Date: March 2026

School: Forrest Bird Charter

Wish Delivered: Flight simulator

Teacher Kevin Kless says "This flight simulator equipment will establish a state-of-the-art laboratory to advance STEM education and workforce development in aviation at our Idaho high school, preparing students for high-demand careers as pilots, air traffic controllers, and UAV operators amid a national pilot shortage projected to require 17,000 new entrants annually. By integrating hands-on flight simulation with the Idaho National Laboratory's (INL) K-12 STEM initiatives—which have awarded nearly $5 million to align education with Idaho's energy and tech sectors—this program will foster critical thinking, teamwork, and real-world skills for underrepresented and rural students. Our school will leverage the equipment for the 2026 GAMA Aviation Design Challenge, a national competition for high school teams using X-Plane software to design and virtually test aircraft, earning complimentary curricula and prizes like industry tours and STEM labs to inspire participants. Additionally, we plan to host inter-school competitions with partners like Civil Air Patrol and EAA, promoting community engagement and Idaho's aerospace innovation hub."

Wish Amount: $8,68

Date: March 2026

School: Glenns Ferry Elementary

Wish Delivered: Classroom supplies

Teacher Amy Hill says "I teach in a rural school with a high population of Title I students, many of whom face economic barriers that limit their access to basic educational materials. Your support would have a direct and meaningful impact on my classroom by ensuring all students have equitable access to the tools they need to succeed. The requested supplies will support core instruction in literacy, writing, and the arts, while also fostering student engagement, organization, and confidence... The students I serve are hardworking and eager to learn, but many rely on school-provided materials as their primary access to educational resources. Funding these supplies would help ensure that every student in my classroom has the opportunity to learn, create, and grow in an equitable and supportive environment."

Wish Amount: $329.58

Date: February 2026

School: Sandcreek Middle

Wish Delivered: Fiction and Non-fiction books

Teacher Debbie Christmensen says "The students are so fun and love to read. The books in our library have a median age of 1992. One student was doing a research paper on gaming. I couldn’t let him check out the few gaming books we had because they were so old and not current. I had to pull the career books too because they are so old! We would love to have help updating our library so that it can be useful to our students. They work very hard on their research papers and assignments. They also have to read 30 books in the year for Language Arts class. We have a lot of wonderful books! But the books Are worn out. I apologize so many times to the students when they are checking out books because they are so worn out, ripped, and sometimes falling apart. Often, they check out one book and bring it back a few days later to trade it for a different copy so that I can glue the one they had. The students are very kind. They tell me not to worry about it and that the book reads the same if it’s older or new. Help from the Idaho lottery would be wonderful in replacing books that are so outdated and worn out. We would love for the students to have a great reading experience in middle school."

Wish Amount: $2,824

Date: January 2026

School: Frontier Elementary

Wish Delivered: VR Headsets for virtual field trips

Teacher Carolyn Knam says "We are seeking funding to purchase 25 Meta Quest Headsets for our students. This project will provide immersive virtual field trips that enhance the social studies curriculum, allowing students to explore historical landmarks, world geography, and cultural experiences they would otherwise not be able to access due to economic barriers. Frontier Elementary serves a majority low-income population, and many of our students have limited opportunities to travel outside their immediate community. Field trips are often restricted by budget and logistics, which limits students’ exposure to historical and cultural experiences critical to developing global awareness and historical understanding. Virtual reality (VR) offers a cost-effective, accessible alternative to physical travel that can bring the world to our students."

Wish Amount: $6,250