Meet Vance Vaughan

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By Joan Frances –

Fort Bend Independent School District (FBISD) is home to 11 high schools that offer the highest caliber of learning for students. Ridge Point High School in FBISD values “uncompromising integrity and relentless work ethic focused on excellence.” The school engages students in academics, the arts and sports with the high expectation that anything can be achieved with hard work and diligence. One Ridge Point High School senior who is an accomplished leader, scholar and humanitarian is Vance Vaughan.

Vance is a respected leader. For the past three years, he has been the student body president, representing the school by keeping the line of communication open between his peers and administration. This year, he is president of the Texas Association of Student Councils, the largest 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in the state of Texas. This past June, Vance was the featured speaker before 4,000 secondary principals at the annual Texas Association of Secondary School Principals conference. His speech focused on educating principals on ways in which student council can help implement projects that benefit the school and community.

As a sophomore, Vance testified as a proponent of House Bill 5 in front of the Texas House Public Education Committee. The major aspects of the bill concentrated on reducing the number of end of course exams from 15 to five and focused on community and student engagement. His speech, featured in Academy Award winning director Vanessa Roth’s The Texas Promise, made an impact, and the bill was passed.

Vance is also the founder of Ridge Point High School’s World Affairs Forum. “The purpose of this forum is to provide a school outlet in which students can become more knowledgeable about global issues and begin to formulate their own opinions based on the facts,” said Vance.

Vance’s class schedule includes all Advanced Placement (AP) classes, and he ranks number five and in the top one percent of his senior class. He was given the AP Scholar with Distinction award last August and the Academic Excellence award for the past three years. Vance’s favorite subject is one he took as a junior, AP Human Geography. “It encompasses the study of the development of cultures and politics. Exploring the nature and impact of cultural, social, economic and political processes from all areas of the globe was engaging and exciting to study.”

Vance’s favorite teacher is Rusty Hill, his ninth grade English teacher and student council sponsor. Hill taught Vance the skills to be a good leader, including confidence, determination and credibility. “I strive to live each day by saying ‘Carpe diem,’ meaning seize the day, and not just today or the next day but every day. Never miss an opportunity, and you will go far,” said Vance.

Vance has an impressive list of activities he has been involved in during his high school career. He is a member of Pete Olson’s Congressional Youth Advisory Council, the Mayor’s Youth Commission, the Freshman Mentorship program, National Honor Society, the Spanish and French National Honor Societies, the Red Cross Club, International Culture Club as a sophomore, yearbook as a freshman and soccer and cross country his freshman and sophomore years. Vance is the founder of Super Kids-Special Needs, as well as a volunteer at Fort Bend Human Needs Ministry, Galveston Beach Cleanup, Houston Food Bank and is the chief organizer for the high school blood drive.

Vance aspires to major in International Politics. He has received an acceptance letter from Georgetown School of Foreign Service in Washington D.C. With such an impressive resumé, Vance is destined for prominence. Congratulations, and good luck as you continue to accomplish your goals.