Students attending Samuel Vaughn Elementary School had a rare opportunity on Friday, May 13, to meet retired Ceres Unified School District teacher and administrator for whom their school is named.

Wearing school colors and carrying signs and posters, students, families, and school staff paid a visit to Samaritan Village in Hughson where Vaughn resides. The visitors were welcomed by residents assembled in the shade and lining the driveway where Vaughn and his family sat beneath a canopy. One by one, students approached the affable school namesake who admired their posters and answered questions that ranged from, “How old are you?” to “What’s your favorite ice cream?”

Vaughn served with CUSD for 34 years beginning as a teacher in 1961. He retired as Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance in 1995.

A program from the Samuel Vaughn Elementary dedication ceremony held Sept. 24, 1994, noted that: “Sam Vaughn was chosen from among several names submitted for consideration and reflects approximately three decades of community service,” including involvement with Lions Club, United Way, Salvation Army, Big Brothers, Big Sisters and other service organizations.

“I think it was special to hear the stories from when he was employed with Ceres Unified,” said Assistant Principal Kristin Lilly-Porter, who took part in the visit. “He was a big influence in our community, so just hearing first-hand why our school was named after him was awesome to be able to share with the students.”

Lilly-Porter invited Vaughn to return to the campus for a visit “hopefully next school year.”

Samuel Vaughn Elementary, located in east Ceres serves roughly 600 students in grades TK-6.