The Story Collider is delighted to partner with Boise State University and share true, personal science stories from their Computer Science students.
From overcoming imposter syndrome to tackling new frontiers, join us as these storytellers share the pivotal moments where they stepped up, took risks, and found their voice. It’s a night of stories about growth, discovery, and the power of believing in yourself—whether in the classroom, the lab, or beyond!
Doors open at 6:00 pm MT. Show starts at 6:30 pm MT.
Hosted by Kent Whipple.
There is livestream available to attend the event remotely and will be provided to all registered attendees.
Stories by:
Nusrat Afrin grew up in Bangladesh and is now figuring out life as an honors international student at Boise State University, where she’s a sophomore majoring in Computer Science. Her love for math and problem-solving runs deep enough for her to be working both as a tutor and a Learning Assistant for math at her university where she gets the opportunity to enjoy supporting students through their learning journeys. In her free time, you can find her reading webtoons or surfing through Reddit. Nusrat definitely loves a good story, and this is her first step toward becoming a storyteller herself.
My name is Keona Truitt, and I am currently a sophomore at Boise State University, majoring in Computer Science with an emphasis in Cybersecurity. Originally from Enumclaw, Washington, I’ve developed a deep passion for cybersecurity, driven by my interest in network security and threat analysis. Last summer, I interned with Lynden Incorporated as an IT Infrastructure Intern on their Cybersecurity SOC team, where I gained invaluable experience in real-time threat monitoring and response. This upcoming summer, I am excited to return to Lynden to further expand my skills. At Boise State, I am actively involved in the Honors College, where I serve on the house leadership team, and in the Alpha Xi Delta sorority as the community service director. These leadership roles have helped me grow as a team player and communicator. My ultimate goal is to become a Cybersecurity Analyst, specializing in safeguarding organizations from the ever-evolving landscape of cyber threats.
Issac Hager: I am a Sophomore Computer Science major attending Boise State University. I have lived in Coeur d 'Alene for the past 4 years and many places before that. I enjoy art and writing, though I usually stick to fictional stories.
Sara Street has lived in Idaho for seven years with her mom and dad after moving from Texas in 2019; however, her hometown is Greensboro, North Carolina. She is now pursuing her undergraduate degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering. She has been very active within the STEM community for the past four years, especially within her school. She served as the Idaho State Secretary for the Technology Student Association (TSA), a student-led STEM CTSO. In her free time, she loves to read and paint.
Acknowledgement: “This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant IUSE-2142137.”
Disclaimer: “Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.”
Approved under IRB 24-626