BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C. – It’s been a big month for Rachel Rodriguez, an eighth-grader at Marrington Middle School of the Arts, who is making waves both in and out of the classroom.
Rodriguez, a visual arts major and honors art student, recently had her work featured in the Berkeley County School District Board Art Show, where nearly 60 student artists were showcased. That same week, she was recognized as a Junior Scholar for her top PSAT performance—an academic honor awarded to high-achieving middle school students.
But perhaps the biggest news? Rodriguez was selected as the Military Youth of the Year for Joint Base Charleston’s Weapons Station.
“I was really surprised and shocked (to be named),” she said. “It was definitely surprising and exciting.”
The award, given through the Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA), celebrates outstanding leadership and community service by military-connected youth. She was honored at the BGCA Youth of the Year event in Columbia on May 2, where she also served as a speaker and was named state runner-up.
“To me it was really important because you’re the kid that represents the entire center, from the little kids to the older kids,” she said. “You’re a role model for them. You’re supposed to show that and embody that, and to me that was really important because I get to represent all these people.”
Rodriguez, whose father is a retired Coast Guard service member, has been active in the youth center’s Keystone Club, which focuses on leadership, academic success, and community service. She regularly volunteers for beach cleanups and local shelters, and says her favorite school subject—science—has inspired dreams of becoming a marine biologist.
When she’s not volunteering or speaking at events (she delivered three speeches in one week this month), Rodriguez supports her classmates and helps new students adjust to school life. Her leadership philosophy is simple: everyone deserves respect, even when it’s not easy.
📣 STAY IN THE LOOP 📣
📰 Sign Up for Berkeley County, SC Newsletter ⬅️
Rodriguez continues to be a role model at school and in her community, representing both her youth center and Marrington Middle with pride and poise. She is the daughter of Reggie and Raquel Rodriguez.
