POCATELLO — Most of the people gathered in the Stephens Performing Arts Center Tuesday evening hadn’t been born before 1977. They entered a world with an economy still recovering from the recession of the mid-1970s. The average price of the homes they were raised in had just barely cracked the $100,000 mark. And gas was still below a dollar a gallon.

Southeast Idaho’s economy has prospered in the past 40 years and Tuesday evening the Idaho State Journal and Idaho Power recognized the young and talented who have helped make that happen.

“There is no shortage of great things happening here,” said Idaho State Journal Publisher Andy Pennington.

The third annual 20 Under 40 event honored locals in industries ranging from the arts to medicine. For a full list of honorees, visit IdahoStateJournal.Com/OverUnder40.

This year, 45 people were nominated for the recognition. Of those people, 20 were called up on stage at the Stephens Center to have their accomplishments lauded in front of a crowd including many local business and community leaders.

“This is an opportunity to recognize up and coming leaders and leaders of the next generation,” said Darrel Anderson, chief executive officer of Idaho Power. “It’s gratifying for the community to see we are in good hands. You see what these people have done and it is impressive.”

Some of these young business leaders use their skills to help those less fortunate. Josiah Dahlstrom spends his time helping the veterans in Pocatello find peace after war. Brooke Colling set up a photography business that she uses to find forever homes for shelter pets.

Others’ achievements defy their age. At only 24 years old, honoree Britt Dickman is the head athletic trainer at the Portneuf Medical Center Sports Medicine Institute and also trains athletes at area high schools.

Still more of the honorees use their talents to build up the next generation of Southeast Idaho greatness.

In less that two years, Zach Hern has changed the way students at Idaho State University interact with Middle East Studies. Jason Byrd pioneered a program for adolescents struggling with intellectual and developmental disabilities who also have inappropriate social/sexual behaviors. Brandon Mickelson instills the next generation of Idaho family medicine doctors with a passion for compassionate care.

“These are the current and future leaders who are going to be carrying business, social and cultural life forward,” said Bill Shawver, director of corporate communications for Idaho Power.

The nominees’ biographies are all included in a special publication available from the Idaho State Journal.

The evening of accolades featured keynote speaker Parker Kane. Kane is himself an example of someone under 40 excelling in his profession. Kane became a viral internet sensation with his beatboxing performances.

In 2015 the Pocatello native, now a Brigham Young University-Idaho student, produced a video, “McDonalds Cup Dubstep,” featuring him doing dubstep beats with a McDonald’s cup and straw. The video went viral and within three weeks it had over 2 million hits on YouTube.

The Journal’s annual 20 Under 40 event is possible because of the support of several sponsors, who are also area business leaders in their own right.

In addition to Idaho Power, 20 Under 40 is supported by Portneuf Medical Center, The Pocatello/Chubbuck Chamber of Commerce, Valley Office Systems and Phil Meador’s Courtesy Lincoln dealership.