Boise State to recognize distinguished alumni at annual gala Oct. 3

The Boise State University Alumni Association will recognize seven honorees with Distinguished Alumni awards at its annual gala, to be held Thursday, Oct. 3, at the Stueckle Sky Center as part of the university's Homecoming celebration.

"The Boise State Alumni Association is proud to honor another strong class of Distinguished Alumni. This year's recipients are leaders in their communities and around the country, reflecting this university's commitments to excellence and making an impact. They are testaments to the quality of a Boise State education and to the qualities it instills in every loyal Bronco," said Lisa Gardner, Boise State University Alumni Association executive director.

The Distinguished Alumni Award is given to extraordinary individuals who have enhanced the reputation of the university by making a difference in the world through daily impact in their companies or chosen profession, in their communities and for Boise State.

2024 Distinguished Alumni winners

Anthony Guho - Distinguished Alumni Service Award
(BS Construction Management, 2009)
Anthony Guho is the vice president and owner of his family-owned, Eagle-based business, Guho Corp, which provides general contracting, construction management/general contracting and design-build services across Idaho. He became president of the Construction Management Industry Advisory Council in 2019 and established himself as a major donor. His leadership has led to the development of courses, recruitment of new faculty and staff, the construction of a new Construction Management facility on campus and the nurturing of students in the program.

Rick Isaacson - Honorary Alumni Award
Isaacson retired as CEO of multi-billion dollar cleaning, restoration and construction company SERVPRO after a nearly 40-year career and was appointed by the Governor of Tennessee to the state's Workforce Development Board. He has been active on nonprofit and for-profit boards, including Pope John Paul II Preparatory School, and Court Appointed Special Advocates, Insight Genetics, Tennessee Grasslands Country Club and Highpoint Hospital.

Esther Oppenheimer - Distinguished Alumni Award
(BA Fine Arts, 1976; M.Ed, 1984; MFA, 1989)
Esther Oppenheimer is a working artist who has exhibited her work at Boise State, the Main Gallery in downtown Boise, Ochi Gallery, KIN and elsewhere. She has also worked as an art therapist, mental health counselor and supervisor of interns at Warm Springs Counseling Center. She is the recipient of the Idaho Supervisor of the Year Award and the Stick Your Neck Out for Children Award from the Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children.

Heidi Peterson - Distinguished Alumni Award
(BS Political Science, 1998)
Heidi Peterson's 25-year international career in nonprofit management, fundraising and social impact has helped nonprofits and businesses plan for a better future. She currently puts these skills to use as a dedicated member of the Boise State Alumni Board of Directors as well. She has worked in public health, microfinance, education, corporate social responsibility and extractive industries in India, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean and has led initiatives for Grameen Foundation, Mobility Outreach International, Room to Read and CARE. Peterson is the co-founder and serves as the executive chair of the Musaic Foundation, which advances medical music research.

Elizabeth Schneider - Distinguished Alumni Award
(BS Mathematics, 1987)
A specialist in software development tools, Schneider held roles in customer success, engineering management, project management and business operations and worked with global engineering teams during a 20-year career at Intel. She and her husband co-founded scholarships in computer science, engineering and nursing.

Dave Shuldes - Distinguished Alumni Service Award
(BS Respiratory Therapy, 1999)
Schuldes is the retired director of Respiratory Therapy for St. Luke's Health System's Boise campus and a former member of the Medical Advisory Board for Boise State College of Health Sciences Respiratory Therapy program.

Andrea Tuning - Distinguished Alumni Award
(BS Social Work, 1999; MPA, 2002)
Tuning served as the transportation planner for cities across Southwestern Idaho and played a significant role in the rewrite of the City of Boise's zoning code. She has taught as an adjunct professor at Boise State and volunteers with PAWS animal rescue, Paint the Town, Rake Up Boise and more. Tuning is the 2010 recipient of Idaho Business Review's Woman of the Year award and the 2023 recipient of the Leadership Award from the American Planning Association (Idaho chapter).

Distinguished Alumni Awards honor extraordinary individuals who are changing the world through their professions and personal endeavors. Award recipients exemplify the loyalty, passion and innovation found in all dedicated Broncos. Nominations are solicited from the public and are due on March 1. More information on this year's honorees can be found on the Alumni Association website.

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