TLau "Love Fiercely" Scholarship

One of the most memorable outdoor experiences I’ve had is rafting on the Arkansas River while working at Raft Masters. Although I work in the office helping with bookings and guest services, I also make it a point to get out on the water at least two times a week. Being out on the river has become more than just an activity I enjoy. It has shaped who I am, how I handle challenges, and the direction I want my life to go. The first time I went rafting, I didn’t expect it to impact me the way it did. There’s something powerful about being surrounded by nature, feeling the strength of the current beneath you, and knowing that you and your team have to work together to stay on course. Rafting demands presence, trust, and resilience, qualities that have become central to who I am. Each trip is different. Some days the river is calm; other times, it’s intense and unpredictable. Either way, it teaches you to stay focused, adapt quickly, and stay composed even when things feel out of your control. Rafting has given me confidence I didn’t know I had. Before working at Raft Masters, I had never pictured myself navigating whitewater rapids or spending so much time outdoors. Now, it’s the part of my week I look forward to the most. I’ve learned to trust my instincts, push past fear, and appreciate the strength I’ve developed through experience. These lessons go far beyond the water. They’ve helped me grow as a student, an aspiring nurse, and a leader. Being outdoors so often has also helped me appreciate the power of presence. When you’re on the river, there are no distractions. You’re completely immersed in the moment, surrounded by breathtaking views, rushing water, and the shared energy of your boat crew. That sense of connection with nature, with others, and with yourself is something I carry into every part of my life. It’s helped me slow down, reflect, and stay grounded in what matters most. This experience has shaped the way I approach my own life journey. I’m currently pursuing a career in nursing with the goal of becoming a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). In this field, staying calm under pressure, making quick decisions, and working effectively in a team are critical skills I’ve developed on the river time and time again. Whether it’s guiding a raft through a tough rapid or responding to a medical emergency, both require trust, focus, and the ability to lead while staying composed. Working at Raft Masters has also shown me how important it is to create positive experiences for others. In the office, I help guests feel welcome and prepared for their trips, and on the water, I’ve watched people overcome fears, build memories, and reconnect with each other. Being a part of that process has deepened my passion for helping people, a passion that now fuels my desire to care for patients and support them through difficult moments. Overall, rafting has been far more than a hobby or job perk. It has been a transformative experience that has taught me resilience, courage, and clarity. The river has challenged me, inspired me, and reminded me of my own strength. As I move forward into college and a future career in healthcare, I’ll carry those lessons with me, always ready to face the rapids, both literal and metaphorical, that lie ahead.

Greetings! My name is Lou, resident of Lakewood Colorado. Returning to higher education in the Spring 2025, after 10+ years away from education. I'm self supporting this endeavor, and holding onto hope that it can be a fruitful and sustainable experience in the coming years. Appreciate you taking the time to read through this application, and grateful for your consideration on the matter. The Great Outdoors has been inspirational to my mind, my body, my spirit, and my soul over the course of my life. I grew up in Northern Illinois, and first found my love for the outdoors as a member of the Boy Scouts of America. Before successfully completing my Eagle Scout Honor, I had the opportunity to explore Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin while camping, hiking, biking, fishing, and beyond. We also took annual trips to Michigan, and attended the Owassippi Scout Ranch. This is where I was introduced to Wilderness Survival, Wilderness First Aid, etc. These rugged overnight excursions in the wilderness are still vivid memories for me to this day, escaping to the woods with trusted scouts and working on building lodging, making fires, and enjoying what the land had to offer. These initial experiences in the wilderness, and honestly the guiding tenets of Scouting in general have undoubtably helped shape the man i am today. In the present, i am still actively engaged with the outdoor arena in a more dedicated fashion than ever before. My reignition of my love for the outdoors in adulthood took place after finding sobriety in 2019. I am very actively engaged in the world of recovery from substance use disorder, have over 5 years clean/sober, and spend most of my time engaging in outdoor/recreational activities and teaching these skills to my 3 nephews. Notably, Rock Climbing, Ultra Trail Running, and fly fishing in the foothills of Colorado have been my main pursuits. Through finding a nonprofit program called The Phoenix during an inpatient rehabilitation program in 2019, i fell in love with Rock Climbing in Recovery. The Phoenix noticed my motivation towards recovery and climbing and in 2020, helped fund my enrollment in an AMGA certified Climbing Wall Instructor course as well as a Wilderness First Aid certification course. These are skills I actively perform through The Phoenix, and I've been a Volunteer Climbing Instructor through the Phoenix since 2020. I spend time weekly volunteering my time in the climbing community in Wheat Ridge Colorado leading rock wall events, and gain a lot of satisfaction/perspective from this journey. The Rock Wall led me to the trails, which I spend lots of time on. Since my love for the Great Outdoors was reignited in adulthood, I have successfully completed Marathons and Ultra Marathons in Wisconsin, Colorado, and Oregon. I find peace in the hills and on the trails, and am forever grateful to have been offered the opportunity in life to be able to explore the trail networks in Southern Wisconsin, Eugene Oregon, Fort Collins Colorado, and Boulder Colorado in particular. Through so much change and transition over the last 5 years in general and the last year specifically, these pursuits offer me insight, perspective, and a life I would not have otherwise. As I've begun to re evaluate priorities in life, reengaging with formal education seems like the way forward. Fitness, Recreation, and Outdoor Education are all on the docket for my Associates Degree Plan at Red Rocks Community College on the Front Range. A lot of moving pieces are at play, and I'm trusting these words will find you well. With Gratitude, always- Louis Schultz louisschultz57@gmail.com

Stepping out of the car, and looking at the sign in the distance “Waterton Canyon.” We were finally here, at the start of the Colorado trail. A trip we had been preparing for, for months. We were just doing segments one through five, in about nine days. We wanted to take it slow, especially because this was my first big backpacking trip. It ended up being a very spiritual journey, and I learned a lot. There were times my mind was wandering, and times my mind was quiet enough that I could hear my higher power. I had the ability to separate from the real world, and connect with nature. My time in nature has been where I feel the most at “home,” the most connected to my higher power. On the first day of the hike, we started trudging along the road. I have a tattoo on my arm with flowers, dragonflies, and butterflies. I got the tattoo for my best friend who passed away, and when we were hiking, a butterfly landed right on my tattoo. So I knew she was there with me. That was a very spiritual experience, and an incredible way to start the hike. A few days into the journey I was in a decent amount of pain. When I was going uphill, I was wishing I was going downhill because I was out of breath. When I was going downhill, I was wishing I was going uphill, because my knees hurt so bad. I realized that I go through life constantly wishing for the next moment, and I am lacking the acceptance I need in order to enjoy what is here right now. I then understood that I can so easily change my perspective with the help of accepting what is right here right now. The moment is truly a beautiful place, and I am not able to enjoy it when I am waiting for “the next thing.” This was a beautiful realization for me, because hiking is consistently teaching me how to be better in my daily life. I get to take all the things that I learn out in nature, and use them in my daily life. When I am struggling to get answers, or when I don’t know what to do about a specific situation, I like to get outside and talk to my higher power. Sometimes I will hike, and sort things out in my head. It gives me the time to think things through with the help of nature all around me.