Giving Back through Scholarships and Service - Perspectives - College of Humanites

When Bryson Garbett started at the University of Utah he had two goals: To get a degree so he could go on to graduate school for an MBA, and to get involved. He received a degree but it would be years before he would pursue the business training from Harvard he wanted. His involvement, however, came much more easily.

During his first year, in addition to competing on the men’s gymnastics team, for which he lettered, he also joined the Latter-day Saint Student Body Association (LDSSA). After serving a mission in Italy for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Bryson returned to the U. It was his involvement in LDSSA that took him to a recruitment event where he met Jan VanDenBerghe, a Brigham Young University student home for break. After Bryson and Jan married, Jan transferred from BYU to the U where she continued her studies in English.

Along with his involvement with LDSSA, Bryson was involved in student government as treasurer and senator and later recruited Jan to join him on the activities committee. He also accepted a reporting position with The Daily Utah Chronicle. He covered the 1976 Utah state elections, interviewing candidates and sitting legislators as well as a Black Panther and an astronaut.

When Jan talks about her time at the U in the Department of English, she remembers fondly how the writing process intrigued her: “The paper unfolded while you participated in it. What you thought was going to be the end result isn’t always the case. It can surprise you. That is what I loved about my major. Writing and reading and exploring the world through other people’s eyes helps you be more refined in your own approach. It helps you to make a decision with a little more compassion and evaluation.”

Yutzils Valeria Roman’s Convocation Speech Transcript

The Humanities: Dancing & Storytelling

Do you remember a time when you were afraid to dance? For me, it was seven years ago at my quinceañera. Part of the quinceañera ceremony includes these choreographed dances you do in front of everyone. My music included a little bit of Bruno Mars, Adele, and Nicki Minaj. It was 2014. When it was my turn to dance, I was so nervous. I didn’t want to forget any of the moves; I didn’t want to fall. There were so many things to keep track of. But as soon as the first beat came through the speakers, I took the first step and the rest followed. It wasn’t a perfect dance, but I had a lot of fun. Muscle memory helped. But that’s not always the case.

Lately, our bodies have been trapped in repetitive motions. We’ve been inside and the days have all blended together. Our spaces have stayed the same, but our lives have changed. Between a year ago and today, some of us have lost family members and friends. There were more people in our lives then than there are now. Some of us have felt the pain of targeted attacks and aggressions against our own communities, against our families. Some of us have had to deal with financial struggles and child care challenges. We had to continue working to pay electricity and internet bills. We realized just how much we need one another. If this year has shown us anything, it is that we are forever interconnected. We may move to our own rhythms, but we still move alongside others.

These past semesters have been some of the most difficult to navigate. We’ve had to transform living rooms and bedrooms into classrooms and offices. We’ve had to think about our family’s safety and our own well-being. Not to mention that many of us continued to enroll full time in classes and be involved in extracurricular activities. There was no blueprint for any of this. We had to figure it out as we went along, one day at a time. Our professors, mentors, and family had to figure it out as they went along. The fact that we’re all here today, that we’ve made it this far, should be celebrated, not forgotten. We’ve accomplished something extraordinary in such an uncertain time.

As I look back at the things that led me to be here today, I can’t help but think of the small things. Being able to just open my window and breathe. Go on walks with my Mom. I’m sure all of you can think of small things that kept you going this past year too. I can’t tell you how many times I would turn in an essay

or finish a zoom class and immediately start playing music in my room. I just had to move in any way I could. Because of the pandemic, some of us cannot dance like we used to. What will dancing even look like as we move forward? How will our bodies move through the future? No matter what our dancing looks like, we must remember to do it.

I think there are many ways to dance in this world. My time in college has only confirmed this belief. During my studies, I learned about the Inca civilization and the fascinating system of writing they developed using a series of knots and strings made from cloth: the quipu. Language can be spoken and written, but it also can be touched and moved with our hands. I read stories written by authors who look like me, whose families crossed borders like mine. The humanities taught me to dance through an exploration of new ideas and rhythms. The humanities teach us to actively seek out multiple voices, to create our own spaces if we cannot find them.

Whether it’s for a quinceañera or a solo-party, dancing reminds us how goofy, spontaneous, and vulnerable we can be. It encourages us to both lose ourselves and feel part of something bigger. Dancing is a celebration. So, as we leave and graduate today, I ask you to think about who, and what will be part of your celebration? What rhythm and style will you dance to, will you create to? We must now take the steps we’ve learned and turn them into our own movements, into our own motivations and successes.

Lastly, I would like to thank the people who have danced with me the most: my family. My family here and in México. I see you watching the livestream. To my given and my chosen family: thank you for supporting and loving me. No estaría aquí sin ustedes, sin el apoyo que me han dado. Espero poder abrazarlos pronto y celebrar como debe de ser. Los quiero mucho y los extraño.

And to all who have taught us—Class of 2021—how to move and who have moved us, both on and off the dancefloor: thank you. You have given us the courage to dance with our words and with our everyday actions. I look forward to dancing with all of you again.

