Valley Stream North High School junior Simardeep Kaur has been selected to serve on the 2026-27 National Student Leadership Council for Students Against Destructive Decisions, joining a group of student leaders from across the country chosen for their commitment to promoting safe and healthy decision-making among young people.
SADD announced the council’s membership this spring, recognizing students who have demonstrated leadership and dedication to issues affecting youth. According to the organization, council members will work with SADD staff, national partners and fellow student leaders to help shape campaigns, advocate for safer choices and amplify youth voices on topics including traffic safety, mental health, substance misuse prevention and personal responsibility.
Kaur, 17, is the president of Valley Stream North’s SADD chapter since her sophomore year. Her involvement with the organization dates back to seventh grade, when she first joined after attending a school club fair. She said she was drawn to the group’s activities and awareness campaigns, including initiatives focused on suicide prevention and positive peer support.
“It’s definitely been a journey, but I have enjoyed it,” Kaur said. “Throughout the year, I’ve tried to incorporate new events, and I will do more next year since I’m on the state and national level now.”
Outside of SADD, Kaur participates in Ecology Club and Grade Council and volunteers at a cardiology office and a law office. She is also an Advanced Placement student who studies AP Research, AP Language and AP U.S. History. In her free time, she enjoys going to the gym and watching anime.
One reason Kaur values SADD is its focus on peer-to-peer communication. She believes students are often more receptive to messages from their peers than from adults, making student leadership an important part of efforts to promote healthy decision-making.
“During your teenage years, you get closer to your friend groups and your friends, so if your friend were to tell you and give you advice, you’re more likely to take it,” Kaur said. “Usually in this day and age, teenagers go to each other for advice more so than their parents.”
As a member of the National Student Leadership Council, Kaur has already begun participating in SADD’s 100 Safest Days of Summer campaign, which runs between Memorial Day and Labor Day. The initiative promotes safe driving behaviors during a period that SADD identifies as one of the most dangerous times of the year for teen drivers.
Kaur said her early work with the campaign has included creating educational materials focused on distracted and sober driving, as well as participating in social media outreach to encourage safe choices during the summer months. She is also scheduled to attend a road safety event in Westchester County.
“It’s good to know about students making destructive decisions and how it impacts them,” Kaur said. “ SADD brings people together by trying to make everybody better.”
Looking ahead, Kaur hopes to use what she learns through the council to increase awareness of safety, mental health and bullying prevention at Valley Stream North. She is also considering a community service project that would combine her interest in cooking with outreach efforts benefiting teenagers in shelters.
Kaur said her long-term goal is to become a lawyer, and she views leadership opportunities as valuable preparation for a career centered on advocacy and helping others.
Louis Pratt, a community engagement specialist with New York SADD and a former national student president, described the National Student Leadership Council as a group of student leaders from across the country who help advance the organization’s mission through programming, communications, advocacy and community projects.
Pratt, who served on the national council from 2021 to 2025, said council members contribute to initiatives ranging from creating educational resources and outreach materials to developing personal projects that address issues affecting young people in their own communities.
“I think the best part about the National Student Leadership Council is working with like-minded peers who will also challenge you to think differently,” Pratt said. “You all work together towards something that you know your other peers are struggling with, and you want to help them.”
The council seeks students who are motivated, open-minded and eager to grow as leaders. While the selection process is competitive, Pratt said SADD values students who demonstrate a willingness to learn and collaborate with peers.
Pratt also emphasized the importance of student involvement in shaping SADD’s work. Young people, he said, play a key role in identifying issues affecting their peers and helping organizations create messages and programs that resonate with students.
For Kaur, the appointment represents an opportunity to continue building on years of involvement with SADD while bringing new ideas and leadership experiences back to Valley Stream North and the broader community.
