At a brand-new campus still building its traditions, one Katy ISD student is already leaving a lasting mark on what excellence looks like.

Ameerah Lawal, a junior at Freeman High School in Katy ISD, is doing more than participating in school activities—she is helping define the identity of the Golden Eagles. For families in Katy, where academic performance, extracurricular involvement and leadership opportunities often shape student success, Lawal’s story reflects what is possible inside one of the district’s newest schools.

Freeman High School, which opened in August 2024 following the voter-approved 2021 bond, is still in its early chapters. Students like Lawal are not just attending the school—they are building its culture from the ground up.

A Katy ISD Student Leading Across Campus

Lawal’s impact reaches nearly every corner of campus. In the classroom, she ranks in the top 10 percent of her class while taking five Advanced Placement (AP) courses—an achievement that reflects the academic rigor Katy ISD is known for.

Beyond academics, she serves as president of Freeman High School’s National Honor Society and competes on the debate team, balancing a demanding schedule that many students would find overwhelming.

But it is her ability to lead in multiple arenas that has drawn attention across Katy ISD.

From the band podium to the soccer field, Lawal has stepped into roles that require both discipline and trust—especially at a school still establishing its programs.

From Drum Major to State Stage

As drum major, Lawal helped guide the Freeman High School Band to its first-ever UIL Class 4A State appearance—an early milestone for a young program.

Band Director Rory Davis, a veteran educator with more than three decades of experience, described her leadership in clear terms.

“Ameerah is, in a word – Rare,” Davis said. “In my 32 years of teaching, I've never met a person her age, with the maturity, personality, poise and drive that she has.”

He added that selecting her as drum major as a freshman—without prior high school leadership experience—was a significant decision.

“It's a lot to ask of a freshman – which is what she was when we chose her – who has never had a leadership position in a high school band program, much less a new high school, to be the drum major,” Davis said. “She truly is a natural born leader."

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Anchoring a Historic Soccer Season

On the soccer field, Lawal plays a very different—but equally critical—role.

Wearing the No. 10 jersey, she serves as a center back, anchoring the defense while helping initiate offensive plays. Her leadership helped guide the Golden Eagles girls soccer team to a remarkable 15-0-1 district record and a playoff run in its first varsity season.

Freeman Head Girls Soccer Coach Erin Poyner said the jersey carries deeper meaning within the program.

“On this campus, when you are wearing the number 10, you are the representation of Freeman's gold standard: growth, opportunity, leadership and determination,” Poyner said. “It means that you are a physical embodiment of those core values to the school, which are also reflected in your program.”

A Mindset Built on Discipline and Growth

Lawal credits her involvement in both band and athletics for shaping her approach to leadership and personal growth—lessons she plans to carry into her future.

“I’m going to take all the lessons I've learned through these programs and organizations and apply it to myself and understand how it made me better as a person, tougher as a person and use that to uplift others,” Lawal said.

Her long-term goals reflect that same balance of ambition and intention. Lawal plans to pursue a degree in biochemistry at the University of California, Berkeley, with the goal of becoming a patent lawyer—combining her interests in science and law.

“I noticed that patent lawyers must have a STEM degree to understand complex inventions,” Lawal said. “I realized I could combine my interest in science with my goal of becoming a lawyer and be successful in both.”

Building a Legacy at Freeman High School

With one year remaining before graduation, Lawal is already focused on the legacy she wants to leave behind—not just in achievements, but in mindset.

“I want people to understand how important it is to stay consistent and disciplined,” Lawal said. “You might not see results right away, but over time, that work shows and others will recognize it.”

For Katy ISD families and Freeman High School students, her story offers something more than recognition—it provides a blueprint.

In a fast-growing district where new schools are opening and communities continue to expand, students like Lawal are helping define what success looks like from the very beginning.

And at Freeman High School, that standard is already being set.

By Tiffany Krenek, My Neighborhood News 

Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.