Ana Maria Rodriguez and her daughter, Annette, have each won a Silver Knight. Today, the awards sit proudly side by side in the family room. But there's room for more.

Ana Maria Rodriguez

1976 Social Science

Immaculata-LaSalle High School

Q: What did winning the Silver Knight do for you?

A: It was a great honor. I felt exhilarated when I won. Sometimes you don't realize you've made an impact until you receive some kind of recognition.

Q: How did you earn your award?

A: I organized Christmas parties for migrants. Nothing was like seeing the kids faces and how much they appreciated the time and effort you took out to give them a great big party. That might have been the only Christmas celebration for them. For one day, they could forget about not making ends meet.

Q: What did that teach you?

A: It taught me how to appreciate what the Lord has given to you, and that there's a need out there to lend a helping hand. There's always some group, some family, some person that needs you to encourage others or do it yourself.

Q: What did that lead to?

A: My husband and I used to go to Mexico on missionary trips. We'd go to these villages everyday in teams of eight or nine and do a one-day retreat. The priest would not let us provide physical needs, only feed spiritual hunger. I finally got him to agree to allow for us to distribute crayons, and I remember the smiles on their faces.

Q: Tell us about your life now.

A: Since 1980, I've taught math for grades 6 through 12. I would also organize dances and fundraisers. In the last two years, I've been tutoring.

Q: Did you tell your students you're a past Silver Knight winner?

A: Most of them know, but I didn't make a big issue out of it. I don't want them to help others for an award, but I do want them to know they'll be recognized.

Q: What is it about math that captivates you?

A: It's the logic, the patterns, being able to figure things out. It's being able to solve problems that wouldn't be solved any other way. And I love to teach kids and watch them succeed. Math is that chain-link fence; if you're missing some of it, it's no use.

Q: Where do you find your inspiration?

A: I've tried to do other things, and teaching is part of who I am. I have my optician's and real estate license and I don't do much with either one of those. It's teaching that I keep coming back to. And I find inspiration with my students who come back to give me a hug in the parking lot or sing songs that I'd make up back to me. I used to do a hokie-pokie to show how to convert a fraction into a decimal.

Q: Does it work?

A: One of my past students is now a fourth-grade teacher, and she teaches using my songs!

Q: What was it like to judge the awards this year?

A: This is the first time I've done it. It was great, but it was difficult to choose. It was uplifting because some of these kids have really left their comfort zones to help others using their talents. Some of the courses these kids have taken have been unbelievable.

Q: How was it different to be on the other side?

A: I guess now I'm looking at it as a parent. My daughter was also a Silver Knight. She's my oldest and I never displayed my trophy. I talked about it rarely. I didn't want them to do the things they do to help others for an award. Sure enough, the minute she won, my award went out next to hers.

Q: So where's your trophy now?

A: My award is on top of the bar in my family room -- both of them are.

Q: No pressure on the grandkids?

A: Not at all. [She laughs]

Q: What part does the Silver Knight play in what you do?

A: The Silver Knight is part of who you are. You don't do things because you're a Silver Knight winner -- you became a Silver Knight winner because of the things you did. And I think that's what our committee was looking for: who was doing it for the love of helping others? Who was doing it naturally?

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