Tinian Jr./Sr. High School Tinian JROTC Cadet Named QuestBridge Match Scholarship Recipient

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Authored by: C/1LT Sofia Del Rosario
Photos by: C/SGT Juris Cabarles, C/1LT Sofia Del Rosario

Cadet Maj. Clarize Crystal Rodriguez, a now 18-year-old senior from Tinian High School was accepted into the prestigious University of Chicago (UChicago) through the QuestBridge Match Scholars Program. Along with an acceptance to the 4-year university, Ms. Clarize also received a full-ride scholarship, covering all college expenses. 

As a high school student, Ms. Clarize pledged to give back to her community. She joined many officer positions in various organizations around her island. Some of her most notable roles include being the 4-H NMI State Council President, as well as one of the six members nationwide in the 4-H Youth Leadership Team, the Tinian High School 23-24 STUCO President, Tinian National Honor Society Vice President and an officer for her local JROTC Program. Beyond her extracurricular activities, Ms. Clarize also participated in a variety of sports such as Volleyball, Basketball, and Badminton.

During her time in JROTC, Ms. Clarize upheld officer positions as the S3 Operations and Training Officer for the school year 2022-2023 and the Special Projects Officer for the school year 2023-2024. With her rigorous JROTC positions, Ms.Clarize was able to develop excellent skills in technical areas, management, event planning, budgeting and so much more. Her experiences in not only JROTC but in all of her leadership roles aided her in gaining the essential skills for the career field she will be majoring in. 

In a recent interview with Ms. Clarize, she stated “Despite everything I had experienced,  English not being my first language, my home being broken due to Typhoon Yutu, being raised by a single mom, not being financially stable for most of my childhood life, and having to live independently in my most crucial years of high school, I could’ve just sulked in all my problems, but I pushed myself to become better than that because I’m worth more than the struggles I have.” Ms. Clarize is a walking example of taking one’s hardships and turning them into fuel for a better future. 

Ms. Clarize also stated that the early life obstacles that she endured ultimately solidified her decision in applying through the competitive Scholars Program, in hopes of a more secure educational future. With support from her peers, family, and staff from school and other clubs, she remained motivated to proceed with the application. 

Through months of waiting for a letter back, Ms. Clarize was matched to UChicago on December 2, 2023, and plans to obtain her Master’s Degree in Business Economics. She is excited to share her skills in event planning, management, leadership, and making interpersonal relationships with all her peers. She also claimed she gets excited by the idea of thoroughly planning events and being a person who constantly takes the initiative while being a role model to others and is excited to share her ambitions beyond the CNMI.

Her lifelong achievements were commended by Mayor Edwin Aldan of Tinian and Aguiguan on May 22, 2024, through a plaque of recognition.

On behalf of the Tinian JROTC Stallion Battalion, we wish Ms. Clarize Crystal Rodriguez a huge thank you for her contributions to the battalion, school, and community as a whole. We wish her the very best of luck in her future endeavors at the University of Chicago!