Middlesex County College: Strong Leader: Middlesex College Grad Recognized By G.I. Jobs Magazine

Middlesex NJ

16 June, 2022

5:02 PM

Description

Press release from Middlesex County College: June 9, 2022 Melvin Rodas '22 has earned recognition from G.I. Jobs magazine as one of 33 winners of the Student Veteran Leadership Awards. Rodas, 29, will be featured in the August issue of G.I. Jobs, a publication provided free to service members, transitioning veterans and families worldwide. "When I saw the award, I was frozen," Rodas said. "I got emotional." Born in Far Rockaway, Queens, to parents of Salvadorian descent, Rodas lived in Bound Brook before moving to Piscataway and graduating from high school there. He joined the Marines his senior year, looking for a challenge and a chance to test himself. He became a parachute rigger, essentially part of a support crew for joint military operations. Rodas made about 200 jumps during his military career. "I like to live my life in the fast lane," he said, laughing. "Get paid to go parachuting? Sign me up. But ultimately, the job is support. We deliver food and water, and we worked with reconnaissance and special ops and jumping personnel." Rodas was deployed overseas twice in his career but began to accrue injuries from his jumps and the demands of the job began to take a toll. "I talked to so many people about my plans," Rodas said. "Ultimately, as much as no one wanted me to leave, I said I now want to do other things." Rodas left the Marines and enrolled at the College in January of 2020. He began working with the Veterans and Servicemembers Association on campus. LaTanya Everett, assistant veteran specialist at the College, nominated him for the award. "Melvin is the epitome of a successful student-veteran," Everett said. "He had a distinguished career in the military, became a student leader at Middlesex College – graduating with highest honors – and is transferring to Rutgers University. He has a very bright future." It gave Rodas a good feeling to show the recognition to his mother (Reina) and father (Eugenio) because he knows it made them proud. "It's hard to impress my dad," Rodas said. "Seeing the award made him happy, and him being proud makes me proud." Rodas also credits the love of his wife Kristen. The couple have two young kids and live in Piscataway. "She's the real hero in all this," Rodas said. Rodas will continue his education at Rutgers and is studying for a degree in political science. He is keeping his future options open. He enjoys learning about labor and international relations and is thinking of working in government. "I hope I made a mark on all of the people I came in contact with." This press release was produced by Middlesex County College. The views expressed here are the author's own.