Although Matthew Vilaro graduated from Roxboro Community School (RCS) in 2012, he is still a vital part of Bulldog life. For the past six years, he has coached the RCS lacrosse team.
He said he had fond memories of being among the first students to attend RCS after its opening in 2006. He added that he remembers the friends he met and made in middle and high school and “the great teachers” he had. Matt said he has vivid memories of his first visit to RCS after graduation, “where [he] was able to see how far the school had come along since it first started.”
After earning his diploma from RCS, Matt attended the UNC-Wilmington Cameron School of Business for three and one-half years. During his junior year, his mother was diagnosed with cancer, however, which tragically altered his plans.
He said, “I came home to spend time with her, got my real estate license while at home, went back to college for a semester, then ultimately left for a final time when she became critically ill. After she passed away, I decided to follow in her footsteps as a realtor.” He added that he hopes to complete his degree in the near future.
He said, since becoming a realtor in 2017, he is proud of averaging an 80-plus hour workweek while also coaching at RCS. Being involved in the community is important to him, Matt said.
“I became a coach in order to help continue the program my lacrosse coaches from RCS worked so hard to build,” he said, “as well as to give more exposure to lacrosse so it can become a popular sport in Person County.”
He added that, as a coach, he is “proud of being able to contribute to instilling certain values like dedication, responsibility, leadership and teamwork in young people as I watch them grow up.”
Matt said he hopes to “develop RCS lacrosse into a program that can one day win a state championship.”
In addition to work and coaching, Matt also mentors new associates in his office and manages a homeowners association. His proudest business accomplishment so far is being named the 2020 Coldwell Banker HPW Hillsborough Agent of the Year and being named to the Coldwell Banker International President’s Circle.
He credits RCS with preparing him for “many different aspects of life. RCS has a focus on college preparation, which helped me start my college courses without too much difficulty,” he said. “The availability of technology RCS provided was a big plus as well, as the ability to use technology has become so important in today’s world.” Matt continued, “RCS fostering an environment that allows students to express their creativity and develop critical thinking skills has helped me in my profession tremendously when it comes to creative marketing and problem solving.”
In addition to RCS, Matt said, “I’ve had many great influences in my life, especially my family. My mom definitely was my greatest influence. She taught me to work hard, give my best effort at whatever I attempt to do, be empathetic and compassionate to others, and the importance of fostering relationships.”
Matt added that his RCS English teacher, Wanda Ball, “was also an important influence” in his life. “She always pushed me to better myself,” he said