The Opportunity Scholars program recently hosted its annual leadership retreat at Zions Ponderosa. Designed to offer a break from the intensity of fall semester, the retreat emphasized building relationships and fostering a sense of belonging within the cohort.

The retreat provided a transformative experience for many students, including Gerson Perez, a first-year Eccles School student. Gerson, attending his first large event with the program, was initially reserved. However, throughout the retreat, he embraced the community, introducing himself to peers, leading group activities, and ultimately emerging as one of the event’s most engaged participants.

The retreat also encouraged students to reflect on their academic journeys. During the return trip, students participated in a “5 Whys” exercise to uncover their deeper motivations for pursuing their business degree. Their responses were both inspiring and personal, highlighting themes of resilience, family, and community impact:

• “I want a better future for myself and my family. Everything I have gone through will be worth it.”
• “I am paving a lifestyle that was unfamiliar to me growing up, especially as a first-gen female in a competitive industry.”
• “I am here to empower myself and others, ensuring every voice is heard.”
• “It means I am taking the opportunity that my parents wished they had.”

The retreat deepened connections within the Opportunity Scholars community and reinforced the program’s mission to support first-generation business students as they progress toward graduation.

The goal of the Opportunity Scholars Program at the Eccles School is to support and enhance the educational experience of first-generation business students as they progress toward graduation. For more information, visit Eccles.Link/opportunity-scholars.