Melissa Edmond

September Alumni Spotlight

LEAP Academy Class of 2010

Without LEAP Academy, I would not have been able to make it to where I am today! My journey through education began when my mother first enrolled me as a LEAP Scholar in Kindergarten. As a proud member of the LEAP Academy Class of 2010, I received a tremendous amount of support from the Center for College Access in transitioning from high school into higher education, as well as a generous scholarship from the Alfredo Santiago Endowment Fund. After considering acceptances from a number of different colleges and universities, I decided to attend Howard University as a Pre-Pharmacy major. The time that I spent as a LEAP Academy student prepared me with the academic grit, self-determination, and tenacity to be able to overcome any obstacle in my path. I also sought ways to remain engaged in the LEAP Academy community, hosting LEAP seniors on campus tours of Howard University, and often returning to LEAP to mentor students as they prepared for the high school into the higher education transition process. After graduating from Howard University, I moved onto the South University School of Pharmacy in Savannah, GA where I pursued my passion for pharmacy. I am thankful that LEAP Academy instilled in me a mindset that education is absolutely vital, and that simply attaining an undergraduate degree was not enough. Now that I have finished my post-graduate coursework, I will be moving onto clinical rotations and eventually a full-time career as a pharmacist in the Greater DC area. Without the support of the entire LEAP Academy community of dedicated teachers and administrators, I would not have had the courage and confidence to pursue my dreams. LEAP truly does change lives.