Roman Rodriguez and Coach Danny Collins

At 5 feet, 7 inches and 164 pounds, Spring Oaks Middle School eighth-grader Roman Rodriguez is a solid, but not super-sized, young athlete in the heavily muscled competitive world of discus and shot put.

Earlier this spring, 14-year-old Roman shattered district records in both the discus and shot put. He threw the discus 166.7 feet, 16 feet farther than the previous record set three decades ago. Then he heaved the shot put more than 51 feet, about 11 inches longer than the 1987 district record.

Roman’s leadership on and off the athletic field led teachers at Spring Oaks Middle to award him the school’s Character Without Question Award. At the SBISD Board of Trustees’ April 28 regular meeting, Roman was one of 45 students so honored during a special reception and event presentation.

“Roman is a true leader. Other students at Spring Oaks Middle look up to him for the right thing to say or do, and how to act. He is a sure, calm and confident student and a leader academically and on the athletic field,” middle school Principal David Sablatura says.

“I try to set a good example for other students,” Roman says. This goal-minded eighth-grader is multitalented. In football, he played both quarterback and running back. He was a point guard on the basketball team. Quick on his feet, he ran on the track relay team, too.

At last year’s Junior Olympics in Knoxville, Tenn., he finished fourth nationally in shot put and then threw the discus 150 feet to finish seventh nationally in that field event. As the son of Spring Woods High School track coach Gerald Rodriguez, he was introduced to track and field as a toddler, following his father to summer clinics and practices.

“I’ve seen myself on film at age 4 throwing the shot put 5 feet,” Roman says. In addition to his father’s constant encouragement, Roman’s competitive spark has a larger family flame: His three older brothers were all shot-putters and discus throwers, and all did well in high school and college athletics.

“I want to be successful, throw for a college and maybe be on the USA team and go to the Olympics one day. That would be incredible,” shot-putter Roman says.

45 SBISD students earned Character Without Question award

In addition to Roman, 44 other SBISD students earned Character Without Question awards during an April 28 special reception and Board of Trustees meeting. Now celebrating its fifth year as an annual district recognition event, the award is given to students for acts of outstanding character observed and documented by teachers and fellow students.

“According to them, you are responsible citizens who show respect, caring and kindness to everyone and are always ready to ‘do the right thing’ in all situations. You truly make a difference in your school, your community and in the lives of others,” Superintendent of Schools Duncan Klussmann told the recipients.

“One of the highest goals of education is to help students achieve their social and academic potential. Your positive actions demonstrate how much you have achieved by being dependable, respectful and honest,” he also said.

Positive character traits for these award winners include honesty, integrity, responsibility, dependability, respect, perserverance, effort, courage, caring, kindness, citizenship and civic virtue. One student from each SBISD campus was chosen through nominations from students or teachers.

This year’s Character Without Question Award recipients are:

Schools for Early Learning: Natalia Espinoza, Bear Blvd.; Carlos Salgado, Lion Lane; Alejandro Yetzael Garza, Panda Path; Arely Diaz, Tiger Trail; and Evan Purtee-Thomas, Wildcat Way.

Elementaries: Manuel Mercado, Buffalo Creek; Will McNulty, Bunker Hill; Ismael Lopez, Cedar Brook; Briana Bocanegra, Edgewood; Lucas Perkins, Frostwood; Yesrel Martinez, Hollibrook; Hellen Wainaina, Housman; Amy Houser, Hunters Creek; Jake Whelen, Meadow Wood; Thomas Schatzman, Memorial Drive; Amber Moser, Nottingham; Jose Bonilla, Pine Shadows; Kassandra Lopez, Ridgecrest; Arleigh Lindahl, Rummel Creek; Javier Martinez, Shadow Oaks; Marco Echavarria, Sherwood; Hannah Schmidt, Spring Branch; Bryanna Vallenilla, Spring Shadows; Emily Mitchell, Terrace; Samantha Acosta, Thornwood; Jose Rueda, Treasure Forest; Travis Stromberg, Valley Oaks; Marisol Roman, Westwood; Julia Gex, Wilchester; and Brianna Crump, Woodview.

