ne of life’s most beautiful truths is this: life can lead you to unexpected places—and often, that’s the best part. Idaho Falls resident Leslie Pincock knows from experience that small stepping stones can lead you to wonderful new opportunities.
From her job as the executive director of the Mayor’s Scholarship Program, to teaching fitness classes, to finding so much to love about the Idaho Falls community (including birding!), Leslie’s interests and opportunities have grown as she’s reached out into her community.
When the Mayor’s Scholarship Program began 15 years ago, Leslie joined as a volunteer. She was later invited to serve as vice president of the board of directors and eventually became the director. She explained, “It was just a natural progression from volunteer to board member to executive director.” And she absolutely loves working with young people. “I love the enthusiasm of these great kids because they are just so excited for life! It’s a privilege to be able to give these students the spotlight,” Leslie said.
The Mayor’s Scholarship Fund gives scholarships and financial assistance to local high schoolers who plan to pursue post-secondary education or training in Idaho. This year, they awarded $58,000 to 48 students, from eighth graders to high school seniors across D91 and D93. But it’s about more than just money. The program gives encouragement to students who may not be sure of the path they want to take in the future. Leslie said, “We give these kids a chance to shine and that is a pretty miraculous thing to witness.”
As program director, Leslie attends college and career fairs to encourage applicants to submit an essay. She also coordinates a team of volunteers to read and judge the essays. The program has grown to average about 350 essay submissions a year from students in D91 and D93.
Students as young as eighth grade can receive scholarship money so they have time to consider what they might want to do after high school. They can save that money for college or use it for dual enrollment classes or college preparatory expenses.
“We offer students these little stepping stones, opportunities to explore different ideas, and different paths to education or careers so we can set them up for success in the long run. Not every student is wired to sit in a classroom for four years.”
Like many others, Leslie thought life would be a straight road. “I grew up thinking the path to success was like an interstate, where you get on and then get off in four years. But in reality, life has plenty of detours. And what if you take a wrong turn or the scenic route? We need to show young people that you don’t have to take a direct path from high school to university to a career. It’s not right for everyone, and for some kids, it’s not realistic,” she said.
Many students take dual enrollment classes while they’re in high school, and some even get their associate’s degree during that time. “Because of graduation dates, some students can literally graduate with their associate’s degree a week before they graduate from high school. By the time they walk at their high school graduation, they’ve already graduated from college. I find that funny, but also wonderful!” Leslie laughed.
This meandering path is exactly how Leslie pivoted from a literary background to becoming a fitness instructor. “I love movement and fitness, so it was just a hobby that grew into a job,” she said. After being a regular attendee in fitness classes, Leslie was encouraged to start teaching, and kept adding certifications and areas of expertise. Now she’s a certified yoga instructor, an aquatic aerobics teacher, and also teaches conditioning at the Idaho Ballet Theater.
With plenty of humor and lots of shenanigans, Leslie’s fitness classes teach people to enjoy moving their bodies again. “Sometimes people struggle to enjoy their physical selves, especially women, and especially as we age. We don’t enjoy the free play of movement like we did as children when we were playing hopscotch and tetherball and flipping around on the monkey bars. We forget how much fun it is to just play,” she explained.
“The sheer fun of the aquatic class is just infectious—the music, the people, the hollering,” she said. “And then yoga is a natural extension of that same idea of feeling free and playful.”
Leslie enjoys the city’s green spaces, and has lately taken up birding with her husband, Layne. “Birding is a slippery slope,” Leslie laughed. “And it kind of comes with middle age. I started just by being fascinated with the birds in my yard.” For her birthday a decade ago, her husband gave her a pair of binoculars, and later her avid birding son-in-law taught her to notice plumage changes in the lifespan of birds.
Pretty soon she realized there are dozens of species of birds right around here. She’s now adept at spotting everything from songbirds and sparrows to avocets and Great-tailed Grackles; her life list of species is nearing 450 and she’s in awe of how much wildlife is right here in Southeastern Idaho.
“We live in an incredible area,” Leslie said. “We’re in the hub of some of the greatest outdoor recreation in the country. And then you consider all the amenities we have here that come with a good-sized community—museums, libraries, the greenbelt and farmer’s market—but Idaho Falls still has a wonderfully intimate, small-town feel.”
She’s learned that the more you become involved in your community and reach outside yourself to meet new people, the more joy you’ll have in your life.
“The better that you make the community for others, the better it will be for you. So get involved!” is Leslie’s advice. “Volunteer at the library or a nonprofit. Help at the soup kitchen, become a soccer coach, or teach a class at CEI.” Just like her scholarship recipients, Leslie has learned to build momentum by leaping from one good thing to the next, and making inspiring connections along the way.