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Joel Rodriguez
565
Bold Points1x
Finalist
Joel Rodriguez
565
Bold Points1x
FinalistBio
I believe I am a strong candidate for this scholarship because I am living proof that people can grow, adapt, and overcome. Life has tested me physically, mentally, and emotionally—but I continue to move forward. In 2005, after just one year of college, I enlisted in the Army. My mother was working two, sometimes three jobs to help me stay in school. I worked too, but it wasn’t enough. Like many from low-income backgrounds, I joined the military for a better future. I planned to serve one term and return to college. That plan changed.
In 2012, I was selected to attend Guatemala’s Kaibil School—one of the most grueling military courses in the world. I became only the second American to pass. The intense physical and psychological challenges I endured there left a permanent mark on me. In 2014, after my eighth deployment, I was diagnosed with PTSD. My mental health quickly declined. I struggled with suicidal thoughts, hallucinations, paranoia, and social isolation. In 2015, I was medically retired from the Army. I could barely leave my home. I had lost my sense of purpose.
But I’m still here. I’m healing. I’ve found purpose again through education. I’ve worked hard to stabilize my mental health, ask for help when needed, and return to school with a clear goal. My passion for engineering, driven by personal loss and service, gives me a powerful reason to succeed. I’m no longer the spry young man I once was, but I bring with me something equally valuable: resilience, perspective, and determination.
Education
Saint Martin's University
Bachelor's degree programMajors:
- Mechanical Engineering
Miscellaneous
Desired degree level:
Bachelor's degree program
Graduate schools of interest:
Transfer schools of interest:
Majors of interest:
- Mechanical Engineering
Career
Dream career field:
Mechanical or Industrial Engineering
Dream career goals:
Become system engineer
Lead Peer Mentor
South Puget Sound Community College2021 – 20221 yearInfantryman
2nd Ranger Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment2005 – 20072 yearsFire Team Leader
2nd Ranger Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment2007 – 20092 yearsSquad Leader - Reconnaissance Platoon
2nd Ranger Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment2009 – 20134 yearsTeam Lead
Stars Restaurant2003 – 20052 years
Sports
Cross-Country Running
Varsity2000 – 20044 years
Public services
Volunteering
Blookworks Northwest — Donate Blood2024 – 2025
Anthony Belliamy Memorial Scholarship for Students in STEAM
My name is Joel Rodriguez, and I am a forty-year-old veteran student. For more than a decade, I put my life on hold to serve my country in the United States Army. Those years shaped me in ways I never imagined—through hardship, sacrifice, and eventually, healing. Now, as I return to school, I carry those lessons with me and use them to guide my goals for the future.
I was raised in a single-parent household by my mother, a hardworking and loving woman who, despite having little education, always told me that school was the key to a better life. In 2005, I enrolled at a university in Texas with a partial scholarship for cross country and track. While the scholarship covered housing, I struggled to pay for everything else—books, meals, and supplies. Despite my best efforts, it became clear that I could not afford to continue.
After long conversations with my mom, I made the difficult choice to enlist in the Army. At nineteen, I believed military service would provide me with the stability and opportunity I needed. During my ten-plus years in uniform, I deployed eight times—four to Iraq and four to Afghanistan. Those deployments were the hardest experiences of my life. I lost friends and colleagues in combat, and I also lost pieces of myself. The weight of those years followed me home, and after my final deployment I was diagnosed with severe, complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
PTSD was a battle I wasn’t prepared for. Sleepless nights, intrusive memories, and the crushing emptiness left me feeling hopeless. There were moments I thought I could not go on. What saved me was my faith, my wife, and the unwavering support of close friends. My faith reminded me that I was not alone, and that God’s love could heal what I could not fix on my own. My wife stood by me through my darkest days, reminding me of my worth when I couldn’t see it myself. Intensive inpatient therapy also gave me tools to cope and begin rebuilding my life.
The experience changed me forever. It taught me that resilience is not about never falling—it’s about finding the courage to rise again. It showed me the importance of community, of leadership rooted in service, and of carrying hope even in the darkest times.
Now, as a student once again, I am pursuing a career in [insert your STEAM field here] because I want to transform my story of hardship into one of purpose. My goal is to not only succeed academically, but to use my education to help others who feel overwhelmed by challenges. Whether through mentorship, service, or innovation, I want my work to reflect the values that carried me through: faith, perseverance, and integrity.
