RI Public Charter School Standout Accepted to Five Ivies -- First-Generation College Student
GoLocalProv News Team
RI Public Charter School Standout Accepted to Five Ivies -- First-Generation College Student
Rodiguez was accepted at Brown University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Harvard University, and Yale University as a member of the class of 2026.
“While I’ve always wanted to learn and perform well academically, my grades were never the only thing important to me. For me, friendships and connection to a larger community have always been a driving force,” Rodriguez said.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST“Academic prestige was not my only motivation to cast a wide net by applying to several colleges and universities," he added. "I am looking for an intellectually curious and supportive community that will help me discover what I am truly meant to do.”
Rodriguez and his peers will announce their college decisions at BVP’s 5th Annual College Signing Day on Friday, May 6.
“I’m incredibly fortunate to have a difficult decision to make, but I know that ultimately, I want to choose a school not based on name, but on what community is best for me,” Rodriguez said.
About Standout Blackstone Valley Prep Senior
Rodriguez, a Valley Falls resident and future first-generation college student, has been an active member of the BVPHS community since his enrollment in ninth grade.
According to BVP, he is a member of the National Honors Society, a founding member of the Community Action Crew, a peer tutor, and runs on the cross country and indoor and outdoor track teams. He was a PrepareRI intern, a Gates Scholarship finalist, and a QuestBridge College Prep Scholar.
“Josh is a dynamo—he's hardworking and humble, he's a critical thinker and compassionate. Josh is a student whose curiosity, drive, and humility have a subtle but powerful impact on not just his own learning, but that of his peers. Josh is always asking questions about how things work—whether experimenting with 3-D printing or analyzing microscopic details in a book—and his curiosity is infectious,” said Nate Deysher, Advanced Placement English Literature Instructor.
"Josh is single-handedly the most intellectually curious student I have ever met and possesses the unique ability to find connections between seemingly unrelated topics," said David Michael Jose, Director of College and Careers.
"But, even more impressive than Joshua’s academic ability is his endless kindness, empathy, and ability to be a positive force in the face of adversity. It is rare to see Josh without a smile, and he treats everyone with equal respect, and compassion, both traits he values and cultivates for the betterment of his community," he added. "He has a unique ability to find connections between his passions, and he truly loves to learn; I imagine Josh will be a lifelong student, always chasing new knowledge to enthusiastically share with others."
Rodriguez' admissions come on the heels of other high-performing BVP students. As GoLocal reported in 2020:
"A member of the senior class at Blackstone Valley Prep (BVP) has been accepted to Brown University, Harvard University, and Yale University -- as well as URI, PC, Brandeis University, Clark University, Skidmore College, Swarthmore College, Wellesley College, Williams College, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
'My first reaction was obviously that I was super happy,' said Victoria Wijerathnayapa, of her college acceptances. “I logged into the portals as soon as the decisions were available. It was a really emotional experience, but a happy one.'”
About Blackstone Valley Prep
Blackstone Valley Prep (BVP) is a network of high-performing, tuition-free public charter schools in Northern Rhode Island. As a growing, intentionally diverse network of six schools, BVP offers a high-quality public school choice to the families of Central Falls, Cumberland, Lincoln, and Pawtucket and currently serves 2,200 scholars in grades K-12.
BVP's mission is to prepare every scholar for success in college and the world beyond. More information can be found at www.blackstonevalleyprep.org.