Fulfilling Academic Dreams as a Family

UIW Mother, Father and Son Cross the Spring 2025 Graduation Stage

As one of its five core values, the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) recognizes the importance education can have in one’s life. Making the decision to pursue a college degree can be daunting but also immensely fulfilling. It can have a profound impact on the pursuit of one's career aspirations. Being the first in one’s family to earn a college degree can make this achievement all the more significant. These first-time graduates serve as examples to their loved ones of their capabilities to lead their own chosen lives.

For the Jimenez family, the achievement of being first-generation graduates is one that spans two generations.

As of Saturday, May 10, Jorge Jimenz, Jr. and Erica Jimenez will officially be first-generation graduates as the first in their family to graduate from a four-year institution in the United States. During their time at UIW, Jorge has been earning his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Management, and Erica has been earning her Bachelor of Arts in Administration with a minor in Organizational Communication.

Erica was the first of the pair to attend UIW after speaking to a close friend, a UIW School of Professional Studies (SPS) 2015 alum, about her desire to try for the third time to earn her degree. The friend recommended that Erica look into SPS’s online and hybrid degree programs. Soon after, she began her studies in Spring 2022. In the Summer of 2022, her husband Jorge joined her at UIW.

Jorge recognized that his wife played a key influence in his decision to attend UIW. While he observed Erica passionately devoting herself to her studies, he felt inspired to embark on his own educational journey. It wasn’t long before he found himself feeling happy with his decision to join the Nest.

“UIW’s staff was very friendly and knowledgeable in answering questions we may have had. From the application process to financial aid questions and veteran services,” noted Jorge. “The instructors at UIW are awesome and were always willing to help if you ran into any issues.”

What made the Jimenez couple’s academic journey all the more special was that their son, Ricardo Jimenez, was also earning his degree right along with them. Ricardo will be earning his Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice. Like his parents, he too enjoyed the University’s educators, course material and even the friendships he formed along the way. However, there was one aspect of his college journey that he treasured the most:

“The most rewarding part of attending UIW is not only finishing but being able to enjoy the last bit of my college journey with my parents,” expressed Ricardo. “We stayed up long hours together and helped hold each other accountable. We’d get on our laptops and do our homework together at the dinner table, at times while we finished eating. I didn’t know how special the journey was until now. Walking the graduation stage with my parents is going to be something we all will cherish.”

“When we realized that we (as a family) could all graduate simultaneously, it was something we had to strive for,” shared Erica. “We encouraged and supported each other to make this goal a reality! Additionally, the guidance and assistance of the UIW SPS staff members played a significant role in making my dream of earning a bachelor's degree come true!”