Scholarship fund honors late student

With over 800 residents, one would hardly expect a place like Harrison College House to have a personal feel. But the Harrison staff is using community service projects to provide something most don't expect from a high-rise apartment building -- community. This is the second year that Harrison residents have had the opportunity to get involved in community service projects within the house. While last year's endeavors were very successful -- including raising over $1,200 for Coaches for Cancer -- this year's projects have hit much closer to home. The primary campaign this year is the Zack Walker Memorial Scholarship, a fund created to honor the Penn student -- and former Harrison resident -- who died earlier this semester in an automobile accident while on the way back to school. "Zack was a superlative kid," Harrison House Dean Art Casciato said. "We feel lucky that he was a part of our community." Casciato led the initiative to create the scholarship. "I was looking for something to give the students in the building who knew Zack," he explained. "Something that would honor Zack's memory? and give some sense of closure." To support the scholarship, Casciato is collecting $1 donations at house functions, such as parties and weekly Sunday brunches. A raffle last week for Philadelphia 76ers tickets raised $420 alone. Casciato hopes to collect over $5,000 by the end of the year. "People don't mind giving a dollar," Casciato pointed out. "Zack was one of us and we want to remember him in this way." Harrison Faculty Master John Richetti stressed the importance of the fund as a substantial cause that residents can rally around. "College students used to be accused of doing stupid things, like eating goldfish," Richetti explained. "This is an antidote to that. It makes people aware of worthy causes." Casciato and Richetti agree that while the fund is intended as a tribute, one of the ultimate goals of community service projects is to foster a sense of house involvement. "Community-building is what college houses are about," Richetti noted. "Especially in the high rises, there is no community. These activities are essential." For Casciato, community is built by bringing residents together, whether it be through house dances or community service projects. "The idea is 'I'm going to have a good time and dance and what I got was community,'" Casciato said. He pointed out that another community service project being continued this year is a Christmas gift drive for local foster children. "The Christmas party was as close-knit as this building got," Casciato said. Residents raised enough money to provide gifts to 261 kids. He thinks the memorial fund will do the same for community in the high rise. The response to the community service projects from residents has been very positive. "I think there is more of a feel for community here than? at any of the other high rises," said Harrison Graduate Associate Richard Haavisto. "[The memorial fund] is always on the posters. It's always in the e-mails." Harrison resident Harry Vartanian met Zachary Walker as a pre-freshman. He was in the car with Walker on September 1 when it flipped over near Columbus, Ohio. "He was my role model, the guy I tried to be all the time," the Engineering sophomore said. "Just to honor him like that is a great tribute to him and keeps his memory alive. It makes the grieving process easier? knowing other people are contributing to it." The details of the scholarship have not yet been decided, but Casciato wants to involve Walker's parents in all administrative decisions. He hopes the first scholarship will be given to an incoming freshman next year.