Name: Dennis Garrett

From: Sandy, Utah

Major: Finance 

Clubs & Organizations: Resident Advisor, Finance Club 

Known on campus as "The Beatbox Man," Dennis Garrett is more than just a three-time Westminster Talent Show champion. The junior from Sandy, Utah is a finance major, a part-time bank employee, an on-campus Resident Advisor, and Secretary of the Finance Club.

Originally Dennis wanted to “move out of state and develop himself. He says, “then I applied to the U of U and Westminster and I got into both. I went to each school and kind of gauged it out." With so many positive things going on in his life, Dennis feels he made the right decision by choosing Westminster.

“Getting that personal relationship with my professors” has been a great influence for Dennis. His Personal Finance professor “inspired” him to follow the career path he has chosen. He said, “he was the one to finally set it right in my mind. I now love finance and understand about money and how it plays an extremely important role in my life. I have realized how important it is to take control of your own life, and it starts with where you place each dollar you earn.”

Dennis has also made connections with professors who aren't his - by beatboxing. "Not too long ago I had a professor invite me to his class to teach beatboxing. It was a music fundamentals class and he was teaching rhythm. He had me come in and beatbox; it was kind of spontaneous. I started with the basics and [showed] how I turn it into my own art form."

Dennis has come to enjoy finance so much that he wants to help his fellow students. He is working on a program to teach college students, especially freshman, about credit cards. "I want to develop a program - sort of a community service program - to teach people about credit cards because so many people get into trouble. Going into college I kind of had an idea but now I understand how even wealthy people get into debt."

Currently working at Chase Bank, Dennis is getting hands-on experience in the finance business as well as training in fairness, responsibility and confidentiality. "Sometimes it's overwhelming but it's still something I love and I'm learning a lot working at a bank." As it coincides with his major, Dennis says his job keeps him thinking about different career paths - possibly as a financial advisor.

When asked what he would tell potential students he said, “live their college lives to the fullest, feel their surroundings and explore their classes until they feel their own personalities shine. College is about self-development and getting to know more of who you are (especially with the transition of life under the rule of parents to un-experienced full responsibility).”

With his senior year approaching, Dennis feels like he definitely made the right decision to attend Westminster. "I love the class sizes, the beautiful environment, [the fact] you can get anywhere you want in five minutes, plus - it's a private school... they're all good things. And because I feel like I'm more independent, I'm starting to understand more of who I want to be and what I want to become and the beliefs I hold in myself. I think that's the biggest positive change I've experienced in college."