The Alyssa Ferguson World Changers Fund is excited and grateful to announce that the Board of Trustees of Fort Bend Independent School District voted to name a new elementary school in Alyssa’s honor. Alyssa Ferguson Elementary will begin construction soon with plans to open in fall 2023.

Alyssa’s family shared that Alyssa wanted to become a third grade teacher and will now be able to teach children of all ages about being becoming World Changers in their own ways. They are overwhelmed with gratitude that the district and community have chosen to honor Alyssa in this way.

The press release follows:

FORT BEND ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES APPROVES NAMING NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AFTER LATE STUDENT

Fort Bend ISD (April 11, 2022) – The Fort Bend ISD Board of Trustees unanimously agreed to name the District’s new elementary school #54 after Alyssa Ferguson, a Ridge Point High School student who lost her life to brain cancer.

Ferguson lived in the Sienna community. While enrolled at Baines Middle School she began experiencing a series of headaches. At the age of 12, she was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a fast-growing brain tumor. Her family also learned she had Li-Fraumeni Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that predisposes those who have it to an increased risk of developing cancer.

Even in the midst of her own cancer battle, Ferguson acted with amazing generosity and a spirit of giving. When she received a wish from the Make-a-Wish Foundation, she said, “The only reason I got this wish is because I got sick. I should use it to help someone. I didn’t earn it.”

Ferguson used her wish to dig a well in a village in Zimbabwe that did not have access to clean water. Eight wells have now been dug because of the mission she started.

Ferguson passed away in January of 2017 while a freshman at Ridge Point High School. The Alyssa Ferguson World Changers Fund was established so that her legacy continues through the funding of construction of new water wells and for the repair or replacement of existing wells.

Per board policy, FBISD established a committee to select a name for the new school earlier this year and asked the community to submit nominations. The committee was comprised of teachers, parents, community representatives, District staff, FBISD Board President Dave Rosenthal and FBISD Trustee Kristin Malone.

“As a committee, we felt Alyssa’s life provides a great example to our students on how they can utilize the Profile of a Graduate attributes in serving as compassionate citizens and servant leaders,” Rosenthal said. 

Alyssa Ferguson Elementary is located at 1300 Heritage Park Dr., Missouri City, 77459 and is scheduled to open fall 2023. The school will serve approximately 1,000 students.

The original press release is linked here.