Family matters

“The three of us have always done school together,” Heather said. “As a teacher and a coach, they would follow me to school. I was pregnant with them while in school, so they’ve always been with me, and being at Redlands is a natural progression of that.”

For the Avila family, education has always been a team effort. From early morning school drop-offs to late-night dissertation edits, learning has been a shared experience every step of the way. Those steps led Heather Avila ’25 and her son Ruben Avila ’25 to the University of Redlands commencement stage on April 25, where Heather received her Doctorate in Education in Leadership for Educational Justice and Ruben received his Bachelor of Arts in Race and Ethnic Studies.

Cheering from the audience was Heather’s youngest son, Louis “Louie” Avila ’27, who is working towards completing his double major in race and ethnic studies and political science. When he isn’t studying, he’ll be found behind the camera capturing moments as part of the Bulldog Athletics media team.

“The three of us have always done school together,” Heather said. “As a teacher and a coach, they would follow me to school. I was pregnant with them while in school, so they’ve always been with me, and being at Redlands is a natural progression of that.”

By way of introducing the Redlands campus to high-school age sons, Heather brought them to Appleton Hall to share one of its unique features.

 “One day she brought Louie and me to the echo chamber at Appleton Hall and we just started goofing around like we were in the movie ‘Mr. Deeds,’” Ruben said.

Ruben—who would later be recruited to play Bulldog football—accompanied his mother one day to a class in Hentschke Hall. As he waited for her, he decided to walk around and take in the surroundings.

"I wandered across campus and came upon a farmers’ market," he said. "I loved everything I was seeing—the atmosphere just clicked for me."

That click turned into commitment, with Ruben enrolling in the College of Arts and Sciences, embracing mentorship from the fellow athletes he met, and growing as a student and leader. When the time came for Louie to pursue his Bulldog education, he followed suit. It wasn’t long before the Avilas once again, found themselves at the same school.

“I always had a feeling we were going to graduate together,” Ruben said about the experience. “At first it was high school—I was going to graduate there, and Mom was going to graduate with her Ph.D. at that time, but it didn't happen. As Louie and I were waiting for her to complete her program, it was my time to come to Redlands. I would say it's God's timing that this was supposed to happen—me and my mom graduating on the same day.”

Throughout their journey in education, the Avilas are quick to credit one another and those they’ve met along the way. In addition to being Heather’s dissertation chair, School of Education faculty Pauline Reynolds has become her mentor. For Ruben, his mentor came in the form of former classmate, Jay Briggs ’23, who introduced Ruben to various people on campus, including the Admissions team he worked.

“Being the youngest of a trio going to the same campus, I have my mom and older brother talking to me at all times,” Louie said. “It’s hard to not listen to them because they’ve already been where I’m going, and they’re always looking out for me. It’s like walking behind two pairs of footsteps and it’s something I’m grateful for.”

With Commencement Day behind them and with Ruben continuing his journey at Redlands in the fall, the Avila family mantra continues to hold steady, “keep on going, don’t quit, you got this.”

Learn more about the College of Arts & Sciences and the School of Education.