AlumNow Spotlight: Melva Yanes Reflects on Dallas ISD Journey

The City of Dallas has published a new entry in its AlumNow series, highlighting the post-graduation success of Melva Yanes. Yanes currently serves as a finance manager for Excelencia in Education. The announcement details her educational background and the influence of her former educators.

Yanes graduated from Trinidad Garza Early College High School in 2017. In her current role, she manages invoicing, accounts receivable, and accounts payable. Her duties also include financial reporting and responding to inquiries from affiliates.

Yanes described her Dallas ISD education as unique due to the support received from her teachers. As a first-generation high school and college graduate, she noted that educators guided her toward opportunities she might not have known about. This mentorship helped her navigate the path to higher education. She stated that their encouragement motivated her to work hard and maximize her education.

When asked about her favorite teacher, Yanes identified Ms. Arevalo, also known as Coach Arevalo, who has since retired. Yanes credited Arevalo with making a significant impact by constantly encouraging students to work hard and believe in themselves. She noted that Arevalo supported her academically and inspired her to strive for success throughout college.

Yanes offered advice to students interested in accounting. She suggested staying open-minded and exploring different opportunities. She explained that an accounting degree opens doors in various fields, including nonprofit organizations and other industries beyond corporate settings. She added that being open to different paths can help individuals discover where their skills can make the greatest impact.

The AlumNow series showcases former students’ post-graduation successes. This profile was originally published on The Hub.