Saunders HS Valedictorian Hannah Silva, right, and Salutatorian Alanis Abreu
By Dan Murphy
Congratulations to the 2026 Saunders Trades and Technical High School Valedictorian, Hannah Ashley Silva, and Salutatorian Alanis Abreu. Valedictorian Hanna Silva will graduate with a 100.2 weighted GPA.
Valedictorian Hannah Silva’s favorite teacher at Saunders was Mr. Harry Hall (AP Environmental Science) because, “I spend most of the classes with him and he is one of my #1 supporters. But he is a Mets fan, and I’m a Yankee fan, so we do have that friendly competition. He has always been supportive of what I do and gives me a big laugh when I need it.”
Hannah’s favorite subject is Chemistry with Ms. Hammond. “I love the challenge of mixing science and math. It is something that I want to do in the future with pharmacy as well, so it made me love her class even more.”
Hannah is a 3rd-degree black belt in Taekwondo and volunteers as a Taekwondo Instructor in Scarsdale. “I enjoy teaching juniors, ages 3-16. It helps them gain confidence and self-discipline. Taekwondo helped me develop a drive to succeed and my ability to handle tough situations.
Hannah has completed 9 AP and College Link courses and was accepted to 9 colleges and universities she applied to. She will be attending St. John’s University in the fall. “They have one of the oldest and most respected pharmacy programs. They have a 6-year Pharmacy program, which is a career that I have always wanted to do. And the campus is nearby.
My dad is a nurse, and a lot of my family members are in the medical field, so I felt the need to help people. I can combine that with my love for science and chemistry and serve others. It’s my purpose in life.”
Who helped you achieve this academic honor? “My mom and dad. They never pressured me to be perfect. As long as I tried my best, I succeeded in their eyes.”
What did you like most about Saunders HS? “I like the challenge and rigor that comes with being part of the BioChem magnet and the unity of my classmates who are as academically driven as I am.”
Any words of advice to a future Val or Sal? “Never let the obstacles and adversity you have faced set you back; let it be the stepping stone to reach for the stars and achieve greatness.”
Saunders HS Salutatorian Alanis Abreu will graduate with a weighted GPA of 99.6%. Her favorite teacher is AP History teacher Tamara Barrales. “I’ve always been interested in culture and history. Mrs. Barrales is such a kind human being. She is encouraging and funny, and someone I had in 9th and 10th grade. In my early years at Saunders, she was very comforting.”
Alanis volunteers at St. Bartholomew’s church in Yonkers. “I do it with my mom; we hand out flyers to promote the church. It was meaningful for me because it strengthened our bond and helped raise awareness. We did it tag team.”
Alanis was accepted to seven colleges and universities and will be attending Mercy College in the fall. “When I went and toured the campus, I fell in love. It’s on the river and close to home. I like to spend time with my family, and they have a 5+1 accelerated program.”
She will study bioscience. “I am very interested in STEM, but I noticed that I like science more. I’m also interested in forensic science, so this gives me some flexibility. I don’t want to be confined; I want to explore my options.”
Who helped you achieve this academic success? “My parents and especially my mom. She was a major factor and always taught me to do my best. She has always been on my side and a major supporter. She wanted me to do better than she did and go farther.
What do you like about Saunders HS? “I really like the school spirit and the staff.”
Words of advice to future Val & Sal? “Remember that you are more than grades.”
