Zachary Orlando-Milbauer '21 Recruiting Profile

I have been an athlete for as long as I can remember. In elementary school, I played soccer, basketball, and baseball.  In high school, I played soccer, competed on the wrestling team, and have been on the varsity volleyball team since freshman year. I also played club soccer and now play club volleyball. The spring 2020 high school volleyball season, during which I was to be a team captain, was cancelled due to COVID-19. As a team leader,  I have organized outdoor volleyball games with my peers this summer, making sure we follow Massachusetts COVID-19 safety guidelines. In school, I am the founder and president of the Youth Representation Initiative club. The club was inspired by a new policy in my home town allowing youth over 16 to not only vote in local elections but also run for public office. I plan to run for the position of town meeting member in my district. I think the enthusiasm and perspective young people can bring to civic engagement is critical to solving some of the difficult problems facing our world, such as climate change, while improving the quality of life and protecting the environment in our own neighborhoods. Academically, I have a wide range of interests, from history and psychology to botany. I am not sure what my final choice will be for my academic concentration in college, but attending a school with strong academic programs is important to me.