Zais got to meet and talk with Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick.
Photo credit: Remy Zais

WESTBOROUGH, Mass. – Westborough eight grader Remy Zais got the experience of a lifetime when she participated in Project 351. Acting as an ambassador for Westborough and Gibbons Middle School, Zais traveled to Boston during the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday weekend to participate in a community service initiative.

Over 250 eighth graders, representing the Commonwealth's 351 cities and towns, met on Saturday, Jan. 14 for a second annual day of service. They met to volunteer and celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. as part of Project 351. Launched during Governor Deval Patrick’s inaugural in 2010, Project 351 is dedicated to celebrating youth leadership and inspiring the ethic of service. Zais was nominated by her principal, Jack Foley, because of her demonstrated leadership skills.

“She is an outstanding young lady and a really hard worker. She’s a great kid to have around our school,” Foley said.

Zais was surprised to be nominated but was delighted to participate.

“I was excited to be able to give back to the community. I felt special for being chosen and I got to meet new friends,” Zais said.

Once in Boston, Zais and the other eighth graders toured the State House and met Patrick, Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray and Boston’s Mayor Thomas Menino.

“The Governor asked what being a leader meant to us and he talked about Martin Luther King, Jr. and what he meant to us,” Zais said. “I had never really thought about Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as anything but a day off until now. It was amazing how he never gave up.”

Zais was put with a group that got to put together scarves at the Dorchester Boys and Girls Club. Their goal was to make 40 scarves for babies but they ended up making 162, Zais said.

“We were all really excited that we made five times our goal,” Zais said. “It felt amazing. I was nervous for nothing and I made a lot of new friends.”

After returning home from Project 351, Zais said she learned a lot about leadership and hopes to get involved in community service in Westborough.

“We will have to do a lot of hard things in life and it teachers us a sense of responsibility. It shows us that there are people who are worse off than us and there’s always time to give back,” Zais said.