Charise Rodriguez's smile said it all Thursday at Stonewall Jackson High School in Manassas.
"It's so amazing to be standing up here right now," Rodriguez said. "I never would have thought that I would have been able to do something so amazing in music."
Rodriguez is one of 97 high-school student marching band musicians out of a field of 1,300 applicants to earn a spot on the 2010 U.S. Army All-American Marching Band.
Members of the school's marching band erupted in cheers when Rodriguez was awarded her bowl jacket and hat by Army representatives during a band class presentation.
Rodriguez and her 96 fellow All-Americans will perform at halftime during the U.S. Army All-American Bowl on Jan. 9 in San Antonio, Texas. The game will be broadcast on NBC at 1 p.m.
"We'll have less than a week to learn the whole show," she said.
The 12th-grader thanked her parents and family "for putting up with me practicing all the time at home. And all of you guys in the band: I love you guys."
Rodriguez thanked God for giving her both a love and passion for music and then singled out band instructor Greg Kolar with praise.
"I know that he's going to help me as a student and musician," she said.
Rodriguez has been playing the trombone for seven years and plans to become a music teacher when she graduates from college.
Kolar noted that Rodriguez missed the opportunity to be a part of the marching band when she was a freshman. But she did not let that setback deter her.
"She watched the marching band often and regretted that she wasn't a member," said Kolar. "From that point forward, any opportunity that was available, whatsoever, Charise took it. I am so thrilled that Charise has become an All-American. She's so self-motivated."
Military editor Julia LeDoux can be reached at 703-369-5718.
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