Holmen student’s rose giveaway lands him national television appearances

Zack Peterson appears on ABC’s Good Morning America and CNN

A gesture of kindness has turned into a bit of a sensation. 

Zack Peterson, Holmen High School senior, planned two months ago to hand out a rose to every girl at the school on Valentine’s Day. 

And he did that very thing. Nearly $500 worth of blooms and 600 roses. To every girl in the school. One at a time.  

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A story that has blossomed today, you might say, as Peterson woke up to do a spot on Good Morning America and CNN this afternoon.

Attention unexpected but well-deserved, said his mom, Rachel Peterson.

“This kid’s amazing,” she said. “He’s got so much kindness in his heart and he … I don’t know, it just flows right out of him. He’s just such a good kid and he wants everyone to just be good and happy.”

Rachel said, so far, Zack hasn’t landed any post-Valentine’s dates but that wasn’t the intention. Although, she said, “prom is coming up.” 

Zack was surprised by the national attention, according to Rachel, “The kicker is … he’s so oblivious as to why this is getting the attention. He said, ‘I just wanted to be nice. I just wanted people to be happy.'”

A follow-up act? Rachel said Zack is planning to go to UW-Platteville next year and he told her, “You know what?  I’ll be at Platteville next year, I might have to find out how many girls go there.”

For now, it was 600 girls at Holmen High School who have a story about the kind young man who wanted to spread a little cheer on a day that too often involves marginalization and frayed emotions.