Whitefish student is a positive force among her peers

When Zoey Marzo sees a need she acts. The Whitefish High School senior can make things happen. 

Behind the initiative, drive, and planning she puts into each goal, event and program, is the heart, passion and enthusiasm to improve the lives of those around her. 

“She is reliable, compassionate and charismatic. To be in Zoey’s presence is a gift and our world is a better place with her in it.  Not only does she work hard academically, her creativity and desire to enhance the lives of those around her is nonstop,” Whitefish School District board chair Darcy Schellinger wrote in her letter nominating Marzo, for the Winslow Nichols Leadership Award. 

The Winslow Nichols Leadership Award, sponsored by Logan Health in collaboration with the Daily Inter Lake, recognizes the academic achievement and community involvement of high school students who contribute to improving the lives of others. 

“She is a high-achieving student leader who combines academic excellence with her proven ability to create lasting impact through student government initiatives and peer mental health advocacy,” Schellinger wrote, describing Marzo as approachable and relatable. 

From her freshman year as class secretary, her junior year as student body vice president, she’s now in her second term as student body president. She garnered student feedback during her tenure in student government and from it launched new events that have become annual traditions, Schellinger said, such as a semiformal winter dance and a spring spirit week and bonfire.  

Marzo said the reasoning behind organizing some of these new events came after the isolation of the pandemic and the desire to reconnect.   

"There wasn’t that strong sense of community that Whitefish really does have and so we talked to the students and found out where the holes were and how we can get students engaged, involved and excited about school,” Marzo said.   

“I always am someone who is trying to connect the right people and make the plans. Basically, when I think of leadership it’s kind of like our mountains and the way small individual mountain streams join forces to create powerful rivers and beautiful mountain lakes. It’s about bringing people together and multiplying individual positive forces for the greater good. So, I’m always looking at how we can make ourselves stronger, and that oftentimes does land me in a position of leadership,” she said. 

During her high school tenure, she’s competed in tennis, serving as team captain; competed in DECA, serving as a state officer; played cello in the orchestra and joined the National Honor Society, among other extracurriculars. She received certification in Youth Mental Health First Aid and a therapy dog program to volunteer in hospitals — all while maintaining a 4.0 unweighted GPA, ranking No. 1 out of 124 in her class. 

She doesn’t think leadership necessarily came naturally to her but rather was instilled in her growing up in a military family. 

“My family moved a lot. I actually went to like 10 different schools before I even was 10, and looking back, I realized that it taught me a lot of important lessons like the value of service and just being part of something bigger than yourself, to moving and starting over again and again taught me the value of kindness and how simple little acts ... being invited to sit with someone at lunch or to play with them at recess — made a whole world of difference,” Marzo said. 

Moving all the time meant she was always meeting new people and learning new perspectives. 

“I feel like that taught me really valuable leadership skills that I think helped me work with all groups of people while keeping in mind the intentions that I want to put out,” she said. 

WHILE HER resume is packed with different leadership positions and academic and athletic achievements, some of her proudest accomplishments have focused on mental health and suicide prevention. 

“I think the role that means the most to me, and I feel has had the biggest impact, is helping found the Student Outreach Committee. In 2021, our valley was experiencing a youth suicide cluster and I realized I couldn’t stand by while my peers were suffering — especially suffering on such a significant level. I had to do something,” she said.  

Marzo talked with school counselors, administration, teachers and other students and the Nate Chute Foundation to create what began as a gold box outside the school counselor’s office for anonymous student mental health referrals but grew into a student peer support system. 

The Student Outreach Committee comprises a steering committee of student representatives from each grade level and 36 peer mentors committed to supporting student wellness and inclusivity, she explained. The committee plans student-led programming and mentoring throughout the year such as during freshman orientation and final exams. 

Marzo said she’s had the opportunity to share the model and strategies with other schools through the Nate Chute Mental Health Youth Summit. The process of developing the Student Outreach Committee became the basis of an undergraduate research class project at Flathead Valley Community College. 

“I’m working to make our Student Outreach Committee model and strategies accessible to even more students and more schools on a much broader scale,” she said, including outside the state. “I’m excited to think that what we’ve built here, and what I’ve helped be a leader of is going to help students in other schools in our valley and even in other states. I’m really proud of building a program that empowers students to help students." 

“What I hope is it’s kind of like a pebble dropped in the pond. The goal is to create expanding ripples of positive change,” she said. 

As part of the Winslow Nichols Leadership Award Marzo received $250 to donate to a school club or organization. She plans to donate it to the Student Outreach Committee. 

“She is going to be a change-maker no matter where she goes in this world,” Schellinger said. 

LEARN MORE

Winslow Nichols Award nomination criteria:

• Eligibility: High school students in Flathead, Lake or Lincoln counties.
• Academics: Students who value their education by exhibiting academic responsibility; preferably have a 3.0 GPA or higher.
• Character: Students who display integrity, compassion, service and excellence.
• Citizenship: Students who nurture healthy communities through community service, volunteerism or other contributions to their community and/or school.
• Leadership: Students who take initiative and are role models for others.

Forms are available at www.logan.org/tomorrowsleaders.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.