Spring 2026 Winner of the Leadership Excellence Scholarship

Sanai Babineaux

In Fall 2026, Sanai Babineaux will begin her college career at Spelman College. As the newest winner of the Leadership Excellence Scholarship, Sanai writes about a volunteer experience she had at a food bank, where she had to utilize her leadership skills to problem-solve and help others.

Read Their Essay Here:

The line wrapped around the building before we even opened at the Houston Food Bank distribution site. I noticed a mother holding her child’s hand, quietly trying to keep him distracted while they waited. People stood patiently, some tired, some hopeful, all depending on what we had inside those doors. In that moment, I made a decision. I was not going to let that line end without doing everything I could to make sure every person left with something to help feed their family.

As the hours passed, our supply began to run low. I watched the tables thin out, box by box, and felt the pressure build. There were still families in line, and I knew what it would mean to tell them we had nothing left. That did not sit right with me. If leadership is built on anything, it is the willingness to do what is right when it would be easier to walk away.

I stepped in and helped shift how we operated. Instead of continuing at the same pace, I worked with the team to reorganize what remained. We broke down larger quantities into smaller portions, so more families could be served. I created a simple system on the spot, separating items into bags based on need. I moved down the line, asking each family what would help them most. Some needed enough food for multiple children. Others just needed a few essentials to make it through the week. Those conversations guided every decision I made and allowed us to stretch what we had with purpose.

At one point, frustration started to build among those still waiting. I walked outside and addressed the line directly. I explained honestly where we stood and what we were doing to make sure everyone received something. That moment mattered. Being honest, even when the news was not perfect, built trust. The tone shifted. People stayed patient, and we continued serving with order and respect.

That same sense of leadership has followed me onto the tennis court. As a varsity tennis player competing in both singles and doubles, I learned quickly that leadership is not always loud. In singles, there is no one else to rely on. Every point is your responsibility. I have had matches where I was down and could feel the pressure building, but I had to stay composed and fight back one point at a time. That taught me accountability and mental discipline. The line wrapped around the building before we even opened at the Houston Food Bank distribution site. I noticed a mother holding her child’s hand, quietly trying to keep him distracted while they waited. People stood patiently, some tired, some hopeful, all depending on what we had inside those doors. In that moment, I made a decision. I was not going to let that line end without doing everything I could to make sure every person left with something to help feed their family.

As the hours passed, our supply began to run low. I watched the tables thin out, box by box, and felt the pressure build. There were still families in line, and I knew what it would mean to tell them we had nothing left. That did not sit right with me. If leadership is built on anything, it is the willingness to do what is right when it would be easier to walk away.

I stepped in and helped shift how we operated. Instead of continuing at the same pace, I worked with the team to reorganize what remained. We broke down larger quantities into smaller portions, so more families could be served. I created a simple system on the spot, separating items into bags based on need. I moved down the line, asking each family what would help them most. Some needed enough food for multiple children. Others just needed a few essentials to make it through the week. Those conversations guided every decision I made and allowed us to stretch what we had with purpose.

At one point, frustration started to build among those still waiting. I walked outside and addressed the line directly. I explained honestly where we stood and what we were doing to make sure everyone received something. That moment mattered. Being honest, even when the news was not perfect, built trust. The tone shifted. People stayed patient, and we continued serving with order and respect.

That same sense of leadership has followed me onto the tennis court. As a varsity tennis player competing in both singles and doubles, I learned quickly that leadership is not always loud. In singles, there is no one else to rely on. Every point is your responsibility. I have had matches where I was down and could feel the pressure building, but I had to stay composed and fight back one point at a time. That taught me accountability and mental discipline. In doubles, leadership looks different. It is about communication and trust. There were matches where my partner was struggling, and instead of showing frustration, I had to encourage her, adjust our strategy, and keep our energy steady. One match stands out where we were trailing, and the momentum was against us. Between games, I took a moment to reset us, talked through our positioning, and reminded us to focus on consistency rather than trying to force winners. We came back and won that match. That experience showed me that leadership is not about control. It is about lifting others and staying steady when things feel uncertain.

Both of these experiences have shaped how I understand the values of hard work, honesty, and integrity. Hard work means staying in the moment and putting in the effort when it matters most, whether that is on a court or in a crowded distribution line. Honesty means being clear and truthful, even when the situation is not ideal. Integrity means making decisions that are fair and consistent, especially when no one is watching.

By the end of the food distribution, we served more families than we initially thought possible. The mother I noticed at the beginning finally reached the front. When I handed her a bag, she paused for a moment, as if she had been holding her breath all along. That moment stayed with me because it was a reminder that leadership is not about recognition. It is about impact.

I carry that lesson with me in everything I do. I lead by stepping forward, by staying grounded in my values, and by making sure that when people are counting on me, I show up fully.