The University of Houston-Victoria has been offering first-rate education for over three decades, and for about as many generations the university has now become a family tradition for a UHV student athlete.

When Cayla Dluhos decided to join the UHV Jaguars this fall, the education major became the third generation in her family to pursue a degree from UHV.

This UHV family tradition began with Dluhos’ Grandmother, Ramona (Pate) Ingram. She received her master’s degree in education leadership and administration in 1983 along with her superintendent’s certification in 1984 from UHV.

“Being the daughter of a Swedish immigrant, my father always told me to put your money between your ears,” Ingram said.

“Going to school in Victoria, because of the location, made it affordable and inexpensive. I liked UHV, and the professors all seemed to know education very well,” Ingram said. “The thing I particularly liked was how well they taught; they were considerate of students needs and taught things that would be useful to their students as professionals in education.”

Dluhos’ mother, Terri Giles, earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. She said it was very convenient for her to attend the university while living in El Campo.

“There were several other people already working in the El Campo ISD and pursuing education degrees. They were working in the school system but did not have degrees, so we just banded together and started driving to Victoria,” Giles said. “UHV was pretty new then but seemed to be doing well.”

Giles added, “It has been 23 years since I attended UHV, and I can still say it was a positive experience. I felt very prepared to go out in to the education arena with the skills I had received while at the university.”

Giles is currently a counselor at Angleton Middle School in Angleton, TX.

Dluhos, the third member of the family to attend UHV, relocated to Victoria from her hometown of Angleton in summer 2007, but her decision to join the Jaguars hinged on coincidence.

“I actually was debating on whether to keep playing softball or not, because I originally wanted to go to Texas A&M,” Dluhos said. “Coach Keri Lambeth actually came to Alvin Community College to watch another athlete on our team, and in the process she talked to me, and I really considered it.

“I visited the campus and decided then UHV was where I wanted to go to school,” Dluhos added.

“Cayla is a strong leader on the field and works hard in the classroom,” Lambeth said. “I’m happy she has chosen to finish playing her collegiate career with the Jaguars. It will be an experience she’ll never forget, I’m sure.”

Dluhos said her experience as a member of the inaugural Jaguar softball team has been great.

“I like UHV. It’s very close-knit,” Dluhos said. “Most of us on the softball team have played each other at one time or another through our conference in junior college, so it was pretty easy for the team to get to know each other. For a first year program that seems pretty rare.”

Student life at the university is equally pleasant, according to the Jaguar outfielder.

“I really like the professors and the classes that I am taking. The professors are very thorough in their lectures, and if you have questions they have no problem helping you out,” Dluhos said.

Dluhos said one of the great things about UHV is “the more teacher time, the more one-on-one time you get because of the class size.”

The Jaguar outfielder is co-enrolled at UHV and the Victoria College, and she says she spends most of her day on campus.

Dluhos anticipates on graduating from UHV in fall 2009 once her student teaching is done and plans to go back home to Angleton to teach.