Melissa Medina, BS 11, has been named the first recipient of the Give Something Back Scholarship in honor of the late actor and philanthropist Paul Newman offered through the Haas School's Center for Responsible Business.
Medina, from Burbank, Calif., is pursuing a double major in business administration and political science and serves as a manager for Young Entrepreneur's at Haas Program, which provides MBA and undergraduate business mentors for underserved children in 6th through 12th grades. She was selected from a pool of ten applicants.
"All of the candidates were outstanding, but Melissa demonstrated the most passion, passion that has translated into action not only in her community-minded and philanthropic activities dating back to high school, but in her level of preparedness when she came in to interview with us for the scholarship," says Alma Azarcon, human resources and community relations director at Give Something Back.
"Melissa is focused, organized, and business-minded, as demonstrated by her work with the Youth Entrepreneurs at Haas Program, which enriched her knowledge of corporate social responsibility."
The new scholarship provides $5,000 per year for two years to an incoming Haas undergrad from an underserved geographical location who has demonstrated outstanding leadership potential and a commitment to corporate social responsibility.
The scholarship was made possible by Give Something Back Business Products, the West Coast’s largest independent office supplier, in honor of the the late actor Paul Newman. The founder of the Newman’s Own line of products was devoted to creating positive change in the world and donated his profits to charity. Newman, who passed away last September, served as a role model for Give Something Back and was a founding funder of the Center for Responsible Business.
“This Give Something Back Scholarship relieves my financial tension and allows more time to focus on my ambition and passion to volunteer,” Medina wrote in a statement. “I will be able to spend more time concentrating on academics and philanthropic organizations."