Hands-on experience is the name of the game for most majors at University of Northern Iowa – just ask Jacob Kurt. 

Through his UNI education, this recreation, tourism and nonprofit leadership major (RTNL) started a business, led a backpacking trip, trained his peers in Wilderness First Aid and even joined a fire fighting crew.  

“I’ve always struggled with lecture-style learning,” Kurt said. “I appreciated how much learning happened beyond lectures — through field experiences, hands-on training, and meaningful conversations.” 

These types of experiences are woven throughout his journey toward an eventual degree at UNI. He originally planned to get a business degree and become an entrepreneur. In high school, Kurt ran a lawn care business, which drew him to UNI and the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center (JPEC). 

Once on campus, his interest gradually shifted. Just wanting to “join in the fun,” he first started climbing at the UNI rock wall. Through student-led outdoor trips and other activities, he found a sense of community and started learning about risk management and emergency response.  

He also met Andy Martin, outdoor recreation coordinator, who opened his eyes to career opportunities in the outdoors. “That’s when everything clicked,” Kurt said. “I discovered a passion for outdoor recreation and emergency response, and I knew I needed to change direction.”  

Kurt then took a gap year, trained as an EMT (emergency medical technician) and used his EMT experience to create a company called Viva Solutions LLC, which provides training in CPR, first aid and other life-saving skills. He credits the JPEC for guiding him through the process of starting a business. With its launch, Kurt recognized the benefits of finishing his four-year degree. This time, he returned as an RTNL major. 

With renewed passion, Kurt aimed to get as much as possible from UNI. The wide-ranging RTNL major supported his diverse interests. He found his classes on nonprofit management to be the most helpful and expects to apply his grant writing skills in his professional pursuits.  

RTNL faculty members Julianne Gassman, Christopher Kowalski and Emily Hanson “truly cared about me as a person and they were also great teachers,” said Kurt. “They built real relationships while pushing me to grow both in and out of the classroom.”   

Despite working as an EMT and being deployed to three different hurricane responses, Kurt found time for extracurricular activities. He took photographs for the Northern Iowan student newspaper (winning the Iowa College Media Association’s Best Sports Photograph award) and presented at the NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School) Wilderness Risk Management conference. He continued to be involved in the student-led outdoor trips as well.  

“Jake stepped into leadership roles with the RTNL Outdoor Adventures program,” explained Kathleen Scholl, professor, “and helped strengthen our risk management protocols.”  He also trained the student outdoor coordinators in Wilderness First Aid through his company.

To complete his required RTNL senior internship, Kurt accepted a placement at the Independence Fire Department in Iowa in spring 2025. He joined firefighters on emergency calls, completed training for Hazmat Technician and Firefighter 1 and applied his nonprofit leadership skills.  

“My field experience is unlike any other,” said Kurt. “I’ve grown tremendously — not just as a responder, but as a leader.” 

According to Scholl, who served as Kurt’s internship advisor, “Jake never stops learning and growing. And his internship was no exception.  Jake led a training in ambulance operations, helped refine procedures, and used his marketing skills to add real value to the Independence Fire Department—all while building his leadership confidence and discovering new career possibilities within the fire service.” 

Scholl says Jake’s story exemplifies how the RTNL major helps students discover their path. “As with most RTNL majors, Jake found that his internship truly expanded his vision of the future,” she says. “RTNL gives students the tools, experience, and support to shape their own path, whether that’s in outdoor adventure, nonprofit work, youth leadership, or community programming. Our students don’t just earn a degree, they graduate with direction and real-world experience.”

A spring 2025 graduate, Kurt plans to become a full-time firefighter and continue to provide emergency response training through Viva Solutions, LLC.  “I can confidently say I’m the only RTNL student who was inside a burning building as part of their field experience," he says, “and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”