Bryson Garbett

"The humanities is a field that teaches how to explore the world and your place in it,” she reflects. “No matter what you do, you are impacted by humanities. Studying language and community and thought, it opens you up till you feel like you can do anything. There is a confidence that comes with a humanities education.”

After Bryson graduated with a history degree and Jan graduated with an English degree, life didn’t go quite as planned. Bryson was not accepted to the MBA program he’d hoped to attend and didn’t have strong prospects for work, so he began working for his brother’s construction company. After learning the ropes and planning to apply again to graduate school, Bryson and Jan decided to open their own construction company. Bryson ran the contracting and construction work. With no one to do the books, Jan jumped in. With the help of a program at the U, Jan learned the ins and outs of bookkeeping and did so for the company until she was pregnant with their eighth child. It was then that she “retired” to be with the family.

For many years and three recessions, Bryson and Jan were in survival mode. They worked hard to make sure they paid all their debts and kept everyone happy even during the hardest of times—giving their television to someone whom they owed money and their car to another. Eventually Bryson received acceptance from Harvard in the Owner/ Presidents Manager Program, finally fulfilling a lifelong goal he had set for himself when he started his undergraduate degree at the U.

The Garbetts’ work office has always been in their home—at first in the basement of their home in West Valley, then Sandy, and now in their remodeled 1905 home on Capitol Hill. Through the chaos of kids and workers, they say it was always a gift to have the business run out of their home. As their children grew up, because work was always part of their family and in their home, they were each able to help with the business in various capacities.

That is what I loved about my major. Writing and reading and exploring the world through other people’s eyes helps you be more refined in your own approach. It helps you to make a decision with a little more compassion and evaluation.

In 1997, somewhat by accident, their lives took a new path. Jan had a family trip to Florida and Disney World planned. Flights were booked, everything was reserved and then Jan learned of a humanitarian aid trip to Mexico. She brought the idea to Bryson, who reminded her about the flights and the reservations. They took it to the family for a vote. The family voted for the service trip and their connection to the people of rural Mexico began. “Our lives were never the same. Every member of the family was truly impacted by the service we gave, the work we completed, and the dire support needed in this area of Mexico. All of us felt a strong desire to continue to be of help,” said Jan. And that is exactly what they did. They started a new tradition of Christmas in Mexico where they would find ways to really be of help. Eventually they landed on education support in the rural communities.

It was that first trip which opened their eyes to what a high school education could do for a young person. They soon established a foundation named Escalera (meaning ladder in Spanish), which provided scholarships for students to attend a private high school in Mexico City. This work has continued for over 25 years. The Garbetts continue to seek new ways to motivate students to stay in school and to follow their dreams. As of today, the Escalera Foundation has supported more than 125,000 students in being able to attend high school.

Bryson’s goals early in life to attain an education and get involved on campus and in the community were goals he shared with Jan, and together, they and their family have given thousands of people the same opportunities. Through the Garbett Family Foundation, they and their children have also continued their support of education in Utah. The Writing Studies Scholars Program, housed in the U’s Department of Writing & Rhetoric Studies, is a bridge program between Salt Lake Community College and the U which has received transformative, multi-year funding from the Foundation.

“The Writing Studies Scholars program is so exciting for us to support because we have done work down in Mexico and see the difference education can make in peoples’ lives when you give them that encouragement to move forward with their own education and open their own doors,” Jan says. “So for a lot of first-generation students who are in a new country or are navigating a new system, this is such a nurturing and well thought out program at the U. We have studied other schools and other university’s programs and been less impressed. What the U is doing is unique and effective.”

Bryson and Jan are quick to share that as donors, they have very critical eyes. They realized early on that they wanted to evaluate their program in Mexico. They sought to find out if they were making a difference, and if they were making the impact they intended to make. After completing the evaluations, they found they needed to make changes, and they did. It is important to them that Dr. Christie Toth has the same philosophy about the Writing Studies Scholars program. “It is gratifying to see someone take this so seriously. Someone who is willing to evaluate the program and make changes to make it better. We are happy to support the program and really appreciate the way they grow and learn on all fronts to better the lives of these students,” Jan says.

As Bryson reflects on his time at the U he says, “Entering the U, my goal was to get through. It didn’t have anything to do with an education. But a funny thing happened—once I got in that university atmosphere, I did have mentors and opportunities that headed me in the right direction. And I got an education despite myself.” Today, they devote an incredible amount of time and support to ensuring others have the same opportunities.

11. Giving Back through Scholarships and Service

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When Bryson Garbett started at the University of Utah he had two goals: To get a degree so he could go on to graduate school for an MBA, and to get involved. He received a degree but it would be years before he would pursue the business training from Harvard he wanted. His involvement, however, came much more easily.

During his first year, in addition to competing on the men’s gymnastics team, for which he lettered, he also joined the Latter-day Saint Student Body Association (LDSSA). After serving a mission in Italy for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Bryson returned to the U. It was his involvement in LDSSA that took him to a recruitment event where he met Jan VanDenBerghe, a Brigham Young University student home for break. After Bryson and Jan married, Jan transferred from BYU to the U where she continued her studies in English.

