POCATELLO — It was another successful year for Idaho State University’s Haunted Science Laboratory, thanks to support from across East Idaho and the more than 120 volunteers from ISU, the Kiwanis Club of Pocatello and the community. This group of volunteers provided over 700 hours to make the Haunted Science Lab a reality. I thank each one of you who gave your time to the lab.

In 2025, more than 1,600 students, Boy and Girl scouts, teachers, and parents took a field trip to the lab and enjoyed more than 50 interactive science exhibits free of charge. This year, students from Pocatello, Chubbuck, Blackfoot, Rockland, Fort Hall, Idaho Falls, Downey, Malad and Aberdeen, ranging from third graders to high school seniors, stopped by.

On Oct. 25, when we opened the doors to the public, we had more than 200 visitors, with some driving an hour or more to the Haunted Science Lab. Thanks to our visitors, the Kiwanis Club of Pocatello was able to raise over $590 for children’s and youth charities across the region, including The Idaho Foodbank backpack program, Family Services Alliance, Hope of America academic recognition awards, Boys and Girls Club of Portneuf Valley, and more.

Thank you to the Bannock County Commissioners Ernie Moser, Jeff Hough and Ken Bullock for allowing us to use Building B at the Bannock County Event Center. I would also like to thank Annie Hughes, Scott Crowther, Aren Manu and the entire crew at the Bannock County Events Center for their help. Thank you to the ISU College of Science and Engineering and dean James Widmann for the support. Lastly, thank you to the Kiwanis Club of Pocatello for its generous financial support of the Haunted Science Laboratory.

Thanks to the efforts of these individuals and organizations, I hope we’ve inspired a new generation of STEM leaders.