide that their scholarship could no longer support me,” she said. “Instead, they chose to invest in me again. That decision was the reason I was able to come back to school.”

Wagner said the laboratory needs people of all talents and abilities – from Ph.Ds to those who have completed high school education.

“We hire people all across skills, disciplines, high school graduates, community college, two-year degrees, trade school certificates, you know, bachelor's degrees, masters degrees – the entire spectrum,” Wagner said.

Hosted by Ammon Mayor Brian Powell, the event addressed Idaho’s critical position powering the future of nuclear energy and the unique opportunities available to area students at Idaho National Laboratory.

Idaho State Board of Education Chief Government Affairs Officer Brennan Summers moderated the forum.

The Scholarship’s Executive Director Leslie Pincock said having a community that believes in students and helps them in access the right tools and education needed to succeed in their future careers is what the program is all about.

“It's that confidence that we can instill in the young people that are growing up in this community that will not only help them succeed in whatever chosen field that they have eventually, but it will also give them the desire to stay in this community,” Pincock said.

You can learn more about the Mayors' Scholarship Fund here to find out how you can apply starting November 1, 2026, for the next round of funding.