Zach Miller ’06

 

Before a Christmas tournament during his Sixth Form, the coach pulled Zach aside and delivered some news. “He told me I’d been accepted to Williams. I've never forgotten the look on his face and the feeling I had walking onto the ice that day,” Zach said. “That message—‘this is about a lot more than yourself’—has been a guide for me ever since.”

 

Zach’s volunteer activities demonstrate that ideal. In 2007, he founded Aspire, a program that encourages children to attend college by pairing them with student-athlete mentors. In 2009, he created Goals to Assist the Children of Fallen Soldiers, which raises money for the Massachusetts Soldiers Legacy Fund, helping children of fallen soldiers to afford college. Zach continues to assist with the drive and was recognized as one of seven national finalists for the NCAA’s Hockey Humanitarian Award.

 

The class valedictorian at Williams, Zach double-majored in history and economics and minored in leadership studies. During his hockey career, he was co-captain, earned appointments to the NESCAC All-Academic and All-Sportsmanship teams, and received Williams’ W. Marriot Canby Award, given to the college’s top scholar-athlete, and its Young-Jay Trophy for leadership on the team.

 

Now pursuing his master’s degree in economic and social history at Oxford University, Zach spends much of his time in Beijing, where he works as an editor and translator for a company that publishes Chinese language learning materials. He is also in the process of co-founding an international nonprofit, Innovation Connection, which helps young Chinese entrepreneurs establish businesses and social enterprises. 

 

“Groton challenged me in all sorts of ways—intellectually, socially, and athletically. But I think even more importantly, it provided the kind of environment that both helped me try to meet those challenges and supported me when I failed. From those experiences, I learned lessons and developed relationships that have left a lasting impression on my life,” Zach said.

 

“No matter where I am, a day rarely goes by when I don't talk with one of my formmates, and I still turn to teachers and advisors from Groton for advice. Groton continues to have an impact on me long after graduation.”