Melanie Maldonado, a sophomore and second year Bonner Leader at High Point University, is an exemplary leader in social change both on campus and in our community. Melanie harnesses her passion for women's rights, health, and hunger to create conversations about social justice issues that translate into action. In her last two years as a Bonner Leader, Melanie has grown tremendously as an event planner and uses her skills to create programming that creates space for open dialogue across diverse perspectives. Melanie recognizes the heightened impact of using a multifaceted approach to address social issues, an approach that includes awareness, advocacy, and action. Her outreach spans planning socially conscious documentary screenings and panel discussions with esteemed community activists, coordinating campus-wide donation drives to raise awareness while directly giving back to community partner organizations, and supporting the YWCA's Women's Resource Center director in developing programs that respond to identified community need. Through building the capacity of community partners, creating and engaging in conversation amongst peers, and navigating the complex intersections of social issues both on campus and in our community, Melanie has emerged and continues to grow as civically engaged leader at High Point University.