Tomas Rodriguez

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

ABOUT TOMAS RODRIGUEZ

I graduated from the State University of New York at Oswego in December 2021 with a Bachelor of Arts in broadcasting and mass communication and a minor in Spanish. During my time in Oswego, I found my passion for multimedia storytelling. I became heavily involved with the different student media organizations, climbing my way up to serve as news director for student-run WNYO 88.9 FM; assistant news editor for the student newspaper, The Oswegonian; and assignment manager for the student-run TV station, WTOP-10 TV. The journey with these organizations led to three internships during my college years. I served as a social media intern for Swimming World Magazine; a newswriting intern for the SUNY Oswego Office of Communication and Marketing; and a metro watchdog intern for TCPalm/Treasure Coast Newspapers (part of the USA Today network). Upon graduation in December 2021, I moved to Southwest Florida and joined the Fort Myers News-Press and the Naples Daily News as a public safety and police accountability reporter. My work has led to awards from the Syracuse Press Club and the Florida Society of News Editors. After hours, I’m a full-time competitive swimmer and Paralympic hopeful for Team USA. Throughout my swimming career, I’ve claimed bronze at the 2016 Spanish Open Waters Cup for able-bodied swimmers where I shared the podium with a Tokyo 2020 Olympian. I was introduced to the Paralympic movement in the U.S. in 2018. That year I won the national title in the 100-meter butterfly for the S9 class. I’m a two-time U.S. national champion and a 13-time American Record holder across six events — the 50-meter butterfly; 100-meter butterfly; 200-meter butterfly; 200-meter backstroke; 100-meter individual medley; and 400-meter individual medley for my respective Paralympic class. If there’s one thing my swimming journey has taught me, it’s that nothing is impossible, and that hard work forever pays off. It’s also taught me how to be a team player and manage time and tasks wisely. I’m happy to be able to take the skills I’ve learned over the years in the pool and apply them to my day-to-day work ethic in the newsroom.