Student Athlete Matthew Vogus has dedicated his high school career to being top tenth of his senior class. “I try to do my best in everything I do at Annandale,” Vogus said. He has invested most of his time at school participating in numerous functions, extracurricular activities, honor societies and sports.

Vogus has been a part of the Student Government Association (SGA) from his junior to senior year and is now president of the class of 2017. Since he has been apart of SGA, he has helped them pay off the class debt, raised thousands of dollars through fundraisers, and booked a new location for prom.

Additionally, Vogus is the President of National Honor Society and associated with Math Honor Society, Science Honor Society, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), Atoms Key Club, and Green Atoms. The majority of clubs he is involved in correlate with his interests and helping other kids along with the Annandale community.

Vogus has always been academically prevailing, from elementary school to high school. Currently, Vogus takes seven IB classes, but is not qualifying for the IB Diploma. “I chose not to because I wanted to have the freedom to take whatever classes interested me,” Vogus said. With this entitlement he does not have to worry about the requirements of the diploma, such as taking a language and the different SL and HL classes. 

The stress and pressure of activities and school has lead him to be isolated from his friends and family. Vogus has little time to spend with them or to even sleep. His commitments have brought him down mentally and physically. It can be hard for him to stay focused in class, practice, or even in conversations with his friends.

“It takes a lot of time management, and you have to stay focused on what you need to do,” Vogus said, “I have to deal with a lot of stress too, which can get me in a funk and not want to deal with anyone.” Despite the fact that Vogus hardly has time for his friends, they understand how occupied his is with everything. “It can be tough for us that Matthew is always busy, but we understand he has a lot of responsibility. It just makes it more fun when we do see him,” said Madison Walsh, one of Vogus’ good friends.

For Vogus, sports have always been a form of tranquility, inside and outside of school. Since he was little, he has been a participate in football, lacrosse, basketball and rugby. Although he engages in many sports, football is his most preferred hobby. Vogus began playing football at the age of eight and continues to play every day.

“Ever since I started playing football, I instantly loved it,” Vogus said. “The first season in BRYC we went undefeated and I had a blast, so I played it every fall.” He started off playing on Braddock Road Youth Club, a recreational level organization, and made his way up to being one of the captains on our varsity football team.

Outside of school, something Vogus has always been passionate about is helping the environment. He has organized numerous cleanups around his neighborhood and performs community service with the environmental clubs he is involved in.

One of Vogus’ proudest achievements was planning an event for Flag Run Creek, aiming to collect litter and recyclables. His family and friends volunteered and assisted him. The clean up day was an overall success that Vogus takes pride in.

Vogus aspires to be an environmental engineer after high school. “I’ve always been passionate about the environment and want to be able to do all I can to help protect it,” Vogus said, “I think sustainability is necessary and want to stand up for something that can’t protect itself.”

He plans to apply to John Hopkins University, Duke University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Bucknell University, and Stanford University and major in environmental engineering, a branch of engineering focusing on protecting and developing solutions to better the environment.

Whether it’s planning senior prom, calling plays on the field, or helping the environment, Matthew Vogus always puts 110 percent effort into everything he does.