For one family, being a Gator isn’t a single chapter; it’s a story connected across generations. At the University of Houston-Downtown, father and son, Armando and Sebastian Rodriguez, found their own paths to education, brotherhood, and purpose, shaping a shared legacy.
For Armando, that journey began long before UHD had a name in his life. “I used to drive past the building on North Main Street as a kid and never thought I’d end up there,” he said. “But life has a way of lining things up when you least expect it.” Years later, after setbacks and reflection, UHD became the place where he rebuilt his academic path, laying the foundation not just for his own future but for a family story still unfolding.
As a single father raising two children while working full time, he earned multiple degrees from UHD, including a Bachelor of Arts in English and Education and a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction, eventually building a career as an educator himself.
That commitment to learning continued through personal challenges, including a recent battle with tonsil cancer that required months of treatment and recovery. “No one can take your education from you,” he said, a belief that sustained him through long nights, heavy responsibilities, and the determination to keep going.
Armando’s journey set an example, but Sebastian’s story would unfold on his own terms. After graduating high school with multiple baseball scholarship offers, Sebastian made the unexpected decision to step away from the sport and choose a different college experience.
“I didn’t want to go to a junior college and see the same people I’d known my whole life,” he said. “I wanted something new.” That desire led him to the University of Houston-Downtown, where he is now pursuing a business degree, drawn to the flexibility and endless opportunity the campus offered.
While Sebastian sought to carve his own path at UHD, the values behind Armando's journey were never far from view. Both eventually found community and purpose through Omega Delta Phi Fraternity, Inc., each entering the brotherhood in their own time. That shared experience connected their paths not just as father and son, but as brothers. “Seeing him go through the process on his own made me proud in a different way,” Armando said. “He wasn’t following me. He was choosing for himself.”
Together, their story shows that there is no single path to becoming a Gator. UHD met each of them where they were, offering opportunity, brotherhood, and a sense of belonging that will last well beyond their time on campus.