CavOILcade Queen Vaughn earns first for Sabine Pass school
Published 10:35 am Tuesday, January 16, 2018
By Mary Meaux
All-around top student Aisha Vaughn made history Saturday when she was crowned CavOILcade queen.
Vaughn, a senior from Port Arthur, is the first Sabine Pass High School student to earn the honor and take home the $1,500 scholarship underwritten by Sabine Pilots.
Vaughn represents her school well. Her Sabine Pass activities include journalism yearbook staff, University Interscholastic League academics, varsity cheerleader, varsity volleyball, varsity track, National Honor Society, A-B honor roll, principal’s council, fire marshal and advanced placement classes.
Vaughn also volunteers with The Hospitality Center, Sabine Pass beach cleanup, Knights of Peter Claver and church cleanup.
Queen Vaughn has no trouble juggling all of her academic and extracurricular activities.
“I do everything I can to the best of my ability and made time for all of my events,” she said.
She has always been involved, she said, trying new things, calling it a journey.
Role models have been there to help guide her to excellence.
“My mother, she pushes me to go far,” she said. “She loves me and wants me to do the best of my ability.”
Her grandfather, Allen Martin, is also a role model.
“He pushes me as well,” she said. “He’s always been there for me, encourages me and gives me words of wisdom.”
The busy student still finds time for hobbies. She enjoys swimming, knitting, traveling and loves learning new languages. She’s currently enrolled in Spanish classes and would love to learn French.
Vaughn plans to attend either Lamar University in Beaumont or Prairie View A&M University with the goal of becoming a neonatal nurse practitioner.
“I was born four months early; I was a premature infant. If it wasn’t for the neonatal staff I wouldn’t be here,” she said when asked about her career choice. “They did all they could do to keep me around; they did the best of their ability and I, too, want to be a neonatal nurse practitioner.”
She is open to talking about the challenges of being a premie — and said she has the scars to prove it. Vaughn said she doesn’t shy away from questions about this and that her doctor still calls her a miracle baby.
Her mother, Quentella Williams-Batiste, remembers the challenges her daughter endured.
“I held her in the palm of my hand when she was first born,” Williams-Batiste said. “We went from Park Place Hospital in Port Arthur to Memorial Hermann (hospital) in Houston. She stayed there for five months and every weekend I would go to see her.”
The proud mom strongly believes Vaughn will pursue and accomplish any of the goals she has set for herself.
“She’s a great kid that always has a smile on her face,” she said. “She has a lot going for her.”
Aisha Vaughn is the daughter of Quentella Williams-Batiste and Gerald Batiste. She represented Sabine Pass Lions Club in the event.
