(Pocatello/Chubbuck SD25 Press Release, October 13, 2025; Cover photo credit: SD25 FB)
POCATELLO, IDAHO— Ask any high school senior, and the families of high school seniors, and you’ll get this tidbit of information: “It’s a lot.”
It’s a lot of excitement.
It’s a lot of time spent with your oldest and dearest friends.
It’s a lot of fun and good energy.
And it’s a whole lot of uncertainty, pressure, and worry.
As a way to enhance the first three items above and help learners manage the last one, the Pocatello/Chubbuck School District 25 is establishing a new tradition: the Senior Kickstart.
On Wednesday, October 15, the school district will make a day of assisting high school seniors and their families to prepare for the time and the road ahead. The Kickstart will be held at Portneuf Valley Technical Education and Career Campus (PV-TEC) from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. General information sessions will begin every half hour. Senior learners and their families or guardians are welcome to attend and participate.
The day will serve as a one-stop opportunity for seniors to complete essential tasks on what would otherwise be a virtual learning day, as underclassmen will be participating in the PSAT assessment at school.
Many seniors are not entirely sure what the future holds and the Senior Kickstart will be appropriate for every student: those interested in career technical education and the trades, those who are not sure about a college major but want to apply to two or four years of college, those who are considering military service, those who want to apply to Idaho colleges and programs as well as out-of-state schools.
Gathered in one place at the inaugural Senior Kickstart will be college career advisors from each of Pocatello’s four high schools, financial aid professionals, admissions representatives from a variety of Idaho and nearby colleges, Bengal Bridge, the Idaho National Guard, and more. All these good people will direct and guide students through various stations and connect them with experts and advocates. Folks may come as their schedule allows, and in one hour’s time they will be able to tick a number of important senior to-do items off their lists. The day will provide just the right amount of encouragement and support for seniors to feel good about their last year of high school and the future.
The goal of this event is to have every senior well-positioned with their future tasks and goals: college / program applications and acceptances, seeking grants and scholarships, or fully completing the FAFSA. School district staff will assist students with Apply Idaho, Scholarship Idaho (where students will decide between the Idaho Opportunity Scholarship and the Idaho Launch grant for in-demand careers), and important financial aid and scholarship research and details. Getting these things done will greatly alleviate the stress and uncertainty that many seniors (and their families!) feel. Alice Rowe, college career advisor at Highland High School, said, “We hope that students and families will come out to the Senior Kickstart, take advantage of all the expertise and resources the day will offer, and help us establish it as an ongoing tradition.”
Questions may be directed to the college and career advisors at any of PCSD 25’s high schools. Additional details, including what seniors should bring to make the most of the day, are provided below.
Senior Kickstart Day
Wednesday, October 15, 2025 from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Portneuf Valley Technical Education and Career Campus (PV-TEC) located at 4200 Hawthorne Road, Chubbuck, 83202
Informational sessions every 30 minutes (last session starts at 5:00 p.m.)
Parents and guardians are very welcome to participate.
Things to do: Apply to post-graduation training, apply to college, apply to the state scholarships, apply to out-of-state colleges, create an FSA ID, visit with the Idaho National Guard, Bengal Bridge, and financial aid experts.
Things to bring: Social Security number, a fully charged phone, a fully charged ChromeBook or laptop, a personal e-mail you check regularly with lots of storage, and a credit or debit card in case you apply to out-of-state schools.
For more information:
Apply Idaho: https://apply.nextsteps.idaho.gov/Account/Login (create an account)
Scholarship Idaho: https://scholarships.idaho.gov/ (create an account)
Idaho Launch grant: https://nextsteps.idaho.gov/
FSA ID: https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id/create-account/launch (click “Get Started”)
About Pocatello/Chubbuck School District 25
Pocatello/Chubbuck School District 25 serves nearly 12,000 learners in Southeast Idaho. Guided by the vision “Think More. Learn More. Be MORE TOGETHER,” PCSD 25 is committed to creating a culture of belonging where every learner has access to high-quality education and opportunities to achieve their fullest potential.
