Federal Way Public Schools Alumni of Note
Zachary Norwood
Materials Engineer/Quality Engineer
Decatur High School
Graduate, Class of 2002
Zachary Norwood always knew he was going to college. Federal Way schools helped him to get there. "I never thought it was an option not to go," Norwood said. "I felt college was necessary to make a decent career."
A 2002 Decatur High School graduate, Norwood went on to earn a Bachelor's Degree in materials science and engineering from Stony Brook University in New York. These days he is working as a quality engineer for United States Steel. He is cross trained in several areas of steel manufacturing and he is required to know the chemistry aspect of steel-making, write operating practices for different grades of steel and monitor the material being produced.
Norwood attended Green Gables Elementary, Lakota Middle School and Decatur High School. He recalls Ms. Baker at Decatur as having a lasting impact. "I found her to be a very good teacher. She explained things very well and it made me more interested in math," Norwood said. "I actually want to thank Mrs. Baker in particular for her diligence with making me do my math homework. It made the transition to college a lot easier."
A devoted soccer player while in school, Norwood said participating in athletics helped fuel his success in the classroom. "You develop a work ethic towards that sport and you can take that and directly apply it to your schoolwork," he said. High school prepared Norwood for college by teaching him time management skills and how to handle a large work load.
Norwood offers the following advice to current students: "Always go to class, do your homework, learn time management and be active in after school activities. Do what you enjoy regardless of what people think and enjoy high school but look forward to college."