Frederick grad honored for leadership

Rodas received a bronze medallion in the sports category and a $1,000 scholarship for her academic excellence and leadership.

An Advanced Placement scholar at Frederick High, Rodas was also a six-season varsity track team member, and captain of the school’s track and soccer teams. She also served as National Honor Society treasurer and co-vice president of the organization and volunteers at the Frederick County Humane Society.

‘‘[The award] means a lot to me,” Rodas, 18, said. ‘‘To me, it means that I and other Hispanic youth are doing things in our communities and that is not being overlooked, but instead recognized. It was so interesting to see and be around other high-achieving Hispanic young people in our area. It was good to see I wasn’t the only one.”

For the last 11 years, the Washington, D.C.-based Hispanic Heritage Foundation has issued its Youth Awards to honor work by high school seniors in and out of the classroom. The foundation works to identify, inspire and promote Latino role models through national leadership, cultural, educational and workforce programs.

The awards are given out in 12 regions across the United States. This year, the foundation received more than 13,000 applications, and awarded 252 students. In the Washington, D.C., region, the foundation received 900 written and online applications, and selected 21 students to receive the awards and grants in various categories, including business, journalism and engineering and mathematics.

‘‘We want to position these students as Latino leaders in their communities,” said Elvira Sanchez Yebra, senior manager of the youth awards for the foundation. ‘‘These young people do a lot in their community. They get good grades, are going to top universities and doing so much in their ‘spare time.’”

Rodas encourages other young people to get involved in the community, suggesting they look for opportunities to do things they love, as she mixes her love for animals with work at the Humane Society.

‘‘I think it is really important to get started as early as possible,” she said. ‘‘You can learn opportunities for young people and if you give back, you help out those who need it. For me, I’m self-fulfilled when I volunteer.”

This fall, Rodas will begin studying neuroscience and psychology at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.

Frederick students win essay contest

Four students from Frederick were among those honored on May 15 in the 2008 Harry L. Decker Historical Essay Contest.

The contest offers fourth-grade students in Frederick County the opportunity to conduct research and write original essays on topics about county history. This year, students were asked to write about the history of a particular institution or organization in Frederick County.

Top awards of $100 were presented to Devin Clark of Waverley Elementary School for his essay on Independent Hose Company and Kathryn Plamondon of St. John Regional Catholic School, who wrote about the Frederick Woman’s Civic Club.

Honorable mention awards were presented to Katherine Luzi and Tyler McGraw, both students at St. Thomas More Academy, for individual essays on Fort Detrick.

This contest, in its ninth year, is sponsored by the Historical Society of Frederick County, honoring the contributions of local historian Harry L. Decker.

Five complete respiratory care program

Frederick Community College honored 13 students, including five from Frederick, last month for completing their studies in respiratory care.

Honored by the college with degrees and a respiratory care pin were: Jenita Johnson, Delores Lokey, Teri Mills, Natalie Morris and Dawn Toth.

The students received associate degrees in applied science at a May 22 ceremony and are now eligible to take the registered respiratory therapist licensing exam.

Do you have an item for City Beat? Contact reporter Keith L. Martin at 301-846-2134, e-mail kmartin@gazette.net or fax news to 301-846-2124.