Making an Impact in His Hometown as a Student and Elected Official

Nicholas Lazzaro ’23 grew up in a family that emphasized the importance of education and viewed lifelong learning as the enlightenment of the soul. This background has guided Lazzaro through nearly every phase of his academic journey. Now completing his junior year at the College of the Holy Cross, Lazzaro has added another guiding principle–living the Jesuit tradition as a member of his local school committee and providing scholarship opportunities to budding entrepreneurs at his high school alma mater. 

"I chose the College of the Holy Cross as a transfer student because of its commitment to the Jesuit tradition highlighting social justice and educational excellence…its outstanding alumni network, and because of the groups focused on entrepreneurship," he said. "I want other students to have similar opportunities, and I want to do what I can to help them." 

A political science major, Lazzaro said his focus on education and entrepreneurship is heavily influenced by his grandfather, who grew up in the Great Depression and wanted his children and grandchildren to have world-class educational opportunities, and his father, a member of the Holy Cross class of 1983. 

After graduating from Millbury (Mass.) Memorial Junior/Senior High School in 2019, town selectmen appointed Lazzaro to the school committee in February 2020 to fill a vacancy. He was elected to his first full term in June 2020 and reelected in April 2022 for a second, receiving the most votes in a four-candidate race; he currently serves as chairperson of the policy subcommittee. 

"I decided to run for the school committee because I wanted to give back to the community at large, as well as the student body...I want to provide them with the sort of education that we take for granted. It’s very rewarding work," he said.

During his tenure on the school committee, Lazzaro decided he wanted to do more to assist Millbury students in their academic journeys to be lifelong learners, be creative and take risks. In 2019, he started a car detailing business, Nick’s On-Site Detailing, to help pay his college tuition. In 2021, he began using a portion of the profits to provide scholarships for Millbury students interested in pursuing business majors at two or four-year colleges. This year, Lazzaro will award two scholarship grants to graduating Millbury students interested in becoming innovative leaders.

"My business has grown exponentially in the last two years. I think it's partially because people connect with my commitment to education, and they appreciate students who work for what they want and are willing to help others achieve their goals. This is something that my business emphasizes," he said.

Lazarro credits various Holy Cross organizations for helping prepare him for his roles as a successful businessman and thoughtful school committee member. Specifically, he credits the ​​Carlyse and Arthur A. Ciocca '59 Center for Business, Ethics, and Society for encouraging him to consider the complex nuances in the world before making consequential decisions during union negotiations, in education policy and addressing inequality in schools.

Through HC Launch, a student-run business incubator, he connected with alumni entrepreneurs encouraging creativity in business and entered, and won, the Ciocca Center’s 2022 Shark Tank competition.