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 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.
- High-resolution version of the official portrait photograph
- Awardee holding Presidential citation between Associate Director for Science of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, Dr. Carl Wieman and Deputy Director of the National Science Foundation, Dr. Cora Marrett
- High-resolution version of the teacher profile photograph
