Honoring a Life That Spoke Volumes – Melissa’s Story

October 6, 2026

Anytime someone has walked onto Elim’s school campus, they have been greeted by a statue of a man reading a book to two children.  That statue represents the first generation of Elim students who walked through our halls. Today, we have a new statue that tells the next chapter of our story.

It is a statue of Melissa Seefeldt.

Melissa enrolled at Elim in 1996 as a four-year-old with cerebral palsy. She could not walk or talk, and finding ways to communicate with Melissa became a hurdle that Elim staff members were determined to cross.

Through the dedication of our teachers, therapists, and the Assistive Technology Department, Melissa learned to communicate using a Dynavox device controlled by a small head switch attached to her wheelchair’s headrest.

The Dynavox would scan rows and columns of picture icons, and when it landed on a specific phrase she wanted to use, she would move her head to hit the switch, which would then vocalize what she wanted to say. Melissa was instrumental in deciding what meaningful vocabulary to include in her device, and after years of practice, she could use her Dynavox to make her own decisions, give honest opinions, and even tell a few jokes!

“It was obvious that Melissa was motivated and desired to make her needs known – she was always very determined,” explained Sharon Maack-Connolly, the Assistive Technology Coordinator who worked for Elim for 27 years, retiring in 2019. “She wanted the opportunity to make choices, and that was her fundamental right.”

For Melissa’s parents, Elim became much more than a school.

“We could send Melissa to Elim every day and not worry about her,” they shared. “She was loved. She was embraced by the staff and those around her. Elim became such an important place to the entire family.”

When Melissa passed away in May of 2019, her family initially imagined planting a tree in her memory. Instead, a generous group of Elim supporters came together and made something more meaningful possible: a life-size statue featuring Melissa and the Dynavox communication device that gave her the gift of communication.

The statue that now stands on Elim’s main school campus is more than a tribute to one remarkable young woman. It honors the second generation of Elim students while representing the possibilities for every person with a disability. It’s a lasting reminder that one person’s potential is not defined by their disability, but by the opportunities they are given to learn and grow.

Her parents’ desire is that when people see the sculpture of Melissa, they see more than her own story. “We hope people don’t simply wonder who this girl was, but rather who this God is that has hovered over the school and filled the staff with such love.”

Melissa’s sculpture stands as a reminder of God’s faithfulness and what is possible when we believe in every student’s potential.

Because of your generosity, our students receive the tools and resources that they need to thrive. Can you give today and equip over 400 students and adults at Elim to pursue their God-given potential?