Jillian Rodriguez is in her first year at the University of Michigan, Class of 2012, and is actively pursuing a life led in the spirit of freedom, change, and interpersonal connection. A graduate of Royal Oak and George A. Dondero high schools, she served as a reporter, managing editor, and two year editor in chief for Royal Oak’s newsmagazine, the Acorn, which is recognized for journalistic achievement on a state and national level annually. Jillians invested over 200 hours of service into the Royal Oak community and school district during high school; through work on the student government, Save Our Youth Task Force, Challenge Day Be the Change Team, and other community coalitions.

With an ethnic background consisting of Puerto Rican, Mexican, and Maltese roots, Jillian has developed strong connections with Hispanic and Latino organizations such as The Hispanic Heritage Foundation, The University of Michigan’s Multi Ethnic Student Association (MESA), The Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF), and Latinos on the Fast Track (LOFT). She is also taking on the challenge of a semi-immersion Intensive Spanish Language Program at U of M, and developing interpersonal communication skills through the Intergroup Relations (IGR) program, which offers rigorous social dialogue and group relations studies. Jillian enjoys creative writing, intergroup leadership, communication, and words that surpass two syllables.

Notable accomplishments:

– Representative at prominent statewide Michigan conferences,

    including Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership Conference 2006 (HOBY),

    Michigan Association of Student Councils State Conference presenter

    and participant 2005-2007, Michigan Association of Student Councils

    Leadership Camp 2006, and Michigan Interscholastic Press

    Association Journalism Conference 2006, 2007.

– State Level winner of Michigan PTA Reflections Contest, Award of

    Excellence in Literature, 2007.

– Michigan Interscholastic Press Association (MIPA) Award of Merit –

    Diversity Coverage, 2006, MIPA Award of Merit – News Analysis,

    2007.

– Royal Oak chapter of the Optimist Club, Youth Appreciation Award,

    2007.

– Regular column in the city of Royal Oak’s Daily Tribune

    newspaper,“Student Voices”, 2007-2008.

–First four year staff member of Royal Oak High School’s Acorn

    newsmagazine, first staff member to hold the position of editor in

    chief for two years.

– Recipient of the Gold medallion for Journalism from the Hispanic

    Heritage Fund, Chicago, Illinois Conference, June 2008.

– Recipient of the Hispanic Scholarship Foundation award for Excellence

    in Journalism, 2008.

– Recipient of the Elks Club Most Valuable Student award for the city of

    Royal Oak, 2007.

– Four year student council member, founder of the Longfellow

    Elementary Tutoring and Aftercare program, 2005-2008. Served as

    class officer, president, student council officer, and National Honor

    Society president.

– State of Michigan female recipient of the 2008 Al Neuharth Free Spirit

    Journalism Award, including a scholarship and week-long Freedom

    Forum Conference in Washington D.C. at the newly opened

    Newseum, March 2008.

Jillian’s blog can be read, relished, mocked, and thoroughly enjoyed here.

Want to reach her? Send an e-mail here.

RETURN TO BIOS