Adrian Rodriguez

In high school, Adrian Rodriguez’s English teacher recognized he had talent and passion for art, and encouraged Adrian to check out The Crucible.

“I was like, the book?” he laughs. Adrian ended up taking seventeen classes on scholarship, and also participated in the Fuego Youth Leadership Program and the Pre-Apprentice Program. When he was too old for the Youth Programs, Adrian says Chris Niemer, our Blacksmithing Department Head, took him under his wing, “that’s when I really fell in love with Blacksmithing,” he says.

He never thought he would be an instructor, but it makes him proud to help his students start figuring out the secrets of manipulating and sculpting metal, just like he once had to. “It’s just awesome to have that sense that people are looking up to you now,” he says.