Meet Trevor Barrus ('14)

Posted by Jeffrey S. McClellan (BA '94), Editor

Hometown and High School: Alpine, Utah; Lone Peak High School

Applied To: BYU, BYU–Idaho, University of Utah, Weber State University

Major Plans: Undecided

Interests and Achievements: Received the BYU science fair scholarship for his project about liquefaction in Utah County; youngest of six (four brothers, one sister); shares a birthday with his immediate older brother; played violin in high school orchestra

Science Fair Fun: Fascinated with science, Trevor Barrus ('14) participated in various science fairs in high school. His sophomore year, he studied the Mozart effect, and his junior year, he and his senior brother studied bacterial growth on objects in students' pockets. The verdict? Cell phones carry the most bacteria, even more than mp3 players, hall passes (which were the cleanest items), and cash. His senior year, he collected soil samples from 25 locations in Utah Valley and studied liquefaction (the dangerous liquefying effect of an earthquake on certain types of soil).

BYU Bound: Until the BYU science fair in late March, Trevor thought he would be going to BYU-Idaho. He had applied to BYU and had been accepted, but he did not receive a scholarship and did not think he could afford to come to Provo. But at the end of the awards ceremony for the BYU science fair, sitting with friends and family, he was stunned to hear his name announced as the winner of the BYU Science Fair scholarship. And suddenly everything changed. He and his family celebrated with ice cream at the BYU Creamery, and Trevor began making plans for Provo.