Alberton seniors work to help veterans

ALBERTON – In their time before graduation, two Alberton High School seniors have embarked upon a venture, which will help in the recovery of the nation’s injured veterans.

Keir Sanzano and Ryan Vicek are working to support Operation Second Chance as their senior project. Senior projects challenge the student to demonstrate what they have learned and put the knowledge to use in a practical way. Sanzano and Vicek’s project is based around the Wounded Warrior program.

Operation Second Chance is an organization, which helps wounded veterans and those suffering emotional damages get back on their feet.

They plan to raffle off a fishing trip to Nushagak King Camp in Alaska for the organization. After a drawing, the winner will get to stay at the camp for five days in June on a fishing trip with a $2,800 value.

“We’re going to try to raise money for them so they can keep running and have money they can spend on [the veterans],” said Sanzano.

According to Sanzano, the money will go toward paying for trips, food, hotel stays and other expenses for the American soldiers.

Nushagak King Camp is owned by Sanzano’s family. He said they have owned it for approximately seven years and he spent lots of time there growing up. Operation Second Chance has worked with the camp for three years. The organization takes veterans to the camp for free fishing trips and other outdoor recreation.

“Some of the things they do is they go on horseback, teach [veterans] how to fly fish, go up in the mountains to four-wheel up there, even take them on hunting trips,” said Sanzano. “Just take them out, show them around and help take their mind off things.”

Sanzano said Operation Second Chance was a great program full of good people. He said the organization’s trips to the outdoors were a good form of therapy for the soldiers.

Sanzano came to the idea for the project after a good deal of thought. He wanted to do something to help the organization, but was not sure how to go about it. After awhile of talking with his family and people at the school he eventually settled on holding a raffle for a camping trip.

The project has been a great deal of work for both Vicek and Sanzano because of their schedules. According to Vicek, it has been hard to plan the raffle, make the artwork and signs to get everything ready.

Operation Second Chance is especially close to both their hearts. Both students plan to pursue military careers as Sanzano has joined the Army National Guard and Vicek plans to attend the Air Force Academy.

“I’m just very humbled to be a part of this experience with the military and knowing that I’m going to be pursuing the military makes it more important to me,” said Vicek.

She became involved with the project as the result of a funny coincidence. Originally, she had a separate project, which was very similar to Sanzano’s and would help a similar organization. However, Vicek’s project ran into problems because of a deadline and fell through. Because of how similar they were, Sanzano invited her to join his project.

“I kind of took her in,” said Sanzano. “She’s been helping me with fundraising and getting stuff set up. She kind of just jumped into line with me.”

Sanzano and Vicek kicked off the project at the Alberton Panthers home basketball games Friday, Feb. 7. They will continue their work at basketball games with plans to expand their efforts around the county and to places in the Missoula area. The project will go until May 20, after which the drawing will be held.

Sanzano said they have plenty of options and may branch into other projects as well. Vicek added they have thought about further expansion after branching out into the rest of Mineral County and Missoula County.

Sanzano hinted at the possibility of silent auctions in the future or other events as more people get involved. They may also print fliers and give cards to local businesses to spread word of the project.

More information on the project can be found by contacting Sanzano through Facebook.