Growing up in Holly Springs, Mississippi, Mary Vaughn didn't have an ice rink in her small town, so she had to travel across state lines to be able to skate. Today, Vaughn is a leader in the figure skating community.

Vaughn serves as an elected member of the U.S. Figure Skating Coaches Council, as well as the Learn to Skate USA® director and the Aspire director at the Louisville Skating Academy in Louisville, Kentucky.

"I started skating when I was 5 years old," she said. "My family would often travel to Memphis and the 'happening' place at the time was the Mall of Memphis, which had an ice rink. I became fascinated with the mall skaters."

Vaughn began taking lessons, which led to skating competitively. As a young athlete, she represented the Figure Skating Club of Memphis. After competing for 10 years, Vaughn stepped aside when she was accepted into the prestigious Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science. Academics became Vaughn's focus in the years following, earning her bachelor of arts degree from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, and her master's of education from the University of Louisville.

In 2009, she reconnected with skating unexpectedly.

"My husband [Kristopher J. Vaughn] purchased a new pair of skating boots for me for Valentine's Day," she said.

Vaughn joined an adult synchronized skating team, the Louisville River Stars. She competed for two seasons with the team, which won the pewter medal at the 2010 and 2011 U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships in the masters division.

She took a step back from skating again after her third child was born. However, she again found her way back to the sport — this time as a coach — in 2019. In 2022, Vaughn became the Learn to Skate USA director and two years later, became the director of the Aspire program.

Both programs haven't just grown under Vaughn's direction — they've thrived, according to Jessica Mills Kincade, director of skating at the Louisville Skating Academy.

"Under Mary's leadership, our Learn to Skate program reached more than 500 members after her first year at the helm, and we have maintained enrollment at or above that level every year since," Mills Kincade said. "She also helped introduce the Aspire membership category. In our first year offering the Aspire membership, we had 25 members for the 2024-2025 season, and this year we are on track to reach 30 members."

In addition to the cost, accessibility is one of the biggest barriers to growing a skating program.

"Accessibility is tough for many groups," Vaughn said. "I can attest to this, having grown up in a town that didn't have a rink. Even in this region, it is not as popular as, for example, basketball or football. We have been working on the narrative to expose our community to skating. We want people to know that we are here, you are welcome to skate in our programs and what a great community it is to be a part of."

Vaughn has been diligent about finding new avenues to introduce figure skating to others. The Frozen FEAT Summer Camp is one example, Mills Kincade said.

"Mary formed a partnership with FEAT Louisville [Families for Effective Autism Treatment], which helped us expand our adaptive skating offerings," Mills Kincade said. "We now offer Frozen FEAT Summer Camps twice a year and remain deeply committed to being an inclusive organization. She has also partnered with the Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana, allowing us to offer a council-wide annual Girl Scouts Skate Day and special events, including January's Winter Olympics-inspired Scouts Games held in celebration of National Skating Month. Her work in community outreach has helped to expand our reach and base."

The Frozen FEAT Summer Camp program is a two-time recipient of the U.S. Figure Skating Community Development Grant. Additionally, the club's partnership with FEAT of Louisville has expanded to include autism-friendly events, including the NSM Frozen FEAT Skate Fest, World Autism Day Skate and a sensory-friendly showing of Nutcracker on Ice.

The Frozen FEAT Summer Camps have provided health and social benefits to the local autism spectrum community, Vaughn said.

"It allows them to have increased positive social interactions and while learning new skills," Vaughn said. "For those skaters with sensory challenges, we designed a program with adaptive skating curriculum. We also have a behavioral specialist at the rink during the camp if the campers need additional assistance."

Coaching has also been a fulfilling endeavor for Vaughn. One of her students, 14-year-old Fay Davidson, began working with Vaughn after completing her Basic Skills 2 class.

"I think what makes coach Mary such a wonderful coach is her patience with her students and her commitment to whatever she puts her mind to," said Davidson, who competes in Aspire 1. "I enjoy working with her so much, because she has always believed in me, even after I get stuck on a specific skill for months on end, and because she pushes me to do my best and go above and beyond expectations. She's the best coach I could ever ask for."

Through her efforts, Vaughn is building a strong community of skating enthusiasts.

"It's not always great — there are challenges that you have to tackle and work with — but it's something that brings me great joy," Vaughn said. "The work I'm able to do with my colleagues and athletes, it's easy to see the joy, passion and legacy. I want my work to reflect the love, care and passion I have for the sport."