2004 POINT SCHOLARS

Zach Zyskowski

University of California, Los Angeles

History and Global Studies

Zach was born and raised in a very conservative community in the foothills of the Sierra Mountains in California. He came out when he was 13, and endured verbal abuse and physical assault at his high school. Zach’s grandparents raised him in what was, at times, an unstable environment. Despite frequent turmoil at home, Zach was been able to leverage his academic and artistic gifts. He is an accomplished violinist and has performed for audiences across the world in cities including Paris, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo. Zach also started his high school’s Gay-Straight Alliance, organized a Day of Silence with 800 participants and graduated valedictorian of his class.

As a Point Scholar, Zach graduated from UCLA in March of 2008 with a BA in History and a minor in Global Studies. Zach is currently working in production at ABC and will be taking on several upcoming film and television projects. Zach aspires to continue to work in the entertainment industry as a writer and producer for film and television.

In Zach’s own words: “Although these experiences did marginalize my safety and my ability to receive love and true support from some family members and many others in the community, I will not stop my fight.”