Melanie Olivas is an El Paso native and is happy to return to the borderland after studying away from home. In 2001, Melanie traveled more than 2,000 miles from the Sun City to the Sunshine State, where she attended Florida State University on a full academic scholarship. While she was there, she obtained her bachelor's degree in Communications and a minor in Psychology. Melanie first got a taste of the journalism business as an intern with NBC News London, where she helped with live shots for the Today Show and researched stories for Dateline producers. Two weeks after returning from London, Melanie joined the KTSM family as an intern in August of 2004. Over the years, she worked her way through the newsroom, doing everything from working the assignments desk to producing. Then in May of 2006, Melanie was welcomed to the NewsChannel 9 Today team as a reporter. Melanie says her favorite part of the job is meeting people and telling their stories. In her free time, Melanie is also a substitute teacher, helping to promote the importance of education to our youth. In her spare time, Melanie also enjoys hanging out with family and friends, watching movies, or solving word and number puzzles. If you would like to send Melanie your story ideas or just say hello, you can reach her at molivas@ktsm.com or (915) 532-5421, ext. 292.