For some students, the path to graduation is smooth. For others, it’s a journey of stops, starts, and personal growth. Resilience is the ability to adapt, recover, and grow stronger in the face of challenges. It’s what helps people bounce back after setbacks, whether those are emotional, physical, financial, or personal.
Through ISU’s Resiliency Scholarship, students with very different challenges are finally reaching their goals. Their stories are a testament to persistence and the power of support when it matters most.
.jpg)
Josh Govan
Resilience: Learning from tough experiences and using them as fuel for growth
Josh Govan’s path at ISU began right after high school through the Bengal Bridge program. But early on, everything changed when he developed depression. The challenges piled on. He struggled academically, lost his financial aid, and changed majors multiple times. And the difficulties extended beyond the classroom.
“My dad went to prison and I had to help my mom. My brother has autism so there was a struggle with that,” Govan said. “I failed two of the classes I needed to graduate. I had to pay out-of-pocket. I couldn’t keep my student job at the library. I had to get a full-time job.”
That full-time job at Goodwill became a turning point. It allowed him to support himself, take care of his mental health, and discover a new career direction. While working, he discovered a passion for human resources.
Then came the call that changed everything. Tate Christensen, advising coordinator for the College of Arts and Letters, reached out to tell Josh about the Resiliency Scholarship. The scholarship provided crucial financial support but it also offered something more.
“This scholarship helped me get motivated,” Govan said. “I’ve finally got all my ducks in a row so I was able to complete this.”
Govan graduated in May 2025 with a bachelor’s in university studies. He’s also just one class away from earning a certification in human resources. Govan gives much of the credit to Christensen for his personal support.
Govan plans to move to Salt Lake City to be closer to family and eventually pursue a master’s degree. But this milestone already carries deep meaning.
“I feel ecstatic. I like achieving goals, and being able to achieve this one after so long is amazing. It feels like a weight’s been lifted. I’m the first one in my family to graduate from college.”
Inspired by Josh’s determination, his brother, who has autism, earned his GED and will be starting at ISU in the fall.
“I think this shows that ISU cares,” Josh said. “ ISU is willing to help those who struggle.”
Abbey Thompson
Resilience: Maintaining hope and motivation even when things feel uncertain or overwhelming.
Abbey Thompson’s journey toward earning a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a Minor in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) has been anything but straightforward.
Thompson began her college journey at Southern Virginia University and later enrolled at ISU, but the pandemic and financial difficulties forced her to pause. “That was really hard and frustrating,” she said. “It was a time of unknowns.”
After taking a two-year break from college, Thompson wasn’t sure how or if she would ever finish her degree. But then an unexpected email from her academic advisor at the time, Virginia Barnett, brought a shift in perspective.
Thompson took up her studies again, this time online from her home in Twin Falls, all while raising young children. The timing of the Resiliency Scholarship was perfect.
“When they reached out to me, I had a newborn baby, and my husband had a new job,” she recalled. “The impact for me personally has been huge. The scholarship opened the door for me. I realized I can do this. I’ll have help along the way.”
Throughout her journey, Thompson credits her family and her advisor, Tate Christensen, for providing unwavering support. “Tate has been so wonderful. He was so instrumental in helping me stay on track. I couldn’t have done it without him. It made all the difference to have that one person by my side.”
Thompson is now considering master’s programs, with plans to become a mental health therapist. Her interest in the field of mental health goes back to her childhood. “My mom is a LCSW, so from a young age, I’ve been immersed in that world. It’s always been fascinating to me, the study of people, communication, behaviors, and the brain.”
Her personal life also deeply influenced her career path. “I have a brother with Down Syndrome. That was the inspiration for the ABA side of my degree.”
Instead of attending commencement, Thompson cheered on her brother as he competed in a Special Olympics cycling event, a testament to her values and the support system that has sustained her.
Resilience, Powered by Support
Each student’s journey is different. What unites these students was not a perfect path but their choice to keep moving forward even when things felt uncertain or overwhelming.
“I love learning,” Govan said. “Learning is amazing and it’s a wonderful thing for anyone to have an opportunity to learn.”
“I was really close to graduating when I stopped,” Thompson explained. “Here I am now at the finish line, and it feels really good.”
The first Resiliency Scholarships were awarded in Fall 2023. To date, six students have crossed the finish line to graduation.