Needham High Senior Earns Newton-Needham Chamber Scholarship

NEEDHAM, MA — Needham High School senior Laura Melin was awarded the Newton-Needham Regional Chamber Scholarship this year. Melin plans on attending Fairfield University in the fall.

After moving to the United States from Brazil, Melin experienced a culture shock that challenged her adaptability. Beyond the culture shock, she helped her mother provide for her family.

Although she struggled to immerse herself into American culture, she found a passion in helping fellow immigrants as a teacher assistant at an English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program by providing language tools and contributing to their immersion into a new country and culture.

Melin also served as an ambassador for Rotary Youth and a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity. She made time for all of her extracurricular activities while balancing a part-time job and achieving a solid academic record. The chamber congratulated Melin on her achievements and wished her success in college and all her future endeavors.