The Idaho Council on Economic Education, hosted jointly by the College of Business and Economics and the College of Education at BSU, conducted 5 “International Economic Summit” programs throughout the state of Idaho this semester, reaching 2,500 high school students and many community supporters.  These events involved 150 business and community volunteers from CityGroup, US Bank, Wells Fargo, the Idaho Department of Finance, Commerce, the Governor’s Office, the State Board of Education and others.  The most recent Economic Summit, conducted at Boise State on December 3, was hosted by Gavin Gee and Don Dietrich, Directors of the Idaho Departments of Finance and Commerce respectively.  During this event the Idaho Council received grants from CitiGroup, US Bank and the Idaho Community Foundation. 
 
Additionally, in recent months the Idaho Council, with the involvement of COBE, COE, the Boise State Foundation, and with special support form Senator Mike Crapo, conducted the first International Economic Summit for high school students in Shanghai China.  This project involved 350 students from the top 25 high schools in China and was attended by multiple multi-national corporations doing business in that country.  As a result of this project, for example, Starbucks, Microsoft and other firms have expressed interest in potential future sponsorships.
 
Through our partnership with the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, Boise State and the Idaho Council reached an additional 25,000 students this semester from hundreds of high schools in California, Washington, Hawaii, Arizona and other western states with the International Economic Summit, which the San Francisco Fed has described as “the most effective program available today for teaching students about international economics, free trade and globalization”.  As a result of the success Boise State and the Idaho Council has had with the San Francisco Fed, other Federal Reserve Districts are now considering licensing the program for implementation in New York, Massachusetts, Illinois and surrounding states, all of which will certainly reflect positively on the College of Business and Economics and Boise State in general.
 
Anyone who may not be familiar with the Idaho Council on Economic Education, hosted by COBE since 1973, may visit its offices at E526 in the Education Building.  The Council is always seeking professors, administrators, graduate students and others to become involved in its outreach programs and to facilitate workshops and events.  If you are interested in becoming involved or just learning more, contact Leon Maynard at 426-1910,  LeonMaynard@BoiseState.edu.