Senior Story: Melanie Sherlin Estrada Lozano

Melanie Sherlin Estrada Lozano isn’t just graduating—she’s launching into a future built on resilience, purpose and deep love for her community. After high school, Melanie will attend Augsburg University to pursue a degree in Elementary Education, with aspirations to earn a master’s in Sociology and Education and ultimately a Ph.D. in Psychology. Her dream is to research the effects of racialized trauma in the Mexican-American community, a subject deeply tied to her personal experiences and advocacy work.

“My passion will forever be in education,” she says. “My mother wasn’t given the luxury of a high school education, but she taught me that the working class is liberated through consciousness and fed through knowledge. Nothing is as important as public education.”

Melanie’s vision for the next decade is rooted in her lived experience. As someone who helped raise her younger brother during the COVID-19 pandemic while facing family deportation proceedings, she is passionate about expanding childcare resources for families. “I want to create a better world for my brother and other children like me.”

During her time at RHS, Melanie was a force of nature—a wrestler, cheerleader, track athlete and a leader who shattered expectations and opened doors. She joined the wrestling team to create space for girls in male-dominated sports and proudly inspired others to step outside their comfort zones.

“People have told me they joined sports because they saw me having fun or felt comfortable trying something new around me,” she shares. “That means the world to me.”

Her journey in athletics, especially through weightlifting, transformed her view of physical health. “It became a major part of my mental well-being and confidence,” she says, crediting Mr. Fogelson for encouraging her every step of the way. “I just feel like the luckiest person ever to have had him as a teacher. I don’t think I would be the strong girl I am today without him.”

Melanie’s favorite high school memories include lifting to 70s rock in the weight room, sharing laughs with her teammates, and building community through her vulnerability and authenticity. Her advice to freshmen: “Try everything. Take every opportunity. Getting to know yourself should be the goal—but make sure you feel safe and healthy while doing it.”

When asked about the educators who made the most significant impact, Melanie says:

“Mr. Fogelson is like a grandpa to me. He made me feel proud just for trying. But so many teachers supported me—Dr. Wegner, Mr. Avery, Ms. Seibert, Madame Steele and Mr. Brown. They made sure I didn’t slip through the cracks, and I can never thank them enough.”

Dr. Kathryn Wegner reflects on Melanie’s legacy at RHS:

“Melanie has pushed boundaries in her time at RHS by being the first female student to join the wrestling team, playing flag football and throwing shot in track. She’s also been a cheerleader, pushing us all to see how female students can do it all. In the classroom, she pushes intellectual boundaries. Melanie brings a sharp social critique and is incredibly brave to ask tough questions. By bringing her feminist, Indigenous, Mexicana perspective to every discussion, she’s pushed her peers and teachers to think more deeply.”

In her free time, you can find Melanie at concerts, exploring fashion and the arts—or dreaming of one day dancing in the streets of Rio de Janeiro during Carnival. Her friends describe her as “passionate, empathetic and driven.” Her teachers agree—Melanie is someone who challenges norms, uplifts others and envisions a better world.

She is, without question, ready to lead—and to teach.