Vann Davis, a senior loved at RMA for his friendly and unique personality, joined the Class of 2024 in second grade. Ask anyone on campus and they will tell you that Vann is known for being very knowledgeable and having many passions, which checks out since he considers himself an open-minded individual. He is reliable, and you can always count on him, as Mr. Stancavish once described him as “Vann the man with a plan.”
A hard-working student, Vann is taking a variety of challenging courses this year: AP Calculus, AP Physics, AP Psychology, Honors English 12, Honors Spanish IV, Ceramics, and Sculpting. His highest honor at RMA is receiving the Dr. Robert S. Koszelak Scholarship (for the 2022-2023 school year), though this is just one of many awards during his years in Upper School. He won a Bronze Medal in the National Spanish Exam (Grade 10), was a Governor’s School Nominee for Spanish (Grade 11), and served as a Senior Graduation Marshal last year. Along with these outstanding achievements, he’s also received Academic Excellence Awards in Spanish (I, II, and III) and Honors Modern European History. These awards come as no surprise because he has “a burning passion for history [and] studying languages and cultures.” He says his dream vacation would be to “tour… the world to record all of the endangered languages before they disappear,” highlighting his curious and studious nature. He’s always telling me, as his friend, about new topics he’s researched and what he’s learned from them. For example, he recently told me about how he had been researching and then wrote an inscription in the Punic language (once spoken in the Mediterranean and northern Africa) into a pinch pot he made in ceramics. Vann would be a great partner for a night of trivia!
Vann participates in such a wide range of extracurricular activities, he’s like a sponge soaking it all in! He’s a member of a number of clubs, including the National Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society, Senior Beta Club, Photography Club, and Drama Club. Along with these, he also helps with our After School Enrichment (ASE) program every afternoon. When Vann isn’t busy with all of these activities, he enjoys working on coding projects for games and hanging out with his friends.
Vann is applying to NC State, Virginia Tech, and Clemson with a plan to major in Civil Engineering. Again demonstrating his interest in learning and experiencing other cultures, Vann says that in 10 years, he hopes to be “a relatively successful engineer, working for a firm that allows [him] to travel and see the world, making new friends while still keeping up with the ones [he] has now.” In college, he’s looking forward to “the chance to broaden [his] horizons and meet new and interesting people.” We wish all the best for Vann and his bright and diverse future!
Get to know Vann!
Who is your role model?
My parents for their reliability.
What sports do you play?
I’m not a very athletic person, but I am currently on the E-Sports team. I’d like to think I enjoy golf and have fair aim with a shotgun. (Vann was on the sporting clays team in Middle School!)
What is your favorite movie or go to song?
“Waterloo” by ABBA is my anthem.
What cafeteria item are you and why?
I’d be… the tables because they’re where people meet to enjoy good food and a good chat with good company.
If you could be any teacher for the day, who would it be and why?
I’d be the Spanish teacher, so I could teach with the same fiery passion that Sra. Forero and Sra. Bolivar have.
What will you miss about RMA?
I’ll really miss all the friends I’ve made here, the fond memories of every play with Mrs. Whitehurst, and the thought-provoking discussions with all of my teachers.
What is one lesson you learned at RMA?
A good group of friends can always help make a bad day better.
What is one piece of advice you’d give to an incoming freshman or to your younger self about high school?
Never stop trying new things. You may think you have yourself figured out, but you still have so much untapped potential just waiting to show itself.
