From the Classroom to Community
Building Futures, Giving Back
The roots built in ZCS continue to shape the people who give back
There is something special about this community.
It is more than a place where students go to school. It is a place that lives in you, shapes you, and, for many, calls you back.
For Zionsville Community Schools alumni like Shari Jenkins, entrepreneur and owner of noah grant’s and Tipsy Mermaid on Main Street, and Will Sorrells, manager of noah grant’s, that community connection has come full circle. Their journeys have taken them beyond the classroom and into careers, families, and entrepreneurship, but the foundation built in ZCS continues to guide their work and their commitment to the community they now serve. Today, that commitment includes hiring and mentoring ZCHS students.
These alumni stories are a reminder that education does not end at graduation. It grows, evolves, and lives on in the lives of those who carry it forward.
A Foundation That Lasts
For Jenkins, a member of the Class of 1991, school was never something to rush through.
“I loved high school. I would have stayed longer if I could,” she shared.
That love of learning continued well beyond graduation, leading her into higher education and eventually stepping into an early career as a teacher. Her time in the classroom reinforced something she had already experienced as a student in ZCS: the power of relationships and the impact of educators who truly see their students.
Teachers in ZCS left a lasting impression. She remembers being pushed to grow. She recalls an educator who quietly submitted her work for a scholarship opportunity at Butler University, opening doors she did not even know were possible.
That kind of belief matters.
It is the kind of belief that stays with students long after they leave the classroom.
Moments That Shape a Lifetime
For both ZCHS graduates, high school was filled with moments that still stand out today.
For Shari, it was being part of something bigger than herself, from student involvement to unforgettable experiences on the sidelines of Friday night football games. She even made history as the first female to letter in football as a team manager, balancing that role alongside cheerleading.
“It was fun. It was community. You were part of something.”
For Sorrells, a member of the Class of 2009, those same Friday nights carried a similar energy.
“There was always a buzz. Football games made it feel like a full-day event. Everyone was there.”
Different years. Different experiences. The same sense of belonging.
That is what defines Zionsville Community Schools.
Coming Back to What Matters
Like many graduates, both Shari and Will explored opportunities beyond Zionsville before finding their way back.
For Jenkins, the decision was very personal.
When it came time to raise her son, she wanted him to experience the same schools and community that had shaped her.
“I knew what to expect. I trusted the schools. I knew the community.”
That trust turned into action. She built a restaurant business rooted in the very community that helped shape her, creating spaces where people gather, connect, and build relationships.
Will’s connection never really left. With family ties still strong in Zionsville, returning to work in the community felt natural.
“It’s like I never really left,” he said. “You know the people. You know the place. It makes it meaningful.”
Together, they are not just working in Zionsville. They are contributing to it. Jenkins as a business owner. Sorrells as a restaurant manager.
Lessons Beyond the Classroom
Through their work, both alumni now invest in the next generation. Jenkins and Sorrells hire Zionsville Community High School students, giving them opportunities to grow.
And what they hope students gain goes far beyond a paycheck.
Work teaches how to communicate, how to problem-solve, and how to navigate challenges. It builds confidence and resilience.
“You learn how to work with people,” Shari explained. “You learn how to handle situations that are not always easy. Those are life skills.”
Jenkins and Sorrells both see firsthand the strengths ZCS students bring with them.
Energy. Empathy. A willingness to learn.
Programs that emphasize connection and care, like those that encourage students to support and include others, show up in impactful ways.
“You can see it right away,” Will said. “They care about people. They notice the small things.”
A Community That Continues to Teach
What stands out most is how the ZCS experience does not fade with time.
It evolves.
Even across generations, there is a shared connection. Conversations still circle back to teachers, traditions, and moments that defined their time in school.
That continuity is powerful.
It speaks to a connected school system and a community, where relationships matter and where students are known.
It also reinforces something both alumni hope continues for future generations: a balance of strong academics and career readiness.
From communication skills to everyday life experiences, those lessons matter.
Always an Eagle
Today, Jenkins is building local businesses, mentoring students, and strengthening the very community that helped shape her.
Sorrells is working in the community where he grew up.
Both are an example of what it means to be part of Zionsville Community Schools.
Not just during the school years, but for a lifetime.
Because in ZCS, education is not just about preparing students for what comes next.
It is about building a foundation that stays with them wherever they go.
And sometimes, it brings them right back home.
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