Hahnville High School senior Ryan Abadie wore many hats during his high school career.
Abadie will graduate with honors after frequently being named to the Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, Superintendent’s List and Principal’s List during his years in high school. He also competed for four years in track and field, representing Hahnville in regional and state championship meets.
He holds the school record in the pole vault while also earning an electrical certificate from the National Center for Construction Education and Research Organization. Abadie was also active in the community and in his church, serving as church youth organization director and in other prominent positions. He is the lead guitarist for Sunday services.
Now, he can say that he’s also the recipient of the 2024 Robert C. Menezes Sr. Memorial Community Scholarship.
The $5,000 scholarship is awarded to a student who has demonstrated leadership abilities, academic achievement and has made contributions to the local community. The scholarship is awarded to a graduating senior selected by the school in memory of Menezes, who was coach and later principal of Hahnville High School for 20 years until his death from cancer in 1975.
Menezes was the son of an orphaned immigrant and served as a teacher and coach at Hahnville for 12 years before becoming principal. As a coach, he led the baseball and football teams to the playoffs several times and actively sought to integrate the school and its athletic programs.
As principal during the civil unrest of the late 60s and early 70s, he was committed to racial harmony, academic excellence, and community involvement. In his last year as principal, he led the effort to develop and plan the current high school building.
“We were very pleased to learn of Ryan Abadie’s selection by the school’s scholarship committee,” Doris Menezes, widow of the late principal and coach, said. ”Ryan has demonstrated academic excellence in the classroom as well as being a school and community leader. He’s a record-setting student-athlete, a leader at his church, and an excellent musician.
“We’re enthused to continue to be a part of his higher education.”
Abadie, who is the son of Kyle and Daina Abadie of Luling, plans to attend Samford University and major in Biblical Studies. His name will be engraved on the permanent roll of recipients displayed at Hahnville High School.
