I have been blessed to receive such a prestigious honor. The award makes me proud to be a teacher. To be recognized for a job that I call a vocation, as well as an avocation, is a very humbling experience for me. This award is the result of the full support and encouragement that I continue to receive from my school community and my family, and it is with gratitude that I share this recognition with them.

Melanie Ah Soon Honolulu, HI | K-6, Science, 2010

The official biography below was current at the time of the award.

Melanie Ah Soon has been an educator for the past 18 years and has spent the last 5 years teaching sixth grade science at Sacred Hearts Academy, Hawaii’s largest all-girl private Catholic school. She has also taught at St. Patrick School in Honolulu, HI. For the past 2 years, Melanie has spearheaded the sixth grade Kaua’i island trip, where students travel off-island to learn about different landforms, such as the Waimea Canyon and Fern Grotto. She also set up service learning projects, including restoring a native Hawaiian fishpond in Hanalei and eradicating invasive and nonnative plants that threaten the indigenous plants in Koke’e. Melanie’s enthusiasm for science extends beyond the normal school hours. She co-coached Sacred Hearts Academy’s robotics team that met weekly after school during the competition season. Melanie has been a mentor to students for the Hawaii State Science Fair, and she helped facilitate her school’s Science Symposium for Girls for elementary and middle school students. Melanie has a B.A. in biology and an M.Ed. in educational leadership from Chaminade University of Honolulu, HI.

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