Maria Hasan Inspires Excellence at Tuscaloosa’s Northridge Middle School

Tuscaloosa City Schools, along with Townsquare Media Tuscaloosa and Child Abuse Prevention Services, will highlight and recognize an Inspiring Excellence Student Of The Month from each of the 21 schools in the district during the 2023-2024 school year. Every month, two to three outstanding TCS students will be highlighted in this series.

Northridge Middle School honored Maria Hasan, a sixth grader known for her kindness, as the school’s 2023-24 Inspiring Excellence Student of the Month last week.

Hasan, who was surprised but elated by the award, received the award in her Spanish class on Friday morning.

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During the presentation of the award, Hasan was commended for her dedication as a student, especially for her diligent work on her assignments, as well as the way she faces every school day with a smile on her face and hugs to offer to friends and teachers.

"Maria is a dedicated student and a friend to all. She always works diligently to complete assignments and often takes extra steps to make sure she's meeting all of the components of the assignments and standards," NMS principal Jami Rainey said. "Maria takes the time to greet her classmates, teachers, and administrators with a kind word, a smile, and often a hug. Maria exemplifies what a Northridge Middle Jag student should be!"

Hasan said her secret is simple.

“I like to be kind,” Hasan said. “I like to smile all the time. If someone is sad, I like to make them feel happy.”

Hasan attributes her diligence as a student to a love of learning.

“I’m from a different country, and I like to work hard so I can learn a new thing,” Hasan said. “I’m learning Spanish and Arabic and English, that’s making me so happy.”

Outside of school, Hasan plays volleyball and basketball, and said she hopes to be a nurse one day when she grows up.

CAPS Tuscaloosa gave Hasan a gift bag and Big Dawg Dre Day, a DJ on Townsquare Media's 105.1 the Block and 92.9 WTUG, interviewed her for a message that will air all month on all eight of Townsquare's live and local radio stations this month.

Stay tuned to The Tuscaloosa Thread to see more students who inspire excellence throughout the 2023-24 school year.