Wranglers Abroad: Mark Tomasovic

In 2011 Mark Tomasovic started as a freshman at The University of Texas at Austin and hit the ground running, joining the Texas Wranglers as a member of the class of Fall 2011. His willingness to succeed and outstanding leadership earned him the Jimmy Green Award during his Maverick semester. An exceptional and dedicated student, Mark is described by his peers as an outstanding friend who lives life to the fullest and enjoys giving back to the community. These characteristics were exemplified last summer when Mark took off the last week of his internship to travel to Kenya.

Mark and his friend Kevin organized the trip through Arrive in Kenya, an organization that takes children off the streets and gives them a second chance of a fulfilling life. While staying at the Keumbu Rehema Childrens Home (KRHC), the orphanage associated with Arrive in Kenya, the children are well taken care of, receive a quality education, and are taught skills such as farming, computer skills, and mechanical training. KRHC also assists many of the children in their battle with drug addictions. The specific project that Mark and Kevin undertook was the construction of a fish pond. During their stay at the KRHC, they designed a plumbing system that would collect rainwater for the pond and drain the old nutrient-rich water into the garden to support plant growth. The additional nutrients from the tilapia and catfish will help the kids grow and develop, as well as add some variety in their diet.

Prior to their stay at the orphanage, Mark and Kevin tackled the challenge of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, the world’s tallest free-standing mountain. They opted to take the 5 1/2 day Machame Route, or “Whiskey Route”, known for being the most scenic, but one of the more challenging routes. “The last day of the ascent was the hardest part,” Mark recounted. “We began our last day at 12 am, made it to the summit (19,341 feet) at 6 am, saw the sunrise, and then returned to lower camp at 12pm.” Battling altitude sickness, knee pain, and overall exhaustion, Mark and Kevin finished the entire descent in 1 1/2 days. When asked if he wore his Black-and-Gold at the summit, Mark smiled, “I had it in my day pack the entire trip. I took it out at the top and took a ton of pictures with it.”

When asked if he would return to Kenya, Mark said, “I would love to go back to Kenya to work with Arrive in Kenya again. Right now, I want to continue to support the organization from Texas, and do my best to spread awareness of the current political and socioeconomic issues in Africa. The trip was the single most eye-opening experience of my life and I would love to see Arrive in Kenya grow exponentially in the near future.”

“Wranglers strengthened my understanding of how volunteering really impacts the community. While working at Easter Seals of Central Texas during my time as a Texas Wrangler, I was given an opportunity to get involved with those who need it most. Community involvement made me realize that I am blessed to be a student at the University of Texas. And because I believe that we, as humans, are a global community, I wanted to extend my reach to Kenya.”



Texas Wranglers make an impact on their peers, community, and the world, both as an organization and individuals. Mark Tomasovic’s commitment to help others is the embodiment of the Wrangler spirit, and we are proud to have him as a brother.