Zach Utz - Middlebury College
2025
As my time at Middlebury College comes to a close, I’ve begun to reflect back on what has made my experience here so special. This place has exposed me to so many new ideas and amazing people that have made the past four years of my life my best— and none of it could have been possible without the endless support I’ve received from MVYouth. To start off before this semester, I was able to spend the summer in Washington state at the Shannon Point Marine Center as part of a Research Experience for Undergraduates internship where I was able to improve my skills in marine biological research on a coastline very different from that of the Vineyard’s. I hope to take the skills that I learned there and develop them further in graduate school which I intend on applying to this coming fall. Undoubtedly, the highlight of this past fall was my senior Cross-Country season, where I was consistently a top five finisher on my team’s roster, helping to bring our squad to the Division III National Championships in Spartanburg, South Carolina. I look forward to finishing out my collegiate running career this spring during the Track and Field season where I am leading as one of the team’s captains. The more time that I’ve spent away from Martha’s Vineyard, the more grateful I’ve become for the uniqueness of its community, both year-round and seasonal. With a liberal arts education that has offered me a more worldly perspective, and friends hailing from across the United States, I’ve realized that there is no place quite like the Vineyard. It’s only through its uniqueness—the people that it brings together and the tight-knittedness that is forged through sharing an island home—that institutions like MVYouth not only exist but thrive. I am grateful for my island home and the ways it generates generosity, and I am grateful for the people who adopt that generosity and pour it into things like MVYouth.
2024
This past semester was one of my best yet, with my fall having been spent in Australia as I studied abroad! I attended the School for International Training (SIT) Reef, Rainforest and Cultural Ecology program based out of Cairns, Australia where I spent hundreds of hours out in the Wet Tropics rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef learning about the immense terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity in and around Australia. The highlight of my time in Australia was certainly the 11 days I stayed at the Lizard Island research station with my classmates where we were able to snorkel on the Great Barrier Reef every day, where we saw multiple sharks, thousands of fish, and a huge variety of corals and other sea creatures while learning about coral reef ecology and the human-caused threats towards the immense biodiversity that exists because of them. In addition to the classes I took in and around Cairns, I spent a month in Sydney conducting an independently organized research project at the Sydney Institute of Marine Science with a PhD student from the University of New South Wales. All of the incredible experiences I had over the last four months would never have been possible without the support of MVYouth and I am so incredibly grateful for the continued support I have received during my undergraduate studies. Looking forward, I am excited to spend my Spring semester at Middlebury continuing my academic endeavors in Biology and Environmental Studies while competing on the track team. Although It’s a lot colder and the sun sets a good bit earlier here than it did down under, I found myself excited to return to my home; the Northeast, and to all of my incredible friends and family. Again, I am so grateful for the continued unwavering support MVYouth and Lindsey have given me these past two and a half years!
2023
Just as I anticipated, my sophomore fall at Middlebury was a blast! I was very happy to get to see my friends and teammates that I hadn’t seen all summer, and to continue my academic and athletic endeavors. As always, the fall foliage was a highlight of my past few months in Vermont, with the red, golden, and orange hues of the maple trees having painted campus in an autumnal hue. This fall was full of important growth, highlighted by both my major and minor declaration! I am now a joint major in Environmental Studies and Biology, and a minor in Anthropology. I am looking forward to growing my skills these subjects as I look towards a future career in the biological sciences and environmental policy. The liberal arts have given me an opportunity to grow my skills in science while considering the humanities, which has allowed me to improve both my analytical and critical thinking skills, helping me grow as a person. Outside of class and studying, most of my time is taken up by training for Cross Country and Track. Although I was injured the majority of the fall Cross Country season and unable to compete in any races, I was lucky enough to be able to join my teammates on some runs and bike rides during which I was able to enjoy Middlebury’s beautiful surroundings. Now that I’m no longer injured, I’m looking forward to competing during my indoor track season in the 800-meter, 1000-meter, Distance Medley Relay, and Mile events! Other than running, my fall was full of hikes, skiing, swimming, and plenty of other outdoor activities. I am so grateful for the opportunities MVYouth has given me in 2023 and I am looking forward to continuing my studies at Middlebury this spring and abroad next fall!
2022
As my first semester at Middlebury comes to a close, I now reflect back on it as an amazing one full of connection and discovery. I chose Middlebury because its broad range of liberal arts studies, a benefit that I certainly took advantage of in my first three and a half months. I was introduced to the world of comparative literature through the study of folk and fairy tales in my first-year seminar, learned about the Ottoman Empire and the modern Middle East in my history class, analyzed and discussed theories of good in my philosophy class, and continued my studies in French. Each class challenged my understanding of the world and broadened my knowledge across their topics all while acclimating me to the increased workload of college courses.
In addition to my studies, I am on the cross country and track teams here at Midd. I arrived at school early this semester to practice with the team before our first meet and spent time with them outside of practice exploring the areas around campus. It was truly special showing up to campus and immediately having forty friends, all extremely driven and passionate individuals. They’ve all had such an impact on me already and I cannot wait to spend the next four years with them.
Another benefit of being in Vermont is its captivating nature with lush mountains, waterfalls, swimming holes, and trails. One of my favorite trips was when we hiked up to see the sunset at one of the waterfalls, equipped with a beautiful vista of the Adirondacks. Although all the foliage is gone and there’s snow on the ground now, I’m looking forward to ski season during the second semester! The opportunities that attending college has already granted me are boundless. I am incredibly grateful for the support MVYouth has given me this past semester!