At Walter B. Saul High School, Abigail “Abby” Morales is known as far more than an outstanding student—she is the heart and soul of the school community.
For the past four years, Abby has consistently gone above and beyond to support her classmates, teachers, staff, and the entire Saul community with kindness, leadership, and unwavering dedication. Whether she is helping organize major school events, mentoring younger students, or simply brightening someone’s day with encouragement and positivity, Abby embodies what it means to lead with both excellence and compassion.
A mature and driven young woman, Abby has successfully balanced academics, extracurricular activities, work, and family responsibilities while remaining deeply involved in school life. She is an active member of Junior Manrrs, the Yearbook Committee, Prom Committee, Flag Football, and FFA. Last year, she also served in student government and has continued to play a major leadership role throughout her senior year.
From helping coordinate Saul’s beloved Holiday Bazaar and Country Fair Day to serving as a tour guide for incoming freshmen and 8th grade students, Abby has been a familiar and welcoming presence at nearly every major school event and festival. She has also taken the lead in organizing both the Junior and Senior Proms, helping create memorable experiences for her peers during their high school journey.
Abby’s leadership extends far beyond event planning. During her freshman year, after the heartbreaking loss of a fellow student, she organized a meaningful fundraiser to support the student’s family and honor their memory—demonstrating empathy, initiative, and strength well beyond her years.
As a Career and Technical Education (CTE) student, Abby has also contributed her talents to numerous hands-on projects at Saul and for the renowned flower show the school participates in annually. Her dedication to agricultural education and creative work has helped strengthen Saul’s long-standing tradition of excellence.
Academically, Abby is equally impressive. An exceptional student with outstanding grades, she has been accepted into more than a dozen colleges, including programs that will allow her to continue her CTE education, such as Penn State University. Even more inspiring, Abby will become the first person in her family to attend and graduate from college—a milestone that reflects her determination, resilience, and bright future ahead.
Outside of school, Abby works at her local recreation center, teaching young children how to swim, serving as both an instructor and role model in her community. At home, she is also a devoted big sister who helps support her siblings with school and everyday life.
Those who know Abby describe her as kind, intelligent, thoughtful, and incredibly mature beyond her years. She leads quietly but powerfully, always putting others before herself and leaving every space better than she found it.
Abigail Morales is the perfect example of what a student should be—compassionate, hardworking, community-minded, and committed to excellence in every area of her life.
Congratulations to Abigail “Abby” Morales of Walter B. Saul Agricultural High School, the School District of Philadelphia’s Senior of the Month. Her future is exceptionally bright, and her impact on the Saul community will be felt for years to come.
We asked Abigail our favorite list of questions:
Why do you think you were nominated as Senior of the Month?
I believe that I was nominated for Student of the month for being a hard worker not just student in school but also outside of school.
You were nominated by (Ms. Erika Palmer). Explain your relationship. Explain their role in your experience at your school.
Ms. Palmer and I have a very good relationship. I see her as someone I can always go to and talk to, but also could listen to forever. Sometimes during my lunch, I’ll just sit with her hanging out in silence because just her presence brings me a sense of calm and warmth you don’t usually expect at school. She is more than just a role model for me. She is a teacher who truly cares about her students and their passions. She shows me everyday that she cares even if she doesn’t say anything. (She always does). She is the type of person who will remember everything about every student and talk to them about it, whether that’s where you were over the weekend or personal life. She is just that type of person, and honestly, that was what really helped in my experience at this school. Just being able to have that type of teacher in my life changed me.
What is one thing you’d like to share about yourself that most people don’t know about you?
I have a job outside of school, and that so happens to be a swim teacher for Goldfish Swim School; and roughly, I teach up to 30 students a day for hours in the water. And most people don’t know that my school isn’t just a “Farm school”, and that I am actually graduating from my high school as a horticulture major.
How did you choose your high school? What do you enjoy most when you are not at school?
I was in 8th grade and had just gotten my high school acceptance notifications and had been accepted into Girls ‘ High School, CAPA High School, and Saul. I had always had this vision of me playing the violin at CAPA or Learning about different internships and future jobs with Girls High. But after looking at Saul, there was just a connection. I felt like there was something that I wanted to do to change.
What is the best thing about attending school at Saul?
The best thing about SAUL has to be the amount of different opportunities that are given, such as the different majors, and after-school programs. There is just always something that gives us a chance to be involved with friends or be involved with the community and school.
What is one thing that the School District could do to improve its service to students?
I feel as though having a more diverse set of teachers so kids are not being taught just by white teachers but also black, Hispanic, asian, and Indian. I also believe that there should be funding for schools, to not only pay teachers who are always staying overtime but also fixing things that are broken in the school. But there is much more than just the district that should be focused on, I believe many of the schools in Philadelphia have teachers that don’t want to teach the students anymore, or are even being a guiding hand on their shoulders, causing students to not care for school or choose a life that no 14-18 year old should be choosing.
Abigail, we are so excited for you – best of luck in the college and career of your dreams!