Zack A. will soon be graduating from Marco Island Academy and preparing to attend the University of Florida this fall to major in Mechanical Engineering. Just five years ago, Zack was a self-described naïve teenager who hadn’t thought about his plans for college or what the future held for him.
“Champions For Learning changed all that and changed my entire mindset,” he explained.
Zack is the first in his family to enroll in college, and as a first-generation student, he and his family needed help navigating the complex college admissions process and paying for the cost of higher education. Having grown up in a culturally diverse home – his mother immigrated from Vietnam and his father grew up in an Italian American household in Massachusetts – he experienced a clashing of these two cultures throughout his childhood and adolescence.
What began as an opportunity to earn a scholarship award soon became a transformational journey of self-discovery, one that unlocked a sense of purpose and direction for Zack. Upon entering the program in eighth grade, Zack was paired with a volunteer mentor, Sam Varsano, a Cornell University alumnus. He was initially unsure about how much they would have in common, but those doubts quickly disappeared. “Sam believed in me before I even believed in myself,” Zack recalled.
Although Zack initially envisioned himself pursuing a career in medicine, his high school experiences in volunteering and entrepreneurship led him down a different path. “I enjoy creating things that make life better, more efficient, more wonderful,” Zack stated. Whether it’s developing a water-powered car or designing a prosthetic eye, he believes his purpose lies in aiding others through innovation.
Champions For Learning also introduced him to college campus visits, standardized test prep, and career exploration workshops through the College and Career Preparation Program, which helped him define his goals and plan his path to postsecondary education. Thanks to this comprehensive support system and the unwavering encouragement of his mentor, Zack has discovered his own identity and fully embraced both of his parents’ cultures. Now, he moves forward with confidence as he begins the next chapter of his journey at the University of Florida. He has already earned the UF Excellence Grant, an award recognizing first-time, high achieving students.
“To my fellow peers who stand before me today: we’ve grown up to be leaders, innovators, and problem-solvers,” Zack shared with his classmates as the speaker at the 2025 Countdown to Cap and Gown event, “We are stories of determination, stories of hope, and stories of unlimited possibility when a community believes in its children.”
At this event, the Class of 2025 followed the Champions tradition of ringing a bell in front of their peers, family members, mentors, and community supporters and announcing their post-secondary plans, truly showcasing the instrumental role that Champions For Learning plays in guiding students towards college and career success.
You can be the reason even more students who never believed they would enroll in college ring the bell with confidence. To invest in Champions For Learning students, click the button below.