Exchange Club of Jacksonville Students of the Month: Claudia Rodriguez and John McCoy

Bishop Kenny High School is proud to announce that seniors Claudia Rodriguez and John McCoy have been named Students of the Month by the Exchange Club of Jacksonville. This honor is awarded to one male and one female student from different area schools each month in recognition of outstanding scholarship, leadership, community service, and character. Monthly winners are also entered into the Exchange Club’s Student of the Year scholarship competition.

Claudia Rodriguez exemplifies academic excellence and meaningful service. A National Merit Commended Scholar and AP Scholar with Distinction, Claudia holds membership in numerous honor societies, including English, Mu Alpha Theta, Rho Kappa, Science, Spanish, and National Honor Society. She leads as captain of the cross-country team and participates in Student Government, BK Student Ambassadors, BK Buddies, and the Interact Club. Her commitment to faith and service is seen through her 447 service hours and her roles as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion and a member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. Claudia will attend the University of Notre Dame.

Reflecting on her experience, Claudia shared, “At Bishop Kenny I have always prioritized my academics and strived to be a good student. Being surrounded by such an ambitious group of students on the cross-country team, I tried my best to follow their great example of taking on a rigorous course load and being very involved in the school as a whole, which has made me a stronger person.”

John McCoy also shines as a well-rounded student-leader. Like Claudia, he is a National Merit Commended Scholar and AP Scholar with Distinction, and a member of the same distinguished honor societies. John balances his academic achievements with athletic commitment as a member of both the soccer and track & field teams. His passion for service has led him to contribute nearly 300 hours of volunteer work, including missions with YoungLife Tanzania, Camp I Am Special, and TopSoccer. John will attend Georgetown University.

Looking ahead, John shared, “I now serve as a youth board member of Fountains of Hope, with plans to continue to raise funds for future trips to Africa. I also plan to share the spirit of joyful service that I brought home with me. When I left Tanzania for the first time, I returned home with a seed. I plan to continue to nurture that seed and share its fruits not only in my community, but in communities all over the world.”

As these two remarkable students prepare to begin their college careers, their accomplishments offer a powerful reflection of the values nurtured at Bishop Kenny—faith, service, and a commitment to excellence.