JOAQUIN RODRIGUEZ OF TEXAS LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY, a fifth-year placekicker on the football team from San Antonio, Texas, has been selected the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) Character and Community Male Student Athlete of the Week for the week beginning September 30.
The SCAC Character & Community award honors the efforts of student-athletes who excel in the field of athletics, and also serve their campus and community.
From the first day Rodriguez stepped foot on campus he has made his presence felt across the Texas Lutheran University campus. During the fall, you’ll find Rodriguez as a
key specialist for the Bulldogs as the Texas Lutheran starting place kicker the past three seasons. His influence on the TLU campus well surpasses the gridiron.
Rodriguez has served as a TLU student body comptroller, senator, and even President over the course of his five years at TLU. He has volunteered in Seguin as a part of Texas Lutheran’s Day of the Dogs and “Boo Bash” initiatives. Rodriguez can also be seen volunteering in the food pantry on the Texas Lutheran campus.
Rodriguez is a member of the Big Dog Endowment which is a non-profit organization on campus started by TLU alum Dave Sather. As a part of that organization, they analyze crises around the world and look to donate money to certain organizations addressing those matters. It also forms a part of Bulldog Investment Company, where they recently were awarded as the International Student Showcase Winners by ACBSP. This organization teaches students the art of long-term investing by evaluating assets and deeply analyzing financial statements.
Rodriguez also finds ways to use his talent on the field as a multi-time all-conference kicker to give back to the community by offering training and lessons for local kickers.
When asked about community service, his involvement, and what it means to him Rodriguez stated, "Character, to me, is summed up in integrity, dependability, honesty, and humility. These traits not only define our behavior but also mirror our inner ideals and help us to engage with other people. Growing up in Monterrey, Mexico and born in Havana, Cuba, has profoundly changed my perspective and identity. Growing up in these culturally rich settings has exposed me to many customs, languages, and viewpoints. These encounters have enhanced my awareness of community and connection as well as given me great respect for resiliency and adaptation. Managing the particular difficulties and opportunities in both locations has given me insightful knowledge that I bring into my contacts with people and my contributions to the local communities I live in."
Rodriguez has worn many hats over the course of his five years at TLU, and with that he has left a lasting impact within the larger TLU community.