Anthony Belliamy’s legacy resonates deeply with me. Like him, I believe in leading with courage and optimism, and in using hardship as fuel for growth. This scholarship would not only honor my journey, but also allow me to continue building a future rooted in resilience, service, and hope.
José Ventura and Margarita Melendez Mexican-American Scholarship Fund
My name is Joel Rodriguez, and I am passionate about being a first-generation, Mexican-American college graduate because I am setting a new standard for what is possible in my family. For me, earning a degree isn’t just about personal success—it’s about breaking generational barriers and opening doors that were never opened for those before me. I want my younger relatives to see that success is possible, even when the odds are stacked against you.
I was raised by my mother, a strong and determined woman who often worked two or three jobs just to keep food on the table, pay the bills, and maintain transportation. Watching her struggle and sacrifice made it clear to me from a young age that nothing in life is handed to you. That work ethic became part of who I am.
To support my education and my future, I enlisted in the United States Army. I joined initially to help pay for school, but my service turned into something much deeper. I sacrificed time, relationships, and even parts of myself to serve this country. I’ve experienced war, endured long separations from family, and missed moments of peace and happiness that many take for granted. My path to college hasn’t been traditional. I’m not a teenager fresh out of high school—I’m a man who’s faced life head-on and come out stronger on the other side.
Still, I continue to push forward. Why? Because I believe in creating a better life—not just for myself, but for the generations that will follow me. I want my life to mean something, and I want my accomplishments to inspire change. I’ve always been curious about how things work, what drives systems, and how we can build a better future. That curiosity led me to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering.
Today, I am learning more than just technical concepts. I’m learning how to navigate higher education—how scholarships work, what opportunities exist, and how to advocate for myself. Applying for this scholarship is a big step, because for most of my life, I didn’t believe in asking for help. But I’ve realized something important: in order to take care of others, I first need to take care of myself. I am not just a student—I am a provider, a soldier, and a leader.
Being a first-generation, Mexican-American college graduate is my mission—and I carry it with pride, responsibility, admiration, and purpose.
Lynch Engineering Scholarship
My long-term career goal is to work with the Department of Defense (DoD) in the development of advanced robotics and drone technologies—specifically to help counter the growing threat these systems pose on the modern battlefield. As warfare evolves, especially in conflicts like the war between Ukraine and Russia, unmanned systems are playing a critical role. I want to be part of the engineering teams that design innovative solutions to protect soldiers and uphold national security.
My long-term career goal is to work with the Department of Defense (DoD) to develop advanced robotics and drone technologies—specifically, systems that can counter the increasing use of unmanned machines on the battlefield. As warfare evolves in conflicts like the war between Ukraine and Russia, autonomous and remotely operated weapons are playing a larger and more dangerous role. I want to help design and engineer the technologies that can meet these threats head-on—technologies that protect soldiers, enhance mission effectiveness, and uphold national security.
I am currently pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering because it aligns with both my passions and my professional mission. I’ve always been fascinated by how things work, and I enjoy breaking down complex systems, solving problems, and building tools that serve a real purpose. Engineering allows me to turn curiosity into impact—and impact is what drives me.
My values were forged through experience. Before I became a student, I served ten years in the U.S. Army as an infantryman and designated breacher. In that role, I overcame physical and tactical barriers using both mechanical tools and explosive charges. I calculated safe standoff distances using kinematic equations, leveraged tools for efficiency, and worked under pressure in high-risk environments. These were not just military tasks—they were acts of applied problem-solving that introduced me to the power of engineering.
Through that experience, I learned the importance of preparation, adaptability, and responsibility—values I carry with me today. I also gained a deeper understanding of the cost of war and the value of life. I know what it feels like to be on the ground, facing evolving threats with limited tools. That’s why I want to be on the other side now—designing the next generation of tools that save lives and give our service members the edge they need.
At my core, I’m driven by service. My military service may have ended, but my sense of duty has not. I want to continue contributing to something larger than myself—this time through innovation, research, and design. My goal isn’t just to build machines; it’s to build solutions that directly support the people who wear the uniform, just as I once did.
This scholarship would not only support me financially—it would enable me to complete my degree and continue serving my country in a new and meaningful way. It would empower me to combine my past experiences with my academic goals to become the kind of engineer who doesn’t just work on machines—but who understands exactly what’s at stake when those machines are deployed.