Congratulations to Deer Lakes senior Zier Williams who was selected for Junior Achievement of Western PA’s 18 Under Eighteen honoree class!

Zier will be recognized Tuesday at a ceremony at Acrisure Stadium and is also featured on billboards around the region.

“It’s definitely an awesome feeling,” Zier said. “At first, I was surprised. I thought, ‘why am I being nominated out of everyone else?’”

Zier has been a leader at Deer Lakes Middle School and High School as a student, athlete and a member of several student organizations.

Zier first made his mark in Middle School as a member of Team Upstanders and Student Council and then in high school when he joined Stand Together and Hope Squad. In his activities, Zier advocates for mental health awareness, stopping stigma of mental and substance abuse disorders and promoting social inclusion.

“When you are fortunate enough to be involved with things like Team Upstanders and Hope Squad and you go through different training, you realize that you are learning things that you can apply today and for the rest of your life,” Zier said. “The things I’ve learned have helped me grow in everything I do in school, on the field and in life.”

Zier was named Deer Lakes Freshman Student of the Month in October 2021 for his involvement in activities to raise awareness for mental health and for helping to clean up the High School gymnasium for nearly one hour after the Homecoming Dance ended.

“You think no one is watching until someone notices the little things you are doing,” Zier said. “Your teachers see you doing the little things. Your coaches see you doing the little things. You might not be recognized right away, but that time will come if you are patient and keep going the extra mile.”

Zier is also a four-sport athlete in Bowling, Track & Field, Football and Volleyball. He has twice been named Athlete of the Month for his accomplishments in football, in which he rushed for nearly 3,000 yards and scored 34 touchdowns during his career. He was also named Student of the Month twice in A.W. Beattie’s Sports Medicine program. He is in his third year of the program and plans to major in exercise science in college.

“There’s no reason not to try new things to see if it fits you and who you are,” Zier said. “Everything I’m doing fits me, and I enjoy all of it. My parents help me a lot to stay on top of everything. We talk every Sunday about the upcoming week, and that means a lot to me.”

Zier was also one of four Deer Lakes students selected in the summer of 2024 to participate in the Rotary Youth Leadership Award development program and earned the Charismatic Leader award.

“I have to say my parents and my siblings have been so important to me in everything I do,” Zier said. “I also have to give a shout out to (Deer Lakes Middle School counselor) Ms. Jaros who has helped me a lot since day one. Those are the people who I have really appreciated being there for me throughout everything for a long time.”