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Student heading to Washington for People to People Leadership Forum

Photo contributed

Zack Sherrill

By Tracy Farnham | The News Herald

Published: July 5, 2009

Morganton - Zack Sherrill, a rising seventh grader at Walter R. Johnson Middle School, stood out from among the rest when his teacher, Judy Bobo, decided to make recommendations to a nationally acclaimed program.
As a sixth-grade language arts teacher, Bobo said every year teachers are asked to nominate students who show leadership abilities for the People to People Ambassador Program.
Although Bobo has Zack for language arts, she realized his interest in his surroundings and the government.
"He cares about our environment and our world as well as our school. I always look at the student and how this can influence them for the rest of their life," she said.
"They ask us to nominate seven or eight students and then it's out of my hands," Bobo said. It's up to the parents if they want to send their child, she added.
The program of People to People World Leadership Forum fosters world citizenship and was founded by President Dwight D. Eisenhower during his presidency in 1956.
Zack, son of Jamey and Melanie Jo Bivens, accepted the nomination and is planning his trip to Washington, D.C. in the fall. He will join other students from around the country from Oct. 19-24 touring the nation's capital.
The students will visit Capitol Hill, the Smithsonian Institution, the Gettysburg National Military Park and the International Spy Museum. They will observe American leadership as they make challenging decisions. As forum delegates, the students will participate in small-group discussions and exercises that will allow them first-hand opportunities as they witness successful leaders develop strategies, make decisions, build consensus and foster change.
Along with the opportunity comes a huge responsibility of raising money for the trip and Jack Perry, the Oak Hill Recreation Department, plans to help out.
"There wasn't a way he could go unless we pitched in to help," Perry said.
Since Zack's stepfather, Jamey Bivens, is very involved with recreation, Perry said, "We are going to make sure he (Zack) gets the opportunity to do this."
"He's very excited about going, and he is really interested in the Gettysburg Memorial Park and sitting in with Congress when they vote on bills," Bivens said.
They sent him a curriculum to follow over the summer with assignments and an essay to do, he added.
A fundraising softball tournament has been organized for July 13-17 with two games each evening beginning at 5:30.
"We need teams. With vacations ongoing, we only have four teams committed and we would like to have at least four more," Bivens said.
The tournament is for 9- and 10-year-olds and there is no entry fee. The recreation department will donate the gate and concession money to Zack for his trip, Bivens added.
Perry said it is good to support something good for a change.
"A lot of the time you just see the bad stuff. We're going to make this happen for him," he said.
"Zack always does what is required of him and doesn't mind helping others. He always does exactly what I ask and he is understanding and polite," Bobo said as reasons she nominated Zack.
"This would be a huge influence on his life and it looks really good on their educational portfolio when they are applying for scholarships."
An account has been set up at Morganton Federal Savings and Loan and donations are tax deductible and can be mailed or dropped off at Morganton Federal. The account is listed as:
Zack Sherrill Washington D.C. Trip c/o Morganton Federal Savings and Loan.
Perry said an organizational meeting will be held in mid-July for a possible cookout or pig pickin', with proceeds going to help Zack as well.
For more information, contact Perry at 433-1377 or Bivens at 391-8023 or 448-1201.