Middle Schools: Emma Schultz, Cornerstone; Colunva Garcia, Landrum; Emily Snow, Memorial; Andy Lara, Northbrook; Lindsey Limbaugh, Spring Branch; Will Lynde, Spring Forest; Roman Rodriguez, Spring Oaks; Caitlin Luper, Spring Woods; and Jacquelinne Tobar, Westchester Academy.

High Schools: Matt Silva, Memorial; Octovio Borrego, Northbrook; Rachel Ashford, School of Choice; Jacqueline Flores, Spring Woods; Sam Tuggle, Stratford; and Constance Owens, Westchester Academy.

The Character Without Question Award reception and special recognition event was coordinated by Phyllis Wells, the district’s Social and Emotional Learning Coordinator.

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Excerpts from Nominations

Pre-Kindergarten
She is a loyal and caring friend to all of her classmates.  She always puts forth her best effort in every situation.  She has an honest heart and therefore that makes her extremely likeable by all.

ALWAYS CONCERNED ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE’S FEELINGS AND NEEDS
HE IS ALWAYS WILLING TO HELP IN THE CLASSROOM AND HIS FRIENDS

She always treats her peers and teachers with respect

Elementary

He is a motivator of the class and always keeps everyone on a positive note. At recess, he congratulates everyone for a job well done and offers encouragement when someone makes a poor play.

Constantly doing little, usually overlooked acts of kindness & responsibility.

He is responsible, dependable, and shows a great deal of maturity and confidence

He greets each day with vim and vigor and celebrates challenges with remarkable ease. Each day is seen as an opportunity to learn. 

She is known for leadership skills, as well as for her maturity and sensitivity.  She has a captivating gentleness.

He is very cheerful and never makes a student feel bad or lonely.  He is always friendly and responsible, even when an adult is not around.

She has the courage to do the right thing when others around her may not be doing so

She has never let us down!

He exhibits outstanding leadership qualities.
When things are not right, he takes time to discuss the problems and brainstorm reasonable and positive solutions.

She tends to look after the needs of others before caring for herself. 

He is modest and humble.  He knows right from wrong and his has always chosen to do the correct thing.

She makes wise choices when with her peers and in the academic setting and is very caring. 

She constantly tries to relate positivity to others. It’s as though no matter how dire the situation, she can always see the up side.

He is a true example of the kind of student who should be recognized for the Character Without Question Award.  His kind, caring, and quiet ways deserve to be recognized. 

In the face of a challenge that might devastate others, he persevered and actually blossomed

She enjoys helping others and is willing to go the extra mile to get something done.  She makes wise choices in her friendships but never looks down on anyone

He embodies everything good about life and shares it with others each and every day.”

She leads both by example and through her actions, and she is able to do so without offending anyone. 

She takes her responsibilities very seriously. 

She does not make quick judgments about things she hears, but waits to hear the whole story

Middle School

She is an advocate for all students at school. Even in difficult situations, she considers the feelings and opinions of others

She is always giving and provides such a positive light to those around her.  She said in her interview “happiness is not based upon circumstance”

.   He is good without being what the students call a “goody, goody”.  He has garnered the respect of his peers and teachers alike.

In group situations she quietly assumes a leadership role – teaching and guiding by example.  She never seems to tire of going the extra mile or attacking difficult work.

Service to others is very important to him. 

He gives a firm handshake; is respected by all his teachers and peers.
He never gives up because failure is not an option for him. He is motivated and motivates his team towards success.

In her cooperation with students and adults she demonstrates what kind of person she is and handles herself with grace in all situations

She is definitely a student our team relies on in situations where reliability is of the utmost importance

High School

He is an excellent student and a natural leader. 

He has respect, not only for his teachers and administrators on campus, but he respects his peers as well.  He can often be seen helping underclassmen and fellow seniors alike with school work or whatever issue they might have.

Not only is he scrupulously honest, he motivates/cajoles/leads others into doing the right thing. 

She also has a marked sense of integrity that goes beyond her years.

Selflessness is a part of her character. Her ambition to help others is genuine, and it shows in the amount of time and work she puts into her service work.

I can always count on her to go above and beyond. 

posted 04-30-08