Destrehan High School announced Jan. 9 that students Bruce Walker III, Iyana Johnson, Sanai Tuckson and Sarah Freeman each received full tuition scholarships to top colleges and universities across the country.
As POSSE Scholars, the students were selected through a highly competitive multi-round process. The scholarship is a merit-based award that identifies students with strong academic ability, leadership skills and a commitment to teamwork and community service.
The program focuses on developing leaders of integrity who will make a positive impact on their campuses and communities, and the program places students in supportive “posses” that help them succeed in college and beyond.
For Sarah Freeman, the moment she learned she received the POSSE scholarship, she felt like she just won the lottery.
“The moment they told me the big news I didn’t know what to but just smile with excitement and disbelief,” Freeman said. “The first people I told were my parents. They were very proud and congratulated me.”
This year, Freeman started a mental health club called Mind Matters at school. She also plays tennis and enjoys powerlifting. She is on the step team and is involved in Interact Club, DHS ambassadors, peer mentoring, Beta Club, National English Honor Society and the National Spanish Honor Society.
Freeman will attend Providence College in Rhode Island, where she plans to study psychology.
“I am looking forward to meeting other people that have the same passion and aspirations that I have in psychology, all while experiencing a new culture and way of life,” she said.
Iyana “Yaya” Johnson said the scholarship means everything to her.
Johnson is involved in Destrehan High School’s cheerleading and competition teams, and she is a member of the National Honor Society, National English Honor Society, Hispanic Honor Society, Beta Club, Destrehan Ambassadors and Destrehan Mentors. She has taken all honor courses since her freshman year.
“As much as the scholarship is amazing, I am even more grateful that I am going into my first year of college with people who only want the best for each other,” Johnson said.
Johnson will attend Tulane University in New Orleans, where she plans to double major in cell and molecular biology and psychology on the pre-med track. She plans to become a pediatrician one day. She was inspired to enter the medical field after her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer.
“When I was in middle school, my mother received treatment at the Tulane Cancer Center,” Johnson said. “They saved my mother’s life, and now that is what I want to do: I want to save other people’s lives.”
Johnson said teachers and staff at Destrehan High School have given her all the resources and guidance she needed to succeed academically and personally.
“Not only have they provided me with essential resources, but they have also offered encouragement and a sense of mentorship,” she said. “Their continuous belief in my potential has truly motivated me to push myself harder and to my fullest potential in everything I do.”
Bruce Walker III said the scholarship is a symbol of the hard work he has put in over the last four years of high school. He is a member of the National Honors Society, the National English Honors Society and the Career Compass Club. He also played football for four years and joined the powerlifting team when it started three years ago.
When Walker and his mom heard the news of the scholarship, they felt relieved.
“My mother broke down in tears as a lot of weight has been lifted off her back,” he said. “I do not have to go to college with debt.”
Walker will attend Villanova and plans to study mechanical engineering.
“I enjoy problem solving and working towards finding solutions for real world problems,” he said.
Walker said he wanted to thank counselor Ms. Valerius and teacher Ms. Sniezak for never giving up on him.
“They always believed in me even when I was faced with a setback,” he said.
Sanai Tuckson will attend Case Western on a POSSE scholarship. She plans to study biochemistry on the pre-med track.
“My favorite subject in school has always been science,” Tuckson said. “It was something that always enticed me and made me want to push forward.”
Tuckson is a member of Beta Club and student council. She played tennis for three years and has been involved in powerlifting. She was involved in National Honor Society and National English Honor Society, Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica, Mu Alpha Theta Mathletics, peer mentoring and robotics.
For Tuckson, the scholarship means everything to her.
“Not only is it the financial support I need but the mental support that is needed for me to succeed at school,” she said. “Especially a school that is thousands of miles away from home. The more time that passes the more I realize that I do need my Posse. I need them in every aspect because moving so far on your own is very stressful but at least I will have nine other people who I know are in my same position.”
