CHAPTER LEADER PROFILE
Taryn Couchman-Cates, Southeast Idaho Chapter Taryn Couchman-Cates has remained loyal and true since graduating from OSU in 1999 and continues to spread her orange pride through her leadership of the Southeast Idaho OSU Alumni Chapter. Couchman-Cates grew up in southern California and attended a community college near her hometown, studying fire science. She planned to attend a fire academy to become a firefighter, but moved to Oklahoma when her mentor told her about the top-tier fire protection program at OSU, nicknamed “The West Point of the fire service.” She began her academic career at OSU in the fall of 1996. Cates uses her degree in fire protection and safety engineering technology every day as a fire protection engineer at the U.S. Department of Energy at the Idaho National Laboratory.
Some of her fondest memories at OSU began the day she set foot on campus. Couchman-Cates recalls the culture shock of moving from southern California to Oklahoma, noting the swarm of tornadoes that occurred in 1999 just days before her graduation. Her favorite times at OSU included pulling pranks in her dorm, Wilham Hall, enjoying a meal at Eskimo Joe’s after a big test, and getting free pancakes during finals week. “OSU will always hold a special place in my heart,” Couchman-Cates said. “I’m proud to be a Cowboy and am very loyal and true.” Later, she saw a map from the OSU Alumni Association that highlighted states with chapters hosting watch parties in orange, she realized Idaho remained grayed out. “I was determined to make Idaho orange, so I got the ball rolling,” Couchman-Cates said. “I started the Southeast Idaho OSU Alumni Chapter in 2014, and now, we are on the map!”
Despite a short hiatus in 2018-19 to battle breast cancer, Couchman-Cates has been the Southeast Idaho leader since its inception. As the chapter leader, CouchmanCates helps to organize watch parties during the Cowboy football season and other events throughout the year. Her favorite event is the Idaho Falls Community Adopt-a-Flowerbed service project. Each year, the city provides flowers, and the chapter adopts a flowerbed in a nearby public park or cemetery to plant and maintain throughout the season. “We always request orange flowers,” Couchman-Cates said. “While we are a smaller chapter, this event is the perfect way for us to help keep our community beautiful.” Couchman-Cates credits the chapter’s growth to the local Cowboys in Idaho. “I may be the name listed as the chapter leader, but all of our active members are the true reason for our success.”
Taryn Couchman-Cates with her daughter, Emily, who is a junior at Boise State, at the Boise State game.
IDAHO CHAPTER BY THE NUMBERS 453 alumni and friends 27 members
Taryn CouchmanCates with husband Michael (’90) and son Cameron, at the OSU football game in Boise, Idaho.
11 current OSU students from Idaho 1,135 miles from Stillwater
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STORY AVERY HUDSON | PHOTOS OSU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
