Following in the footsteps of Annika Rodriguez, the namesake of the Rodriguez Scholarship, senior Claudia Romeu will become the first Rodriguez scholar to enter the Peace Corps, following graduation this spring.

Claudia Romeu is scheduled to leave this September for a 27-month commitment to the Peace Corps, with whom she plans to work on health extension programs. Although she does not know exactly where she will be headed, Romeu does know she is going to Latin America.

Having spent much of her life there, Romeu explained that she has “always felt an obligation to Latin America.” The native Puerto Rican spent time studying abroad in Argentina, as well as leading a group of American high school students doing service work in Costa Rica last summer.

A self-described proactive person, Romeu feels that service has always been a big part of who she is.

“You learn more from those little interactions,” she said.

Romeu has fostered this love for service through various programs on campus, including Latino Empowerment Team and College Connections, programs sponsored by her scholarship program. This scholarship program, according to Romeu, has helped to define her college experience.

“There’s always one program that takes over your experience at college,” Romeu said. “For me, that was Annika Rodriguez.”

She credits the program with “opening her eyes to the rest of the world” by allowing her to learn from the experiences of her fellow Rodriguez scholars, whom she calls her brothers and sisters, and from the legacy left by her role model, Annika Rodriguez.

“We were very similar in many ways,” Romeu said, smiling. “She served as an inspiration.”

Rodriguez graduated from what was then known as the Olin School of Business in 1996. As a student, she was an active member of the Association of Latin American Students, taking on the role of president of the club her senior year.

After graduation, the Puerto Rican native then joined the Peace Corps and was sent to Honduras. Unfortunately, Honduras experienced a terrible flash flood at the time, and Rodriguez was killed. The Annika Rodriguez Scholars Program was created in her memory.

The program is dedicated to leadership, diversity on campus and, in the spirit of Rodriguez, service. The scholars belong to different “families” in which the older students mentor the younger members of the program, which helps foster close relationships.

Sophomore Aidan Hamke, a friend and fellow scholar, supports Romeu’s decision to enter the Peace Corps.

“She works so hard and is very dedicated to everything she does. Claudia is.truly genuine.[her] enthusiasm for helping others, be it through community service, or telling a joke and giving someone a hug to brighten his or her day, is truly an inspiration,” Hamke said.

Hamke admitted to worrying about Romeu’s safety-after all, Rodriguez died while serving-but Hamke stands behind Romeu if this is what Romeu wants to do since Romeu feels it is how she could make a great impact. Romeu mentioned that her parents were worried as well: but for her, the safety concerns have not yet fully sunk in.

“I’m such an optimist; I try to convince myself nothing will happen. I am religious, and I do pray.there’s that presence or being that will protect me,” Romeu said.

Romeu has two pieces of advice for anyone interested in joining her in the Peace Corps. First, start early. Those interested should apply about one year before they are interested in actually leaving on assignment. The application process is long, and interested volunteers undergo extreme medical and dental exams. The other advice? Just go for it. Sometimes the risky situation is worth it.

“I’m hoping it will be the best experience of my life,” Romeu said.

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