UHR Announces 2024 Passionate Pack Winners

Describe the time you spent pursuing your purpose or passion. What did you do, and why did you choose it?

Some friends asked me to volunteer at the Aramark concession tent at the U.S. Open Golf Championship in Pinehurst to help them raise funds for their swim club. I eagerly confirmed my participation because I would get the opportunity to experience a once-in-a-lifetime golf event and support a cause that is near and dear to my friends and their families. 

How many minutes did you spend on your activity?

660 minutes. I had to complete a two-hour (120 minutes) online training course to be able to work at the Aramark concession. I volunteered for nine hours (540 minutes) June 14.

Describe the time you spent pursuing your purpose or passion. What did you do, and why did you choose it?

I participated in a race for the first time and finished in fourth place. Since I came to Raleigh, I have loved running in nature. I’m so proud of myself for running in a 5K race. This is my passion right now. 

How many minutes did you spend on your activity?

A minimum of 30 minutes per day 

What did you enjoy most about your activity?

I now have another passion: running. 

Describe the time you spent pursuing your purpose or passion. What did you do, and why did you choose it?

In December, I started teaching myself how to embroider and create felt ornaments from scratch. Every evening, I worked for two to three hours to create a beautiful ornament from scraps of felt and string. I have created Wolfpack paw prints, hearts, flowers and more. Some of the ornaments you have seen in the photos I have shared with my co-workers and they hang in their offices. 

How many minutes did you spend on your activity?

3,060 minutes. I spent approximately three hours a day doing this.

Describe the time you spent pursuing your purpose or passion. What did you do, and why did you choose it?

My family loves to hike and be outdoors. In June, we were lucky enough to hike in the Zion and Bryce Canyon national parks in Utah.

How many minutes did you spend on your activity?

We spent approximately 20 hours hiking over four days. 

What did you enjoy most about your activity?

Laughing with my family as we were submerged in cold water on a trail. 

Describe the time you spent pursuing your purpose or passion. What did you do, and why did you choose it?

I spent time traveling. In June, I went to Alaska, Mexico and San Diego. In July, I returned to California, where I went to two national parks. I also visited two national parks in Alaska. Travel is a passion of mine because it is fun, refreshing and provides valuable learning. Part of why I pursue travel is to visit somewhere new and to learn about the people, customs, food, etc. of that area. One of my lifetime goals is to visit all of the US national parks, which motivates me, too.

How many minutes did you spend on your activity?

288 minutes

What did you enjoy most about your activity?

It’s hard to name only one thing I enjoyed most, but to name a few: all of the learning I did, the novelty of visiting somewhere new, seeing animals in the wild and making progress toward my goal of visiting all the U.S. national parks. Also, getting to sit co-pilot on a 10-seater prop plane and soaring above the cloud line within a quarter mile of a clear view of Denali, the tallest mountain in the U.S, and landing smoothly on a glacier was absolutely incredible and one of the best experiences of my life.

Describe the time you spent pursuing your purpose or passion. What did you do, and why did you choose it?

In June, I committed to mailing five handwritten notes per week as part of pursuing my purpose for A Passionate Pack. Each note was carefully crafted to express my gratitude and encouragement to individuals who have made a positive impact on my life. I pursued this initiative because as I have gotten older, I have realized my true purpose in life is to be more encouraging, grateful and loving.

How many minutes did you spend on your activity?

Seven hours or 420 minutes

What did you enjoy most about your activity?

I set out to do this for others, but in the end, I realized I probably benefited as much or more than my recipients did. Expressing gratitude is so powerful to the giver and the receiver. I have created a new habit I look forward to continuing.

Describe the time you spent pursuing your purpose or passion. What did you do, and why did you choose it?

It has been over 10 years since I started a real garden of herbs and vegetables. I started growing hydroponic herbs in May and transplanted them into containers in June. In June, I also expanded my garden to include four varieties of tomatoes, four varieties of sweet and hot peppers, edamame, two types of basil, two types of mint, Greek oregano, flat and curly parsley, thyme and rosemary. I am also growing green onions and romaine lettuce from kitchen scraps.

How many minutes did you spend on your activity? 

At least 15 to 20 hours or 900 to 1,200 minutes

What did you enjoy most about your activity?

Spending time outside and watching my plants grow from seeds to vegetables and herbs that I could cook. Also, watching my dog react to all the plants.