Classified Spotlight - Melina Bezada - Southern Section

Melina Bezada is the adult child of two Mexican immigrants. Her mother had little education to help Melina succeed in a world where academic training leads to economic success. Melina was one of nine children with two children of her own. It was her goal to complete high school, gain employment with a local school district, and learn how to navigate the college and academic systems to be able to help her children succeed in school and have access to higher education.

Melina graduated from Apple Valley Adult School's diploma program and then volunteered and substituted on campus throughout the pandemic shutdown. She voluntarily helped the school remain open to provide a place for the US Census to operate and survey the cities of Apple Valley and Lucerne Valley, bringing more funding to these very poor and underrepresented areas. This January, she was finally able to attain full-time employment at the school where she earned an adult diploma, with her two children by her side.

Ms. Bezada is also a graduate with an AA degree from Victor Valley College, where she has worked part-time as a student worker. Ms. Bezada was on the Dean's list at Victor Valley Community College for her academic achievement. Both of her own children are now in college and are on the Dean's list every semester, as she is able to help and support them.
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Even though she now works full-time for the Apple Valley program and is a college student, she volunteers annually to help our counselor canvass our local community for the point-in-time homeless count. Melina Bezada is also listed in CASAS national resource videos produced by Apple Valley Adult School during the pandemic to encourage students to take the Employment and Earnings survey. She continues to be a model to us all of what it means to succeed.
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Melina Bezada has presented at CAEP, SCOE, and TDLS. Her unique perspective as an adult education student makes her an outstanding advocate for those she serves.

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