Avery Nichols named 2025 Sawtooth Leadership Academy scholarship recipient

Mountain States Policy Center is proud to announce the winner of the 2025 Sawtooth Leadership Academy first-place scholarship, awarded at MSPC’s Fall Dinner & Anniversary Gala in Boise last Thursday.

After months of rigorous coursework, mentorship, and public voting, Avery Nichols has been selected as the first-place scholar, earning the $5,000 Tim Hennessey & Holly Harrison Scholarship. The selection reflects both public support through online voting and the MSPC Board of Directors’ evaluation of the finalists’ policy studies.

More than 2,000 people cast their votes in MSPC's online forum.

About the Contest & Finalists

Earlier this fall, MSPC announced four finalists for the 2025 Sawtooth Leadership Academy scholarships. Each finalist authored a policy study addressing a timely issue in the Mountain West region.

• Gunner Cavener: Improving the Endangered Species Act: A Reform for Our Environment and the Economy

• Garret Ahlstrom: The Need for an Idaho Strategic Growth Fund

• Jonas Yengst: Idaho Would Benefit from a State Department of Government Efficiency

• Avery Nichols: The Case for Repealing Idaho’s Income Tax

  
  

Winner Profile

Avery Nichols is a driven 15-year-old from Meridian, Idaho. He is actively involved in student government, legislative campaigns, and volunteer work. He is a certified community trainer for CATCH My Breath, encouraging young people to make healthy choices.

About the Sawtooth Leadership Academy

Launched by MSPC, the Sawtooth Leadership Academy is a no-cost, limited-enrollment program for high school and college students from Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and Eastern Washington. The academy offers six online courses taught by regional business and political leaders, hands-on involvement in MSPC’s Great Debate series, and the opportunity to write and publish a policy study.

Scholarship awards are distributed as follows:

• $5,000 for first place (Tim Hennessey & Holly Harrison Scholarship)

• $2,000 for second place

• $1,000 for third place

  
  

MSPC holds its Fall Dinner & Anniversary Gala each October, during which the scholars are honored publicly.

Looking Ahead

MSPC will soon be accepting applications for the 2026 Sawtooth Leadership Academy class. Prospective students and partner institutions are encouraged to visit MSPC’s website for application timelines, program requirements, and mentorship opportunities.