Senior Eduardo Rodriguez-pina received the Southern Methodist University Presidential Scholarship for a fully-funded four-year undergraduate degree.

Cherokee yearbook reporter junior Rosa Vazquez interviewed Rodriguez-pina about his award.

What does this scholarship mean to you?

“It’s an opportunity to go to the school that I’ve wanted to go to for two years at absolutely no cost, and study whatever I want to study at no cost, so it means a lot.”

What will you study at SMU?

“I’m planning on double majoring in computer science and music composition. Music has always been a big part of my life and I feel like I need to keep it up at SMU. Computer science is an important role, and I feel like I can go far and make a future with computer science.”

Where do you see yourself after SMU?

“After SMU, it’s going to be a combination of still being at SMU, talking to old professors and interviewing for internships and such, and being at home. I want to spend time with my family and friends. Job wise I’d want to find something to be independent and work from home. It really depends on the internships and scholarships I can get. I can’t really be too sure.”

How were you informed? What did you do right after you got the news?

“At first it was sent as an email through my applicant portal, and then it sent me to a full letter, and afterward they had informed me and made sure I had gotten the email. At the time it was around 2 a.m. So, there wasn’t much I could do. But I did email my music director at Sam Houston High School and told him the good news. I was in shock for a while and then I sat in my chair and went to sleep.”

Restaurants and other businesses are closed because of  COVID-19. How will you celebrate?

“What I’ve done so far is talked to a lot of people that have supported me through my senior year. So, a few teachers and friends, so talking to them and sending the news to friends and getting to brag, but that’s really all I can do, considering. But it means a lot to be able to talk to the people who have supported me.”