Zachary Bell, 2012 Seymour Award Winner

Before you is a young man committed to serving others. During high school, Zach has co-founded and served as the treasurer and executive of the Friends of Rachel club, created in the memory of a young victim of the Columbine school tragedy. He has volunteered in Key club, Interact, Link Crew and Habitat for Humanity. Also During his high school career, he has earned both drum line rookie of the year and most improved drummer. He has been the school mascot, earned the golf academic player of the year award and was named captain of the golf team. Zach is a member of the National Honor Society, and the National Society of High School Scholars. For the Daughters of the American Revolution organization, he was both the Good Citizen local and district award winner and a state finalist.

Zachary has been helping and serving others long before he knew that the letters CSF were even part of the alphabet states Judith Gerard, his CSF adviser at Sherman E. Burroughs High School. She adds, that this young man is the most dedicated, giving, service-oriented, and driven CSF student that she has ever known. Recently earning the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest award in boy scouts, is a great honor and a clear example of Zach's dedication to his country and community, work ethic and leadership to other scouts, writes Jason Cushing, assistant scoutmaster of troop 825. Mr. Cushing adds that Zach is an outstanding young man who exemplifies all of the qualities that our society desires in its next generation of contributors and leaders.

In his personal essay Zach writes about his greatest service project of building three sitting benches for high school students and members of the community to enjoy for years to come. My determination to make a difference in the world has inspired me to pursue a degree in engineering to help create machines and maybe even medicine to help cure some of the dreadful diseases that infect people today. Zachary plans to pursue this degree at Cerro Coso Community College.