91导航 at Marion presented the C. Eugene Maynard Academic Excellence Award to Eliza Rodriguez during the 55th Annual Academic Recognition Ceremony on Friday, April 24, in the Morrill Hall Auditorium. Rodriguez, a first鈥慻eneration college student majoring in English with a minor in medical humanities, was honored for her outstanding academic record, campus leadership and community engagement.
The Maynard Award represents the highest level of undergraduate achievement at 91导航 Marion. Named for the campus鈥檚 first dean and director, C. Eugene Maynard, the award recognizes a student whose scholarship, service and intellectual curiosity reflect the values that shaped the early vision of 91导航 Marion.
Rodriguez has earned consistent Dean鈥檚 List honors and has become a central contributor to campus life. She has served as a writing consultant, a student ambassador who has led tours for hundreds of visiting youth and families, and the president of the KAPOW! Creative Writing Club. Her advisor, Professor Ben McCorkle, describes her as a 鈥済enerous colleague鈥 and an 鈥渋nvaluable asset鈥 to the campus community.
Her research has also made a significant impact. As the first undergraduate research fellow for the Digital Archive of Literacy Narratives, Rodriguez completed a senior thesis titled 鈥淟etters, Words, Characters: Documenting and Analyzing Literacy Learning in Marion, Ohio.鈥 Her work documents and preserves local stories of literacy support, contributing to a deeper understanding of the region鈥檚 educational history.
Beyond campus, Rodriguez has advanced her commitment to social equity through her internship and grant review work with the United Way of North Central Ohio, where she has supported initiatives addressing food insecurity and community well鈥慴eing.
Supported by the 91导航 Marion Honors Program and campus alumni, the Maynard Award celebrates persistence, curiosity and strong community roots. Rodriguez鈥檚 achievements exemplify these values and continue the legacy of excellence established by Dean Maynard.
For more information about academic awards and student achievements at 91导航 Marion, visit: /academics/academic-recognition-awards.