San Miguel Built the Foundation. Now Daniel Is Building the Future.

“If I’m going to work hard for something, I’m going to make sure that it pays off.”

Strong foundations make everything possible. Today, Daniel Rodriguez is building the future because San Miguel helped build his.

Daniel Rodriguez is a graduate of San Miguel (Class of 2016), DeMatha Catholic High School (Class of 2020), and Penn State University (Class of 2024), where he earned a B.S. in Civil Engineering. He is now working at Clark Construction, contributing to complex civil projects through field operations, technical problem-solving, and the execution of dynamic construction environments.

On active job sites, Daniel focuses on translating engineering specifications into real-world outcomes—turning plans on paper into structures that function, endure, and serve others. It’s demanding, detail-driven work, and it reflects the discipline and accountability first formed years earlier in a San Miguel classroom. 

What’s easy to miss is that this path was never guaranteed.

Daniel’s family story is one of sacrifice and perseverance. His grandfather, originally from Honduras, was stationed for the military in Kentucky when Daniel’s father was born, before the family later returned to Honduras; his mother was born in El Salvador, and his parents met in high school. As Daniel puts it, they “came from nothing,” working long hours at a window company before eventually building their own business. Daniel spent much of his childhood living with his grandmother while his parents worked to create stability. 

Believing education could change Daniel’s trajectory, his family made a deliberate decision to enroll him at San Miguel. To see that choice through, Daniel’s mother moved their family from Germantown to Silver Spring so he could be closer to the school.

This is what donor investment makes possible.

At San Miguel, Daniel began developing the habits that still define him today: discipline, perseverance, and accountability. It was also where his interest in engineering—especially buildings—first took shape. Through structure, academic support, and high expectations, Daniel gained the confidence to take on challenges that once felt out of reach.

That foundation carried him to DeMatha and then to Penn State, where he pursued civil engineering. College tested his resolve. After completing his general education requirements, Daniel briefly questioned whether engineering was the right path. Ultimately, he made a defining choice: “If I’m going to work hard for something, I’m going to make sure that it pays off.” He pushed through demanding coursework and graduated prepared to enter the field.ntries around the world, are doing the same.