Houma student top graduate at La. School for the Deaf
Last Modified: Monday, April 20, 2009 at 2:02 p.m.
HOUMA — When 17-year-old Sadie Snyder of Houma graduates May 15, the stage she’ll walk across will be far from her native Terrebonne Parish.
That’s because the ceremonies — including her own valedictory speech — will occur at the Louisiana School for the Deaf in Baton Rouge.
Although Sadie is receiving her school’s highest academic honors, she’s not all bookworm.
Sadie is captain of her school’s basketball and volleyball teams, and she enjoys outdoor activities like riding four-wheelers and spending time in the water.
“She loves to water-ski,” said father Ed Snyder, who described her as a natural. “She has been water-skiing since she was 5 years old.”
Sadie is the youngest of five siblings, and the only girl.
Like Sadie, two of her brothers lost the ability to hear in early childhood.
Daniel and Jordan, ages 23 and 19, also graduated from the Louisiana School for the Deaf.
Daniel was valedictorian when he graduated in 2004.
Their parents said the children have developed in very different ways. Sadie is the most
studious and responsible student, they said.
When she comes home from Baton Rouge for the weekends, she completes homework on Friday so that it doesn’t hang over her.
Melanie Snyder, Sadie’s mother, said her daughter’s penchant for responsibility is particularly apparent at the rented house where the girl stays in Baton Rouge.
“We always had adult supervision there,” Ed explained. “But we always said Sadie was like the mom of the house.”
“She fusses at us if we leave a mess,” Melanie added.
Though she likes history and reading — right now she is reading the Twilight series — Sadie said her real passion is sports.
Her school plays against other small Baton Rouge teams, and travels to meet the teams of other deaf schools across the country.
Sadie’s parents said her athletic recognition includes numerous all-tournament honors.
Sadie said she hopes to continue with sports in college.
Though she is not sure what she wants to study, Sadie does know where she wants to go: Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C.
Founded in 1864 by an act of Congress, the school’s Web site says it is the “world’s only university in which all programs and services are specifically designed to accommodate deaf and hard of hearing students.”
The school is costly: tuition, fees, room and board pile up to more than $10,000 per semester. But Sadie received a partial scholarship, and her parents are hopeful she will be able to attend.
“We’re going to do everything we can to try to get her to go,” Melanie said.
But Sadie — who is equally at home on a pair of skis, in the classroom or on the volleyball court — seems likely to excel wherever she ends up.
“She just enjoys doing everything,” Melanie said.
Staff Writer Daniel McBride can be reached at 850-1148 or
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