Two-time world champion para snowboarder, six-time world championship medalist and a Paralympian, 26-year-old Zach Miller inspired students and teachers alike at Alta View Elementary.

He shared his story of perseverance and resilience, themes which tied perfectly into what students had been studying in class that week, said school PTA President Dawn Davis.

“He talked about his struggles in school and not fitting in, and how his disability kind of made him an outcast,” Davis said. “But he turned that into a strength, something he could use to help him on hard days and to set goals in his life.”

Miller, who discovered snowboarding through a hospital sports program and went on to join the Toyota U.S. Para Snowboard Team, was a 2023 ESPY award winner. He encouraged students to look beyond labels.

“He talked about how we all wear different name tags,” Davis said. “He told the kids they get to choose their own name tags — what they want to be known for or what goals they want to set, not what they’re told.”

Each student received a blank name tag to take home to reinforce the lesson.

Miller’s visit left a lasting impact not only on the students but on teachers as well. 

“Some students who struggle, whether it’s academically or behaviorally, really made a connection to him,” Principal Scott Jameson added. “Even a teacher said she was able to resonate with her own struggles. He stayed after and talked to every student who wanted to meet him and inspired them to overcome obstacles as well as try snowboarding.”

Davis said students even got photos with him and his autograph.

The assembly was made possible through the PTA’s recent fundraiser, “Flight of the Roadrunner” fun run, which raised more than $30,000, Davis said.

“It was very successful, but also fun,” she said. “We played songs and had two grades run at a time on separate tracks, which many of them ran more than 35 laps. We had Rocky (school roadrunner mascot) cheering and giving kids high-fives, and lots of parents came and helped too.”

Davis said during the week, they talked about stretching, breathing and other healthy habits.

“We like the fun run because it's an active event for the kids, but also we've been very successful with it through the years,” she said.

As an incentive for raising funds, students were rewarded with an “outdoor assembly learning the science of hot air balloons,” with the Chick-fil-A team, Jameson said.

“They saw it set up; then with fans going, kids could peer inside to see how big it was. They really liked when flames were shot to set it upright,” he said. 

Davis said it was a rewarding experience.

“The kids got to learn all about the air pressure, how it flies, how you control it and everything they were curious about,” she said. “They liked being able to help them pack it up after and get high-fives from the Chick-fil-A cow.”

With the PTA’s efforts and the students’ hard work, there are more engaging activities and programs planned such as field trips, teacher grants, Reflections, Red Ribbon Week and other activities.