University View Academy named Charles Steele and Sayyedah Abidi as the Class of 2026 valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively, earlier this week. UVA sent them a list of questions to learn more about their educational journey and what they learned during their time at UVA.
How does it feel to be named valedictorian at UVA?
It is a great honor to be named valedictorian and prove to myself that with hard enough work, I can accomplish anything.
How would you describe your experience at UVA?
UVA has been all I hoped for and more with the joy, learning, and experience. If I had to go back and make a choice on whether to do something different, I would choose to do UVA every single time.
What will you remember most about your time at UVA?
I will remember the chance I was given that I didn’t think I could get. Graduating high school with my associate degree is something I didn’t know was possible until I joined UVA.
Why do you think UVA worked well for you?
UVA has worked well because I was a very independent person before I joined high school, and I have only grown as an independent student and person because of UVA.
Steele graduated summa cum laude and was a member of the Beta Club and the National Honor Society. He earned his associate degree in general studies from Northwestern State University during his time at UVA as part of the Early College & Career Academy.
Steele will attend Southeastern Louisiana University and study mechatronics engineering. He began attending UVA in 8th grade, and also participated in Chess Club, Youth Legislature, and Esports.
How does it feel to be named salutatorian at UVA?
Receiving an honor from any school would make me and my family incredibly proud, but receiving one from a school defined by high standards is humbling. I will never forget that rush of joy when Principal Watson called me about it – I was elated.
How would you describe your experience at UVA?
To properly answer this question, one would have to open a thesaurus and find the word adventure. It was like a garden; some moments were intense like the dark red of a rose, while other moments were blissful and light like a dandelion swaying in the wind. Overall, every moment was colored with the essence of UVA: students growing, teachers planting.
What will you remember most about your time at UVA?
Oddly enough, I will never forget my first constructed response in school. Coming from a brick-and-mortar school, I had never experienced the suspense and thrill of waiting for submission comments. Ms. Pettito and Ms. Bourg’s thoughtful comments of appreciation and advice on my writing still sit as a source of joy in my heart. Their encouragement shaped a passion for writing – which is funny, because students usually think essays are the most strenuous part of school.
Why do you think UVA worked well for you?
It really is not just about me. UVA works well for most students because of the teachers. Every teacher I met has this empathetic attitude combined with an eagerness to make their students not just learn but also grasp lessons and concepts. The vibe of the UVA staff just makes students feel like the teachers care bounds more about imparting knowledge rather than the paycheck. It is truly an ethereal environment.
Abidi graduated summa cum laude and scored over a 30 on the ACT. She was also a member of UVA’s Early College & Career Academy, and earned an associate degree in general studies from Northwestern State University.
Abidi served on the UVA Student Council, and she founded the Muslim Student Association Club at UVA. She also spent time in the National Junior Honor Society, gardening club, writing club, and PawPrints journalism club.
University View Academy is Louisiana’s premier tuition-free K-12 online school. We offer a flexible, personalized education choice for residents across Louisiana that is powered by state-certified teachers and supported by in-person Micro Academies.