Rodriguez named LULAC student of the year

October 30 - November 5, 2023

By Angelita Faller

A future attorney and president of the student chapter of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) at UA Little Rock, Yvonne Rodrigues, has been named the organization’s 2023 Student of the Year.

“I feel extremely honored to receive the Student of the Year Award,” she said. “This award is special because I am being honored for representing my culture and helping other people in my community and my fellow students at UA Little Rock.”

Her life is dedicated to serving and helping others in multiple roles. At UA Little Rock, Rodriguez serves as a Student Government Association (SGA) senator and chair of the SGA’s Trojan Action Group, outreach director for the Young Democrats, a secretary for the International Simulations Association, and a student ambassador for the College of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education.

Rodriguez has been involved in LULAC for the past three years and became president during the spring 2022 semester. She’s been working hard to reenergize the student organization after COVID. Bringing back several in-person events, recruiting new officers, and establishing a constitution are just a few things she’s taken on in her time as president. Her efforts have been successful, with membership growing from around 20 to more than 40 students in the last few years.

“We’ve doubled our membership since I first joined LULAC,” she said. “We are trying to do a lot of things for the students. Right now, we are working on several events with the Multicultural Center to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.”

Once she graduates in May 2024, Rodriguez plans to take a gap year where she can gain experience working at a law office or for a judge. She plans to go to law school where she can specialize in family and immigration law.