Spring Branch ISD Featured News

For the second time in 10 years, a student in Spring Branch ISD has been selected as one of only 10 Ford Leadership Scholars in Texas. The program honors students who exemplify leadership qualities while participating in local, district and area levels of the Future Farmers of America (FFA) organization.

Ava Pluchino, who will be a senior at Stratford High School next fall, was announced as a Scholar based on her premier leadership experience, service project involvement, results from an entry exam centered on an assigned leadership book, and excellence during two rounds of interviews.

“The book this year was ‘Daring Greatly’ by Brene Brown,” Pluchino said. “It was a great book that dove into the role that vulnerability plays in being a leader. I would definitely recommend it.”

Pluchino’s involvement with a variety of community service projects added to the strength of her Ford Leadership Scholar application. 

“I have done many community service projects in FFA such as Children's Barnyard, Santa's Farm, ASPCA [American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals] Supplies Drive and a Spring Branch FFA Coin Drive,” Pluchino said.

She will serve as the Spring Branch FFA Chapter President during the 2021-22 school year. She also held the positions of Lake Houston District President and Area 3 Association Vice President.  This stellar leader is part of the Spring Branch ISD Career and Technical Education Long Range Facilities Committee, lending a student voice to the process of assessing the program’s current and future growth.

As part of the 10-student class of 2022 Ford Leadership Scholars, Pluchino will work with a Texas FFA Foundation mentor to develop a capstone service project to benefit the Spring Branch community. She will attend a training camp in July to plan the project, which will then be executed all next school year.

“I think this will help me in my future because I will learn how to start a community service project and identify needs in my community,” Pluchino said. “I will also get the opportunity to meet people whom I can use as a resource for the rest of my life, inside and outside of FFA.”

When she graduates from Stratford High School in 2022, she plans to attend college and aims to major in agriculture education and political science.

Submitted by Becky Wuerth, SBISD Communications
becky.wuerth@springbranchisd.com