He came to the United States in search of the American dream and found it at the University.

Call Alfred Rodriguez a model student. During high school, Rodriguez voluntarily enrolled in summer classes to improve his English. He graduated from high school as his valedictorian. He participated in the University of Rhode Island’s Talent Development Program to sharpen his skills before his first semester.

As a URI student studying civil engineering, he mentors high school students and serves as president of the URI Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers. Next fall, Rodriguez, 21, expects to enroll in an accelerated master’s engineering program at URI after an undergraduate career where his name always appeared on the Dean’s List.

But for Rodriguez, his story is not about academic accolades but about the journey to his senior year of college.

Rodriguez grew up in Esperanza (or “Hope” in English), a small and impoverished town in the Dominican Republic. At age 15, his parents sent him to the United States in search of the American dream.

He arrived in Rhode Island knowing only a few family members. His English skills were so lacking that his school asked him to repeat ninth grade – a blow to Rodriguez’s self-esteem.

When Rodriguez failed to navigate the labyrinth of the academy and asked to go home, his family persuaded him to stay. When he struggled academically during freshman year of college, he sought out professors and classmates to help him. He participated in several internships to sharpen his skills and build his resume.

“What other choice did I have?” Rodriguez says. “I have to do this or go to work for some minimum-wage job.”

Rodriguez credits the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation with sparking his interest in engineering. His high school principal recommended him for the program, and Rodriguez spent 20 days at the URI Kingston campus exploring engineering and undertaking such projects as designing, building and racing a solar-powered model car.

A year later, he picked civil engineering as his major, intrigued by the potential to design impressive structures.

“I like to be in the process of putting things together, and after a while seeing the thing you had in your mind come true,” he says.