The Vanguard School Alumni

graduates at The Vanguard School

Our coursers and their families are honored to be members of this community—as they should be—but what about life beyond high school graduation? What difference can a quality education at The Vanguard School make in the long term? One could theorize endlessly about the effectiveness of curricula, but the two most practical litmus tests for an institution of learning are its current students and its alumni. We derive a sense of satisfaction from our students’ well-roundedness: a combination of academics, athletics, and arts, but we cannot expect the public to place all of their faith in abstract concepts. They are also invited to see just a few examples of our track record.

Youth Minister | Ryan Hughes

Following high school graduation, Ryan (Class of 2016) equipped himself for ministry by studying Organizational Leadership, Biblical Studies, and Children and Family Ministry at Southwestern Assemblies of God University. Currently, he and his wife Jackie serve at Oaks Church outside of Dallas, Texas. Ryan’s mission in life is to do the Lord’s work.

Youth Minister | Ryan Hughes
Social Worker | Jillian Heckman Stephenson

Social Worker | Jillian Heckman Stephenson

Jillian (Class of 2010) during her undergraduate work at Point Loma Nazarene University, she balanced her social work major with an internship at a transitional housing program for single mothers. Upon graduating in 2014, she began her master’s degree from Metropolitan State University while interning with the El Paso County Department of Human Services. The year 2016 was monumental for Jillian, as she finished graduate school and found time to get married. She and her husband now live in Colorado Springs, where she advocates for children and parents as part of the nonprofit organization Safe Families.

Student Archaeologist | Larry Gill

Larry’s (Class of 2014) passion for unearthing the mysteries of the past has taken him to Roman sites in France and Israel, granting him firsthand archaeology experience. He currently holds a bachelor’s degree in classical studies with a concentration in archaeology from Carthage College, which he completed in 2018, and has opted to continue his education by enrolling in graduate school for classical art and archaeology at the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Student Archaeologist | Larry Gill

Architectural Candidate | Gracie Williams

After years of scholarly rigor—including a year of overseas study in Rome—Gracie (Class of 2013) has received her architecture degree from the University of Notre Dame. She now lives in Washington D.C. and is in the process of earning her architectural license while working in the Higher Education and Science & Technology Studio at Cooper Carry. Gracie has laid a solid foundation for the life she plans to build through academic preparation.

Architectural Candidate | Gracie Williams
Scrum Master | Caleb Simons

Scrum Master | Caleb Simons

As a D2 All-American Athlete, a three-time Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Champion, and a six-time record holder for the UCCS athletics department, Caleb Simons (Class of 2014) knew his way around a track during his university years. As a communications major and sports health and wellness minor, he also understood the importance of academic performance. Caleb accepted a job as a Scrum Master for Keysight Technologies after college graduation.

Clinical Intern/Doctoral Candidate | Lydia Blondin

Clinical Intern/Doctoral Candidate | Lydia Blondin

Lydia (Class of 2013) has taken her bachelor’s degree in exercise science from Hillsdale College and used it as a springboard for greater opportunities. Since finishing her undergraduate courses in 2017, she has worked as an officer in the United States Army while simultaneously working toward her doctorate in physical therapy. Her training includes a clinical internship at Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma, Washington (with a projected graduation date in the summer of 2020).

Jet Technician | Ash Cantrell

As a proud servicewoman in the United States Air Force, Ash (Class of 2017) has been in North Carolina, building F100 jet engines to power F-15 aircrafts at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. Simultaneously, she has been utilizing her G.I. bill to study English education; she plans to return to Colorado as a teacher upon finishing her B.A. Whether in the hangar or in the classroom, Ash is dedicated to giving back to the community and the country.

Jet Technician | Ash Cantrell

Case Manager | Amber Alderete

As a lead case manager with the Department of Human Services, Amber (Class of 2010) helps disadvantaged families back on their feet financially. She presides over her office’s Diversity Coalition and co-presides over the PB&J (Potlucks, Birthdays, and Jubilee) Committee, which she also co-founded. Amber brings that same determination to her coursework as she continues to pursue degrees in communications and criminal justice.

Case Manager | Amber Alderete
Air Force Cadet | Harley Morgan

Air Force Cadet | Harley Morgan

Harley (Class of 2017) joined the U.S. Air Force Academy out of high school, and has already begun attracting recognition. While working on the academic side of his military and strategic studies major, Harley has joined the 20-man Combat Shooting Team, earned his soaring wings, and passed the Initial Flight Proficiency Training. He has proven his athletic prowess by obtaining a perfect score (500) on the Physical Fitness Test. To bolster his German minor, Harley put himself through the four-week Cadet Summer Language Immersion Program in Munich. His gold-level German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge can testify to his work ethic in the field of language learning. We look forward to seeing what his future holds.

Doctoral Candidate | Jennifer Huang

Jennifer (Class of 2010) graduated from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (UCCS) with a bachelor’s in chemistry and biology. Jennifer is currently less than a year away from obtaining her pharmacy doctorate from Ohio State University. As Jennifer ascends in her field of study, she continues to advocate for diversity with both words and actions.

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Doctoral Candidate | Jennifer Huang

Student Success at The Vanguard School

Does The Vanguard School’s approach mean anything outside of our campus? We believe that the results speak for themselves. The stories listed above—and many like them—serve as evidence of our commitment to classical education. We are in the business of shaping world-changers one lesson at a time.

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