Jacob received a full 4-year all-inclusive scholarship to Yale University through the Questbridge National College Match Program. He was also 1 of 10 students in the entire world to receive the FRC Dean's List Award, which recognizes a student’s commitment to STEM outreach and technical expertise. Jacob has been involved with the OPLF sponsored robotics team and OPL Foundation’s STEAM for Teens and Tweens program since his freshman year of high school.
 
Here is what Jacob had to say about this accomplishment:
 
"I could have never done any of this without my robotics team. Coming from a low-income background, being a part of this program allowed me to realize what I was truly capable of. My mentors supported me when finances were an issue and they believed in me when others didn't. So now, I not only have a friend group who share my same interests, but I'll be leaving high school with a family that will always be rooting me on. Having received this insane opportunity, I just want to stand as a role model to under-represented and under-resourced kids like me to show that anything is possible. For if I succeeded through hardship, so can they."
​ - Jacob Rodriguez, El Modena High School Class of 2020

Our Orange Public Library Foundation presented a $14,350 donation to our Library Services Director Dave Curtis at the September 13, 2016 City Council meeting to meet the Library's collection development needs. At the OPLF 2016 Legacy Gala, guests were offered the opportunity to "Raise Your Paddle for Books and Materials". The generous dollar amount coming from OPLF will be used to purchase popular books for the Library’s Adult Nonfiction collection, such as travel guides, cookbooks, and graphic novels.

Pictured above, from left to right, Board of Trustees Chair Nancy Collins, Trustee Marva Hitchcock, OPLF Executive Director Linda Cundiff, Library Services Director Dave Curtis, Orange Public Library Foundation members Larry Cohn and Pat Buttress.