HDCC: Year 6 Celebrations June 2026

The Added Value of HDCC Scholarship Awards

It may be surprising to see what value a $125 scholarship award can have on a middle schooler’s aspirations in rural Idaho, where resources are stretched, and the path to higher education can feel distant. One might logically ask: why not give fewer awards for larger amounts? My answer is twofold. One, these awards not only honor student aspirations, but they can positively change how students think about their own education and what’s possible for them. Two, we celebrate the value of effort itself: the notion that aspirations require a game plan, and no game plan is ever achieved without sustained effort and determination, particularly during high school. Instilling the belief in children early on that their hopes and dreams have value, and are attainable if they take their education seriously has been a cornerstone of HDCC’s mission. In six years, we have now recognized 1109 middle schoolers with HDCC Promising Future Awards, a significant number of children who are further inspired by their aspirations and have a scholarship award to support it.

Regarding the $125 scholarship award, we encourage parents to open a tax-free 529 Education Savings Plan, specifically designed to help families save for any kind of college and/or federally registered apprenticeship programs. We partner with the Idaho College Savings Program (IDeal) to make this process as seamless as possible for families. Establishing college savings accounts early is the best bang for the buck and pays the highest dividend over time.

Studies at the University of Michigan School of Social Work found that children with a college-designated savings account of $500 or less were three to four times more likely to attend college than children without one. As Professor William Elliott puts it, “when you have an asset, it allows you to begin thinking about your future in a more tangible way.” A scholarship award, like that savings account, is a signal to the student, to the family, and to the community that college (trade, vocational, two or four years) is not just a dream, it is a direction worth moving toward, starting now. Likewise, states that support the establishment of Child Development Accounts (CDAs) at birth found that by the time those children were 13 years old, the accounts had durably shaped how parents thought about and prepared for their children’s future beyond high school. The money mattered less than what the account represented. Over the past four years, forty-one parents have used HDCC’s scholarships to open or support an existing 529 Education Savings account. We are slowly witnessing an uptick in parental interest as information spreads among parents.

Finally, our first senior classes, who earned an HDCC Scholarship Award during middle school, are a small sample, but 80% of the Class of 2025 pool are pursuing educational opportunities after high school. (Class of 2026 data is still being collected.) This is an encouraging start compared to Idaho’s “go-on rates” for postsecondary education, which hover around 50% among high school graduates. Working collaboratively within each school community appears to be a formula that is appreciated and valued by our ten collaborative school districts. Together, we are confident that recognizing and celebrating student aspirations and effort, along with a small scholarship award, can shift mindsets – where further education after high school is seen as a path forward and a new source of choice and freedom.

On behalf of HDCC, thank you for your continued interest in and support for our mission to inspire students to pursue educational opportunities beyond high school, so they will be empowered to build a brighter future for themselves and their communities.

Bags Brokaw
Founder & Director

Dietrich’s 7th Grade HDCC Awards

Bliss 5-8th Grade HDCC Awards

Winslow’s Reflections: A Bridge Worth Building

I’ve always been a fan of HDCC as I’ve helped my father, Bags, with clerical tasks. But I fell in love with HDCC when I stepped up to help run it this year, assisting my Dad. Meeting the students, teachers, and administrators at the schools and seeing the direct impact of HDCC’s programs and scholarships was a gift. HDCC is so important to the well-being of our region!

As you likely know, Blaine County is one of the most resourced counties in Idaho. Because of this, many people from surrounding communities travel long distances each day to work in the Wood River Valley. They are an integral part of all the amenities and opportunities we have here. That said, far fewer resources flow back to support our neighboring counties. HDCC, which works in ten school districts, nine of which are outside of Blaine County, is changing that one student and school at a time. I love how HDCC empowers students by working alongside our neighboring communities.

When we invest in the young people of our region, we all benefit. We create stronger communities, expand economic opportunity, and build a healthier, more connected future for everyone. This spring, HDCC made that investment tangible by awarding 208 $125 scholarships to fifth through eighth graders. I had the great privilege of overseeing the scholarship program, including assisting in the newly established high school scholarships of $2,500 for two graduating seniors at Bliss and Wendell. There is nothing quite like seeing the smiles on each child’s face when their name is called.

The students, teachers, and schools in the collaborative are remarkable! I am in awe of the school spirit, joy, resilience, and courage in all the classrooms and schools. If you want a dose of inspiration, join Bags on a school visit next year as he hosts aspirational workshops. Your heart will be full.

Hagerman Scholarship Review Committee

Spring Scholarship Celebrations

MC-HDCC High School Senior Aspirations Scholarship 2026

The MC-HDCC High School Senior Scholarship is in its second year at Bliss and Wendell Schools, thanks to a generous family fund. The scholarship, which is one of the largest available, provides $2,500 per year for two seniors and is renewable for the length of the student’s post-secondary academic program, up to four years, as long as the student remains in good academic standing.

Congratulations to this spring’s recipients:

Lander Norstebon from Bliss High School is heading to Boise State University this fall to study Politics and Public Policy.

Liliana Marez-Ayala from Wendell High School will begin her studies to be a Dental Hygienist at College of Southern Idaho in the fall.

MC-HDCC is looking to expand their high school scholarship opportunities in new schools next year.

Lander Norstebon from Bliss High School with Winslow

Gold Family Summer Program Scholarship 2026

This spring, three high school students from Shoshone and Glenns Ferry Schools received a Gold Family Summer Program Scholarship award to attend educational programs at the Berklee School of Music in Boston, pediatrics at College of Southern Idaho, and a Rotary Leadership Program in Idaho. HDCC and our school districts involved in this opportunity are very grateful to the Gold Family for promoting the value of educational enrichment during the summer.

The following heartfelt thank you letter to the Golds captures its esssence:

Bliss Field Trip to the Wood River Valley

This past fall, Bliss students in grades 6-12 had a firsthand look at the wider world when HDCC helped teachers and staff organize a career day in the Wood River Valley, visiting the Ketchum Fire Department and Sun Valley Company. For many, it was their first trip to the valley. These experiences are so important as they open eyes to the myriad possibilities through exposure.

Bliss Field Trip

Thank you again. Have a wonderful summer. We look forward to being in touch this fall!

Donations can be received in two ways:

1. On-Line through our Donation button which links directly to the SVCS Donation Form. Under “I Want to Support” be sure to scroll down to High Desert College Collaborative as your designated recipient. Donate Online
2. A good old fashion check made out and mailed to: High Desert College Collaborative c/o Sun Valley Community School PO Box 2118 Sun Valley, Idaho 83353

In our partnership with Sun Valley Community School, all donations are tax-deductible (Tax ID #82-0307094), directed to programming and scholarship funds.