John Rodriguez of Guyton was one of 12 University of Georgia students honored with the Crane Leadership Scholarship, which recognizes leadership in extracurricular activities and/or involvement with civic, community or religious organizations.

The $1,000 scholarship, which is administered by UGA’s Honors Program and the university’s Center for Leadership and Service, is named in honor of a 1921 UGA graduate who was influential in the founding of the UGA Alumni Society.

“This is a stellar group of impressive individuals,” said David S. Williams, associate provost and director of the Honors Program. “With their array of talents and interests, they are destined to continue making a positive impact locally, nationally and globally.”

Candidates must be third- or fourth-year students enrolled in the Honors Program with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.7 and demonstrated leadership in extracurricular activities. The scholarship is renewable in a recipient’s fourth year, subject to a minimum 3.7 GPA.

“It was a difficult decision for the committee to make as all of our applicants were exemplary, but those that were chosen rose to the top because of their outstanding commitment to leadership and service,” said Center for Leadership and Service director Jen Rentschler.

A native of Colombia, Rodriguez’s interests include engaging with disenfranchised communities through policy research and hands-on volunteerism. He spent the summer of 2011 in Colombia teaching English and French in underserved youth communities and the summer of 2012 researching food insecurity in northeast Brazil.

An NSEP Boren Scholar who recently returned from a year in Jordan studying modern standard Arabic, Rodriguez holds leadership positions in UGA Housing, the Thomas Lay After-School Program, Casa de Amistad and the Roosevelt Institute.