Spring break 2022 was DSF Scholar Pricilla Banuelos’ first time in Utah. When she signed up for the Metropolitan State University (MSU) Alternative Spring Break program, she didn’t know what to expect. She was stepping out of her comfort zone. It was her first time leaving Colorado with peers and friends, not family. But she will never forget the memories she made and the lessons she learned during her five day service trip.
The Alternative Spring Break program at MSU Denver offers students the opportunity to travel, serve a community, and gain cultural education off-campus. Students immerse themselves in different communities while gaining exposure to social issues and developing leadership skills. Pricilla heard about the program from her DSF Alumna Mentor, who encouraged her to try something new while serving the community.
One of the pigs at The Best Friends Animal Society
Pricilla says that “as soon as we entered Utah, it looked like Mars. It looked like something I had never seen before.” The group of eight students and one advisor headed to Best Friends Animal Society, a no-kill shelter and sanctuary in Kanab, Utah. Best Friends and MSU Denver students worked together to create a hands-on, fulfilling service experience.
The group worked together to clean pig pens, including making the area more comfortable for the animals by rearranging the rocks. They cleaned the goat landscape area and assisted with gardening. One of the most meaningful parts of the trip for Pricilla was going to Angel’s Rest, the pet cemetery on the property, where visitors and volunteers can place gems at the gravestones of pets to memorialize the animals.
Memorial for pets at The Best Friends Animal Society
Pricilla says that the program helped her become more open-minded, especially as she considers what her goals post-college are. She learned how much she loves to work outside and that she wants to learn more about environmental justice. Pricilla also says that the program helped her become a better team player, as well as a stronger leader.
Pricilla graduated from Strive Prep Smart Academy in 2020, is currently a sophomore at MSU Denver, and will graduate in 2024. She is a first-generation college student who started to seriously consider her plans for after high school during her senior year. As a DSF Scholar, Pricilla is grateful for the opportunities DSF provides during her college experience, including the DSF Leadership Program at MSU Denver, the Annual Scholar Summit, and more. “I recommend taking advantage of everything that is out there, including the MSU Alternative Spring Break program,” says Pricilla. “It was nice to participate in an opportunity where you can learn and help the community during spring break.”
