Zachary realized the importance of education at an early age. He was raised by a single mom and his family experienced all the hardships associated with poverty, including homelessness. They lived in shelter and moved frequently. His mother passed away from cancer just before his senior year, leaving Zachary and his brother on their own. The tremendous challenges and losses he suffered strengthened his resolve to succeed academically. Throughout the chaos and instability he endured, Zachary held on tight to the one thing in his life he could control—his education.
After graduating from Brockton High School, Zachary was accepted into the Bridgewater State University Scholars Program and excelled, earning a 4.0 his first semester. The Scholars program has opened many new doors for Zachary and allowed him to spend his sophomore year studying at Kyungpook National University in Daegu, South Korea. He traveled halfway around the world to experience a new culture and to continue his education.
Zachary shared his first impressions of Daegu and the people he encountered upon his arrival. “I am finally here at my study abroad university thousands of miles away from home and my experiences so far have left me in awe,” Zachary says. “There are people from France, China, Russia, Japan, UK, Poland—so many places!” He’s thrilled with the new culinary offerings, as well, sending home photos and detailed descriptions of the wonderful dishes he’s sampled. He reports, “I will say Korean food is so, so delicious! When I leave here, I will probably miss it a lot.”
While at KNU, Zachary has a job on campus as an English Writing Center tutor, which involves helping Korean students with their English essay writing assignments. He’s excited about this opportunity to connect, get involved and make friends on campus.
Zachary draws strength from the support of those who have had faith in him and helped him “open the door” to his future. He writes home to tell us, “I don't really know how to describe how amazing it feels to be here, but I haven't even experienced all there is yet, and I have a lot of time left to make the most of it. Many great things await!”
Zachary's Adventures:
DOWNTOWN DAEGU
VISIT TO MT. SOBAEKSAN
FIRST VISIT TO GYEONGJU
COLDER WEATHER AND MORE FOOD!
EXPERIENCES IN SOUTH KOREA
CHRISTMAS IN KOREA
For the 4th year in a row Siemens chose to support School on Wheels through their charity golf tournament raising over $14,000. They also did a supply drive at their Canton headquarters to collect new school supplies for students impacted by homelessness.
Thank you Siemens for your ongoing support for our kids!
Many SOWMA friends came to Lombardo’s in Randolph to Open Doors for School on Wheels students and celebrate their success, on Friday evening, September 18.
Guests enjoyed cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, dancing to the Legit Band, silent and live auctions, and raffles. Following a School on Wheels slide presentation, Arny, a School on Wheels student, shared the story of her journey from a student experiencing homelessness to her participation in a student leadership conference in Washington, DC this summer. Lila Burgess, Director of Family Services at Old Colony YMCA, spoke about the experiences of families living in shelter and the academic challenges that homeless students face.
Cheryl Opper, founder and executive director, presented the “Champion for our Kids” corporate partner award to Jim McDonough, President and CEO of Randolph Savings Bank for their efforts to bring School on Wheels’ services to the Randolph community.
To close the program portion of the evening, SOWMA’s High School Plus student and Bridgewater State University Scholar, Zachary, sent greetings and shared his new experiences from South Korea where he has begun his sophomore year studying abroad.
Our emcee, Brian Shactman, NECN morning news anchor, brought the event to life, conducting the live auction and dancing with Cheryl Opper.
Guests were supportive of School on Wheels students with donations, sponsorship and encouragement for continued success. View photos of School on Wheels Open the Door Gala.
All proceeds raised at the gala help provide academic support and one-on-one mentoring, empowering children to reach their full potential.
Make a difference in the life of a student who has been impacted by homelessness in Brockton, Fall River, New Bedford, Norwell, Randolph, Stoughton or Weymouth by volunteering one or two hours a week.
During our mandatory three-hour training, we will prepare you for an amazing one-on-one tutoring experience with a student in kindergarten through grade 12. You will meet with a student each week and serve as a mentor and positive adult role model to help a child realize his or her full academic potential.
School on Wheels needs volunteers to help us fill backpacks with school supplies! Contact our office at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. We need donations of these supplies. Please, all items must be NEW.
· Quality backpacks for both boys and girls, K-2 and high school· Single subject notebooks
· Flexible rulers
· Zipper pencil pouches
Gift cards are also welcome. You can mail or drop off items at our office, 790 West Chestnut St., Brockton, MA 02301
We have exciting news to share with our SOWMA supporters. Zachary, one of our Bridgewater State Scholars, has just finished his freshman year. In September, he is heading off to South Korea to study abroad for an entire year. We want Zachary to have a safe and successful trip so we are helping him collect necessary supplies. He is currently in need of luggage, backpack, camera, towels, tooth paste, deodorant, sun block, phone cards, and a few more necessary items to make sure he has an unforgettable experience. Please help us support Zachary in his adventure by purchasing an item on his travel wish list.
