Julieanne S.

Barrus
670 13th Avenue Salt Lake City, UT 84103
Phone: 801.628.4290 Email: jsbarrus13@gmail.com

Scholarship Chair
Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism
1901 E. South Campus Drive, Room 1085 (Annex C)
Salt Lake City, UT 84112-0920

January 30, 2014

Dear Scholarship Chair Person,

My path to becoming a student at the University of Utah has been a long one, and Im so
grateful Im finally here, truly pursuing my dreams. Not only am I a student here, I get to
be a part of the Parks, Recreation and Tourism community. This field of study has been
more than just a degree for me; its a way of life. I cant begin to explain my gratitude for
my professors and the content we learn about and discuss. PRT goes hand in hand with
my personal belief system, and Im ecstatic that when I go to class, I know Im not only
increasing my academic knowledge, but that Im also in an environment where my
personal growth and development as an individual can flourish.

My love for experiential education has been with me as long as I can remember, but it
truly struck a chord with me when I taught English in China and Ukraine as a volunteer.
The process of teaching English was through experiential education. Learning was an
interactive experience where the students were unknowingly learning English as we did
arts, crafts, recreation and other activities.

This type of teaching style has transferred to my current emphasis, which is Adventure
and Outdoor Programs. Being a facilitator using outdoor adventure experiences reminds
me of my time in China and Ukraine. By facilitating participants through OAE, I find joy
that they will unknowingly be learning things they didnt think possible. My English
students thought our main focus was the activity, but it was actually about their
progression in the English language, which they later learned. My hope is that future
participants, who embark on an outdoor adventure with me, will come to realize the goal
is not the activity itself, but the personal growth and development that comes through
challenge, teamwork, and communication is, and thats where the true accomplishment
comes from.

As I am completing my junior year, I am already anxiously awaiting what my senior year
and internships have in store for me. Words cannot express what scholarships would do
for my husband and I as a family, as we are both working part time and pursuing our
dreams here at the University of Utah. I am passionate about this field of study, and am
excited to continue showing you my dedication, hard work and love for PRT.

Sincerely,

Julieanne Barrus