Taking Charge: CF Zach’s Fizz Fame and Community Impact

Image credits: Zach Carlson

It’s a new year at Santa Clara University, and the days have been scalding hot—not quite as scorching as Community Facilitator Zachary Carlson has been on the anonymous social media app Fizz.

Carlson is the newest CF to join Graham Residence Center this year, and he’s already a huge hit with his Graham residents and the SCU community.

“I love CF Zach so much. He always treats us well,” said resident and Carlson’s suitemate Orion Rosedale.

Carlson has received more than 800 upvotes between two Fizz posts in the past two weeks. The first reading, “I love CF Zach 🫶🫶🫶.” The second featured a casino picture from “The Hangover”…and the caption “Zach is always there for us.”

While Carlson’s fame has reached new heights over the past few weeks, his close friend, junior Sam Hallstrom, believes it should’ve happened long ago.

“It’s long overdue for him to get some Fizz fame. He’s been a great member of the community: outstanding, inspiring and marvelous,” Hallstrom said.

Hallstrom met Carlson during their first year at SCU as part of the leadership team at Casa Italiana Apartments.

“He [Carlson] was president of [Leadership Team], and I was his vice president,” Hallstrom said.

Carlson said that the experience he got from running events and working closely with CFs inspired him to pursue the position.

“I applied to be a CF because I wanted a larger role in my community. I wanted to grow not only as a leader but as somebody who can have an impact on the community at large,” Carlson said.

Carlson spent his sophomore year running many popular events that further heightened his love for the CF role.

Carlson’s two favorite events were Crochet and Crumble and Serrata Italiana because of the high turnout and the opportunity to work with various SCU clubs and organizations.

“Crochet and Crumble was a cool one because I got to work with the Crochet Club, the therapists in residence and, of course, [Residence Life],” Carlson said.

After a successful year in Casa, Carlson decided to take on a new challenge and transitioned to Graham.

Carlson described it as a different experience with higher energy levels and a more social dynamic across first-floor Graham.

“I think Casa has its charm that I will forever miss, but I enjoy the way Graham has a strong foundation for its community, and it does a good job supporting its residents,” Carlson said.

So far in his Graham era, Carlson hasn’t just blown up on Fizz—he’s thrown a Snoopy Cinema event and even started a “Dancing With the Stars” watchfest.

“He watched the second episode of it with us, and I made cookies. It was a grand old time,” said first-year Graham resident Lauren Dunne.

Inspired by the watch parties, Carlson plans to run a “Dancing With the Stars” themed event for the semifinals or finals in their wing's pursuit of victory in Graham’s floor competition.

“I think we have a solid group of people in this wing, and I’m excited to see how they grow this year,” Carlson said.

Carlson’s next event will be Salsa with Salsa and will take place on Oct. 22.