Surrounded by fellow students, staff and family, freshman Jeremy Zampich was seen off onto the trip of a lifetime, Jan. 17. Thanks to the Make-a-Wish foundation, he and his family were sent on an all-expense paid Disney cruise to the Caribbean.

“His mom contacted [Make-a-Wish] awhile back about some things she wanted for Jeremy through talking him and giving him some choices,” ICAP teacher Cathy McDaniels said. “They then determined that the cruise was what he wanted to do.”

Make-a-Wish is a national organization that grants wishes for children with life-threatening illnesses and other disabilities.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for students to be able to have their wish fulfilled,” ICAP teacher Debi Granado said. “A lot of them don’t get these opportunities to go out and see what it’s like to be with normal kids and so this is an opportunity because he’s very capable of participating, you just have to find a way to do it. That’s what’s so wonderful about Make-a-Wish, they find ways to make these things possible, and that’s what I love about it.”

The week before Zampich’s trip was celebrated with a bon voyage party in the cafeteria.

“I thought it was a really good way to show our support for him,” said senior Lauren Baker, who was there with the Royals. “It was really cool to see all the different organizations come out and celebrate with him and make posters to cheer him on.”

Benefitting from such a well-renown organization, and getting himself an experience that he and his family will have with them forever, Zampich was just as excited as his teachers and classmates to have this trip.

“He was very excited about it, he was screaming and yelling; and you could tell he was really happy about it,” Granado said.  “I’ll be anxious to see what happens when he comes back, I know his mom is really good about keeping us informed on things and I’m sure she’ll probably have pictures to let us know what happened.”