Student honored for work to improve school climate

During the 2024 Jostens Renaissance Global Conference (JRGC), held last July in Orlando, Florida, Washougal High School senior Riley Vaughan was struck by the keynote address, which she said made her realize how important it is to be authentic in her altruistic endeavors.

“He was talking about having a ‘why’ when it comes to being a leader and working in leadership,” Vaughan said of the keynote speaker. “He said that if you’re constantly doing it just for the praise and validation of others, you’re not going to be able to recover when things don’t go your way, so you have to find a ‘why’ that matters more than just yourself. It kind of made me realize that with all the effort that I’ve put into (my leadership) class over the past years, I genuinely care about making my school better and my community better, and seeing my peers grow and myself grow. My ‘why’ is deeper than just succeeding at something.”