March 31, 2022

Preston Kendall, President, Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep

Sebastian Rodriguez was 14 years old when he first decided he wanted to combine his passion for scientific knowledge with his commitment to helping those living in Waukegan/North Chicago and safeguarding the environment and thus their health. “I always look for something I can improve upon,” says the 24-year-old CRSM ‘19 graduate, an Environmental Health Safety Specialist who works at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science.

“There is no question that the teachings of Principal Dr. Odiotti and everyone at Cristo Rey, and my mom, taught me never to forget the community in your hometown and to come back and make a change,” says Sebastian. “The words ‘be a person for others,’ is the soundtrack that always plays in my mind.”

Graduating with a double bachelor’s degree in public health and environmental science from Johns Hopkins University, Sebastian specializes in radiation safety at Rosalind. He is part of a five-person SWAT team that monitors, controls, and reduces radiation exposure in the anatomy laboratory and other learning centers throughout the medical teaching university.