B.A. Environmental Studies (Spanish Minor); Walhonding, Ohio

Environmental Studies Department Fellow; President's Award for Excellence in Service; Honors Program; Dean's List; Phi Society (Sophomore Honorary); Phi Beta Kappa; DCA "Helping Hands" Committee - Founder and Chair; Coordinator of Helping Hands: Garden of Hope; South Side Community Garden; Gospel Choir; Help Our Planet Earth - Vice-President; Habitat for Humanity (Louisiana, Georgia and Bolivia); Licking River Round-Up; English for Speakers of Other Languages - Tutor; Hunger and Waste Awareness Week - Planning Committee, Public Relations; Taekwondo; Student at School for International Training - Semester Abroad in Cochabamba, Bolivia

Supporting comments: "Helping Hands: Garden of Hope in Newark simply would not have survived without Melanie's extraordinary commitment to make it work. Melanie has been the heart, soul, and organizing force behind Helping Hands. She has written the grants to raise the necessary funds, worked with the court system to arrange for the community service opportunity, worked with a local food bank to distribute the fresh produce to people on food assistance, worked with local gardeners to prepare the Garden for the new season, and worked long hours to keep the garden going. Melanie is extremely motivated to do well as measured by what kind of difference she can make in the world. She has worked to establish a coalition of parties that will work together in the future to ensure that children in Newark have opportunities to continue in community gardening work. She has gained extraordinary experience and skill in collaborating with diverse community organizations and governmental entities, as well as shown a real calling to working with youth. Melanie will find ways to combine passion in her beliefs with her considerable skills, and she will enjoy much success in achieving her objectives of working towards a better future for the environment and our society."