Above: THNB Vice President, Brenda Howard, and John Rodriguez
By: Dr. Andrew Yox, Honors Director
John Gregory Rodriguez, of Mount Pleasant, has become the 2021 Texas Heritage National Bank (THNB) Scholar of Northeast Texas Community College. This $4,000 scholarship goes to a top Presidential Scholar of the NTCC Honors Program. Rodriguez, will inherit this prestigious designation from other previous vanguard students of NTCC such as Jordan Whelchel, who went on to Rice University; and Emmalea Shaw, now working on her doctorate in physical therapy at the North Texas State medical campus in Fort Worth.
Rodriguez attained an excellent record in one year at NTCC. He presented his work on Hispanic Quietism at the Texas Webb Society, and the Great Plains Honors Council. The journal Touchstone has accepted his article for publication, and his poster won fourth-place in the 2021 McGraw-Hill poster competition. This October, he will represent NTCC at the National Collegiate Honors Council, presenting alongside juniors and seniors of major university honors programs throughout the nation.
Texas Heritage National Bank traces a lineage back to 1889 when it was called the Bank of Daingerfield. THNB has branches in Daingerfield, Omaha, Ore City, and Sulphur Springs. The bank is currently opening two new branches, in Dallas and Gilmer. This is the sixth year that the bank has sponsored this most generous Presidential Scholarship at the college.
NTCC Honors Director, Dr. Andrew Yox notes that Rodriguez is an “impressive polymath, and true scholar. It is an easy wager for any professor to make: John will go above and beyond in any academic project.” His former Spanish teacher, Maryna Otero captured another aspect of Rodriguez’ character from his work on a service learning initiative. “He possesses,” she noted, “a cool charm, and a unique management style. He fosters a positive and creative atmosphere, which motivates his classmates to achieve goals collaboratively.”
John is the son of Juan and Loruama Rodriguez.
