Saying Yes to Opportunities

Grant Dillivan attended HSI in 2018, where he experienced eye-opening college-like courses, field trips, and community engagement. After HSI, Grant decided to attend the University of Wyoming to study Criminal Justice and Psychology. In his years at UW, he was awarded the Truman Scholarship, which grants potential graduate students funds to pursue their future careers in public service. Grant furthered his academic career through participating in Project Horseshoe Farm, which teaches young leaders about the importance of community health and how we can better care for our neighbors and communities.  After graduating from UW in 2025 with a degree in Criminal Justice and Psychology with minors in Sociology and Honors. Grant is currently in Washington, DC working for The h3 Project. This non-profit organization aims to address the homelessness and human trafficking crisis, specifically in Washington DC. Although it has been years since his days at camp and Grant has accomplished so many wonderful things, he still remembers where his roots started: HSI. 

For Grant, HSI was very influential for him as a young Wyoming high school. He talks about how the program shaped him and helped make him the person he is today. 

“HSI has shaped me by making me more confident both as a student and as a person. Before HSI I had never done any kind of program for high achieving students, and I had not considered myself one of these kinds of students before HSI. After HSI, I became far more confident in myself and my abilities as a student. Furthermore, HSI forced me to step out of my comfort zone socially. I had always been a people person, but I had never been around so many unfamiliar people for so long. HSI made me far more comfortable meeting new people, which is a great skill that has benefited me in all aspects of my life.” Said Grant.  

He goes on to give advice to his high school self and any current high schoolers who are figuring themselves out.   

Grant says, “I would tell my high school sophomore self to say yes to opportunities, and to never be afraid to try new things!”  

From his time at camp Grant reflects on his favorite memories. Although the three-week experience gave him many fun memories to consider Grant finally lands on one that showcases the friends he made at HSI. 

“My favorite memory from HSI was when me and a few other campers were riding back from an escape room with one of our PC's, and we turned the van into a party van! We were blasting good music, jumping around, and singing our hearts out (all while wearing our seatbelts and being safe of course). It was especially fun because everyone in the van was my close friend at HSI, so it was awesome to experience such a wonderful moment with a great group of people!” Said Grant. 

Finally, Grant fills us in on his recent life updates after attending HSI and how HSI helped him along the way. 

Grant shares, “After HSI, I attended the University of Wyoming as a Trustees Scholar, and I double majored in Criminal Justice and Psychology with minors in Honors and Sociology. During my time at UW, I primarily worked in the Student Success and Graduation Department as a Cowboy Coach student peer mentor, and in various roles within the Saddle Up orientation program. I also worked at HSI as a PC during the summer of 2023, and I served as a volunteer advocate with the Albany County SAFE Project for a semester. At the end of my college career, I was awarded the Harry S. Truman Scholarship, a national scholarship for outstanding students pursuing careers in public service. During my fifth and final year of college, I completed the Community Health Fellowship gap-year program at a nonprofit called Project Horseshoe Farm. Currently, I am living and working full time in Washington, DC as part of the Truman Albright Fellowship Program. In this program, recently graduated Truman scholars are given the opportunity to live and work full time in DC and meet prominent Truman Scholars. For me, I am working full time as an Outreach Specialist with The h3 Project, a nonprofit that conducts street outreach for unhoused individuals and victims of human trafficking.” 

“To this day, I credit HSI with being the first step in all I have accomplished. HSI is an amazing opportunity that I would encourage all eligible students to look into!” 

Grant has grown and accomplished so much since his time at HSI! From taking the risk to join HSI, to going to UW, receiving so many awards and scholarships, being an active member in his communities, graduating, and continuing to help people out in DC, Grant has done it all. There are still many more places for Grant to grow and further develop himself. We can’t wait to see where he goes next and are proud that he is a part of our orchard!