Rodney Lavodrama

Ten years ago, Rodney Lavodrama (ENGR ’26) was just learning to speak English. Today, as he sits in his Pitt dorm room, he dreams of becoming the next Bill Gates.

“When I was in second grade my father moved us from the Central African Republic to the United States looking for better economic opportunities,” Rodney said. “I had to work hard to learn English and do well in school. But when I graduated second in my high school class, it was all worth it.”

Rodney learned English quickly and was fast to adopt American culture. He remembers going to Chuck E. Cheese (the family entertainment franchise known for arcade games and play structures) and falling in love with pizza. Rodney also developed a deep interest in science and technology, specifically computer engineering.

Along with its strong engineering program and welcoming campus, Pitt’s ability to offer a solid financial aid package made Rodney’s choice to enroll at Pitt easy. As part of the package, Rodney received the John A. Jurenko Scholarship and the Arthur C. Dick Scholarship. The latter was funded in 1995 by the estate of Arthur Dick (ENGR ’30).

“I came to Pitt so I could pursue my dreams. This is why my parents came to the U.S,” said Rodney. “My scholarships are making that possible.”