Honoring Legacy, Celebrating Compassion: Sanaa Christian Receives Inaugural Shelby Shines On Foundation Scholarship

We are proud to announce that Sanaa Christian of Eastside High School has been selected as the first-ever recipient of the Shelby Shines On Foundation Scholarship. Shelby’s legacy is rooted in a belief that every person deserves respect, compassion, and the opportunity to be seen and heard. She lived a life surrounded by those who shared her values of mutual respect and inclusivity. To carry her light forward, this scholarship is awarded to a student who promotes inclusivity in their community and has demonstrated, through action, a meaningful commitment to including peers with special needs in ways that are mutually enriching.

Sanaa Christian embodies these ideals with grace and sincerity. Through her consistent advocacy, genuine friendships, and inclusive spirit, Sanaa has built bridges where there were once gaps and created spaces where every peer feels valued. Her leadership has gone beyond words—it is seen in her actions, in how she uplifts others, and in how she models respect and empathy in everything she does.

The McWaters Family is so proud to award the first ever Shelby Shines On Foundation scholarship to Sanaa Christian...a very deserving young lady!

Sanaa exemplifies the values of mutual respect and inclusivity not only in spirit but in action. As a member of Eagles on Duty, a peer mentoring club at Eastside High School, Sanaa has become a quiet leader, helping bridge connections, showing compassion through everyday interactions, and building real friendships with students in the special education program.

“Truthfully, the way I promote inclusivity is by doing nothing out of the ordinary,” Sanaa wrote in her scholarship essay. “In order for the world to be a more accepting place, we have to start by doing the smaller, everyday things.”

One of those everyday acts is walking into school each morning hand-in-hand with a friend from the Eagles On Duty club. It’s a simple routine, but one that reflects deep mutual respect, joy, and consistency. Sanaa’s commitment doesn’t stop there—she volunteers at special events, checks meals for dietary restrictions, and encourages her peers with patience and positivity.

Photo Credit: https://ehs.newtoncountyschools.org/about_us

Her dedication has left a lasting impression—not just on her classmates, but on staff and families as well. In the words of her teacher and Eagles on Duty sponsor, Ms. O'Brien:

“Sanaa joined with great enthusiasm and became our top-notch morning mentor… She has taken it upon herself to learn what social skills they are working on, their strengths and weaknesses. The sight of a peer waiting each morning to help their child out of the car with a smile on her face has literally brought one of our moms to tears.”

Sanaa’s maturity, empathy, and strong sense of responsibility truly set her apart. Whether it’s giving early morning notice if she’ll miss a day or volunteering her time outside of school hours, her commitment is never just about checking a box—it’s genuine and heartfelt. As Sanaa looks ahead to a future career in clinical child psychology, she plans to carry these lessons forward, helping children not only understand themselves, but also understand the power of acceptance and inclusion.

Congratulations, Sanaa Christian, for honoring Shelby’s legacy in the most beautiful way: by making others feel seen, valued, and included—every single day.