Senior Spotlight: Roosevelt’s Francisco Rodriguez Vara

“I’m actually a first-generation American citizen. Never in my family’s history has anyone served, so it’s a huge honor to be the first to do so.”

Francisco Rodriguez Vara embraced his ambition and confidence at North East ISD. He’s a senior in the Design and Technology Academy (DATA) at Roosevelt High School. He was part of the inaugural DATA sixth grade class when DATA opened at Ed White Middle School. That’s where he first learned to love CyberPatriots.

After graduation, Francisco will attend The Citadel, a historic military college in South Carolina, where he’ll major in Cyber Operations. He also hopes to secure a commission into the U.S. Army so he can serve as an Army Cyber Operations Officer.

Francisco’s foundation in cybersecurity and the Rough Rider JROTC Battalion has prepared him to take that next step with confidence. He’s a born leader and a natural teacher. He spent much of his senior year giving tours and mentoring students at NEISD’s Institute of CyberSecurity & Innovation (iCSI).

“What NEISD has built here is by far the most advanced and most farthest thinking [facility] across the nation,” said Francisco. “No other school district or city in any of the 50 states has even started thinking about what NEISD has built here so far. I’m pretty confident that any student who goes through the Design and Technology Academy or Institute of CyberSecurity & Innovation is almost guaranteed a job by the time they reach their graduation.”

Congratulations, Francisco! Good luck to you and the rest of the Class of 2022.