Along with his involvement with LDSSA, Bryson was involved in student government as treasurer and senator and later recruited Jan to join him on the activities committee. He also accepted a reporting position with The Daily Utah Chronicle. He covered the 1976 Utah state elections, interviewing candidates and sitting legislators as well as a Black Panther and an astronaut.

Bryson Garbett

When Jan talks about her time at the U in the Department of English, she remembers fondly how the writing process intrigued her: “The paper unfolded while you participated in it. What you thought was going to be the end result isn’t always the case. It can surprise you. That is what I loved about my major. Writing and reading and exploring the world through other people’s eyes helps you be more refined in your own approach. It helps you to make a decision with a little more compassion and evaluation.”

"The humanities is a field that teaches how to explore the world and your place in it,” she reflects. “No matter what you do, you are impacted by humanities. Studying language and community and thought, it opens you up till you feel like you can do anything. There is a confidence that comes with a humanities education.”

After Bryson graduated with a history degree and Jan graduated with an English degree, life didn’t go quite as planned. Bryson was not accepted to the MBA program he’d hoped to attend and didn’t have strong prospects for work, so he began working for his brother’s construction company. After learning the ropes and planning to apply again to graduate school, Bryson and Jan decided to open their own construction company. Bryson ran the contracting and construction work. With no one to do the books, Jan jumped in. With the help of a program at the U, Jan learned the ins and outs of bookkeeping and did so for the company until she was pregnant with their eighth child. It was then that she “retired” to be with the family.

For many years and three recessions, Bryson and Jan were in survival mode. They worked hard to make sure they paid all their debts and kept everyone happy even during the hardest of times—giving their television to someone whom they owed money and their car to another. Eventually Bryson received acceptance from Harvard in the Owner/ Presidents Manager Program, finally fulfilling a lifelong goal he had set for himself when he started his undergraduate degree at the U.

The Garbetts’ work office has always been in their home—at first in the basement of their home in West Valley, then Sandy, and now in their remodeled 1905 home on Capitol Hill. Through the chaos of kids and workers, they say it was always a gift to have the business run out of their home. As their children grew up, because work was always part of their family and in their home, they were each able to help with the business in various capacities.

That is what I loved about my major. Writing and reading and exploring the world through other people’s eyes helps you be more refined in your own approach. It helps you to make a decision with a little more compassion and evaluation.

In 1997, somewhat by accident, their lives took a new path. Jan had a family trip to Florida and Disney World planned. Flights were booked, everything was reserved and then Jan learned of a humanitarian aid trip to

Bryson Garbett

Mexico. She brought the idea to Bryson, who reminded her about the flights and the reservations. They took it to the family for a vote. The family voted for the service trip and their connection to the people of rural Mexico began. “Our lives were never the same. Every member of the family was truly impacted by the service we gave, the work we completed, and the dire support needed in this area of Mexico. All of us felt a strong desire to continue to be of help,” said Jan. And that is exactly what they did. They started a new tradition of Christmas in Mexico where they would find ways to really be of help. Eventually they landed on education support in the rural communities.

It was that first trip which opened their eyes to what a high school education could do for a young person. They soon established a foundation named Escalera (meaning ladder in Spanish), which provided scholarships for students to attend a private high school in Mexico City. This work has continued for over 25 years. The Garbetts continue to seek new ways to motivate students to stay in school and to follow their dreams. As of today, the Escalera Foundation has supported more than 125,000 students in being able to attend high school.

Bryson’s goals early in life to attain an education and get involved on campus and in the community were goals he shared with Jan, and together, they and their family have given thousands of people the same opportunities. Through the Garbett Family Foundation, they and their children have also continued their support of education in Utah. The Writing Studies Scholars Program, housed in the U’s Department of Writing & Rhetoric Studies, is a bridge program between Salt Lake Community College and the U which has received transformative, multi-year funding from the Foundation.

“The Writing Studies Scholars program is so exciting for us to support because we have done work down in Mexico and see the difference education can make in peoples’ lives when you give them that encouragement to move forward with their own education and open their own doors,” Jan says. “So for a lot of first-generation students who are in a new country or are navigating a new system, this is such a nurturing and well thought out program at the U. We have studied other schools and other university’s programs and been less impressed. What the U is doing is unique and effective.”

Bryson Garbett

Bryson and Jan are quick to share that as donors, they have very critical eyes. They realized early on that they wanted to evaluate their program in Mexico. They sought to find out if they were making a difference, and if they were making the impact they intended to make. After completing the evaluations, they found they needed to make changes, and they did. It is important to them that Dr. Christie Toth has the same philosophy about the Writing Studies Scholars program. “It is gratifying to see someone take this so seriously. Someone who is willing to evaluate the program and make changes to make it better. We are happy to support the program and really appreciate the way they grow and learn on all fronts to better the lives of these students,” Jan says.

As Bryson reflects on his time at the U he says, “Entering the U, my goal was to get through. It didn’t have anything to do with an education. But a funny thing happened—once I got in that university atmosphere, I did have mentors and opportunities that headed me in the right direction. And I got an education despite myself.” Today, they devote an incredible amount of time and support to ensuring others have the same opportunities.

11. Giving Back through Scholarships and Service

Table of Contents