At Destrehan High School, Saniya Abbas built connections and enhanced her leadership skills through many clubs and activities.
Abbas, who was Destrehan High School’s 2025 Student of the Year, was a member of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, Interact Club, Beta Club, Student Council, Wildcat Ambassadors, Wildcat Mentors, W.I.S.E Ecology Club and Talented Art.
She was also the vice president of the National English Honor Society and was a member of both DHS’s student advisory council and the superintendent’s student advisory council.
“Destrehan offers a lot of extracurricular activities, which have definitely helped shape me as a leader and as a student in school,” Abbas said. “All of these activities have helped me build different connections as well.”
She said her participation on the advisory councils enhanced her communication, leadership and teamworking skills.
“It definitely helped me grow as a leader and as an advocate,” she said. “For the superintendent’s student advisory council, we were able to come together with students from Hahnville to advise the superintendent, along with other council members, on issues and initiatives that affect St. Charles Parish public schools. And we were able to contribute to policy discussions in school improvement strategies to help make the school system better as a whole.”
Abbas has a long record as Student of the Year. She first won the title of Student of the Year at St. Rose Elementary. Then, she won it again at Albert Cammon Middle School. As a middle schooler, she was the St. Charles Parish Public Schools Middle School Student of the Year.
This year, she was DHS’s Student of the Year and the St. Charles Parish Public Schools High School Student of the Year.
“That felt amazing, knowing that I was selected as Student of the Year at all three levels,” Abbas said. “It was definitely a reflection of all my hard work. Knowing that so many of my peers are hardworking, and to be selected out of the whole student body, it felt great to represent my peers. My teachers were always supportive, and my friends and all my classmates were so happy for me.”
Abbas, who was a QuestBridge college prep scholar, a QuestBridge national college match finalist, and an AP scholar, said her most memorable class at DHS was AP English.
“I feel like in the class I was able to connect with so many of my peers that I had not talked to before, and we were able to learn about literature, do different presentations, while also keeping it a friendly and fun environment that we all enjoyed,” she said.
She said her family has kept her motivated and has encouraged her success.
“My parents are always motivating me and my two older siblings to be the best we can each and every day and always keep a positive attitude and always put forth your best effort,” she said.
Abbas was awarded three scholarships: the St. Charles Rotary Club Scholarship, the Bayer Inclusion & Diversity Scholarship, and the St. Charles Parish Hospital Auxiliary Scholarship Award.
She will attend Tulane University in the fall and plans to study biomedical engineering.
