On a mission to help students succeed

Melissa Arguelles Garcia is on a mission to help students succeed.

Time after time, she has accomplished that mission as a tutor for students in English Learning Development classes. She understands the challenges English learners face and credits her own advancement to the one-on-one support she received.

During the summer before her junior year at Hoover High School, Melissa enrolled in a college-level class, Education 100, to prepare herself to work as a peer tutor.  She soon was working directly with English learners, building trust and creating a sense of community.

“I assured them that their culture adds value to not only Hoover high but the country,” Melissa said.

That message seemed to resonate with one of her students, Carlos, who boosted his grade from a D to a B.

“With his newfound confidence in English,” she said, “he expanded to taking on extracurriculars that nourished his interests and his future.”

We know that Melissa will continue to make a difference in her community. We are proud to support her with a scholarship.