Eisenhower High School student athlete receives Making a Difference honor for community service work
Brian Rodriguez, a sophomore at Eisenhower High School in Blue Island, sat in the front row of his AP Spanish class Thursday morning while his brother, mother and principal surreptitiously sneaked into the back of the room.
Out of the corner of his eye, Rodriguez caught one of his friends tiptoeing through the doorway. Perhaps Rodriguez knew his friend was hiding something behind his smile, but more likely Rodriguez was tipped off by the massive sign in his classmate’s hand.
Rodriguez was being ambushed.
“It caught me a little of guard,” he said of being surprised by his friends and family in a moment of recognition that halted class and drew cheers from his classmates.
Once a month, the nonprofit Buddy’s Helpers selects one student in the Chicago area to recognize for their success as a student athlete and their volunteer work as a part of its Making A Difference On AND Off The Field campaign. Rodriguez, October’s recipient, will receive two tickets to a Chicago Bulls game and $250 to donate to a nonprofit of his choice.
Rodriguez, who is on the school’s tennis, soccer and swim teams, was honored because of the variety of activities he does four days a week to help his community. He mentors freshman, donates books, volunteers, raises money and collects gifts for nonprofits in the Blue Island area and through his church.
“It just brings joy to me and to others,” Rodriguez said. “I (have) to manage my time correctly and help others.”
His mother, Veronica Rodriguez, said the mixture of Brian’s volunteer work on top of school and three sports results in some exceptionally late nights
“I don’t have any words to say how proud I am,” Veronica said. “Sometimes I go to sleep and then I wake up and I still see the light in his room and I go ‘Oh my God, are you still awake?’ And he’s doing his homework.”
Brian’s older brother, Brandon Rodriguez, who graduated from University of Illinois-Chicago this year, described the healthy competition Brian has with his siblings which motivates him to be a high achiever.
“I always tell him, ‘If I did good, I want you to do better,’” said Brandon. “He has no limits. Anything he can imagine, as long as he continues to be committed to it, he can achieve those things.”
Brian said he doesn’t know where he will donate the $250, but said he wants to pick one of the places where he volunteers so he can continue to help his community.
