Alyssa Rodriguez achieved success in the classroom, on the softball field and basketball court in high school and at the Miami Lakes Optimist Club.
Now, the Doral Academy student is ready to take her talents to Webber International University in Babson Park, Florida.
As the female winner of the Roland Gomez Scholarship Award, Optimist Club president Jim Hamilton presented Rodriguez a check for college-related expenses last week at his sports shop on Main Street.
Rodriguez, who recorded a 3.9 GPA and plans to study sports business and management, said she’s excited about attending college and will play softball for the Warriors.
“I like the campus and the coach was really nice and seems to know what he’s doing,” Rodriguez said. “And the school offers me a lot more than other colleges.”
Rodriguez’s Doral Academy team won the district championship this past season before losing in the regional semifinals.
She has been playing softball since she was a little girl and started playing at the Optimist Club.
Rodriguez said her bother and father are huge softball fans and frequently watch her play in high school and the Optimist Club.
One of Rodriguez’s favorite moments came during a softball game when she played for Mater Academy against Pace at Miami Lakes Optimist Park.
She said more than 200 people were there to witness the game between two intense rivals.
“The 200 people made the game more intense,” she said. “It felt awesome because we won, it would’ve felt bad had we lost.”