Local Title: Miss Derry

Melanie Bridges earned over $13,000 in scholarships throughout her participation in the program. Her platform of adult illiteracy awareness began when she was a volunteer tutor for the Adult Basic Education program through the National Coalition for Literacy. Her passion for and dedication to improving and fostering educational opportunities for adults led to her work in the field of higher education.

Melanie graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a BA degree in Communications. She continued on to earn her Master of Education degree from Notre Dame College. She became a state certified teacher, highly qualified in elementary content and middle school language arts. She has spent 8 years working as an educator for various organizations, most recently as an academic advisor and recruitment specialist for Granite State College of the University System of NH.

Throughout her competition years, she won 10 talent awards for her vocal performances. Melanie went on to pursue a career as a professional singer. She established her own music business and has performed regularly for the past 12 years with a band in the greater Boston area. She enjoys a variety of music styles – her specialty genre is best described as soulful, southern rock country which is reflective of her Tennessee heritage.

Melanie is the 2005 NH Colgate Country Showdown Award recipient and a member of the NH Country Music Association. She has served as a volunteer for more than 10 years on the Miss NH staff as entertainer, workshop presenter and contestant consultant. She’s been an advocate for the scholarship program and continues to represent its mission as she guides students toward their individual goals of educational fulfillment.

Melanie’s hobbies include: writing, research, puzzles, movies, golf, and motorcycles. Her plans for 2007 include performing in a Tennessee theatre as well as working on a recording project of original work. She is also an inspirational speaker and avid writer – in the early stages of writing a book, along with various songs she hopes may one day be played on the radio. She credits her successes in life to God and sees the challenges she’s faced as opportunities for growth. “It’s not about me”, she says of her life, “but something much greater. I am humbled to play my part – just as a tool is refined for a unique purpose.” Of all her accomplishments, she says they are merely an expression of God’s greatness, not her own. Melanie is the proud mother of two sons, Blake and Scott. She considers the honor of being a mom absolutely the greatest gift of all.

You can visit her at www.melaniebridges.com