‘We became classmates.’ Fort Worth-area father and son earn MBAs from UT Arlington

Parents accompanying their children to school has long been a tradition.

In the Ortiz family that includes college.

In December, Oswaldo Ortiz Jr. graduated from the Master of Business Administration program at the University of Texas at Arlington. Right there with him was his father, Oswaldo Ortiz Sr. — as a fellow graduate in the same program.

“We’ve always been close, but this experience added a new layer to our relationship,” Ortiz Sr. said. “We weren’t just father and son — we became classmates, teammates, and even friendly competitors at times.

“The late-night study sessions, group presentations, and even shared nerves before exams brought us closer than I ever imagined.”

The two have always had a special bond and even today still live in the same city, Grapevine, at 52 and 24. However, Ortiz Jr. said the bond became even stronger through the college experience of struggling and achieving with his father.

“I saw my dad in a different light — not just as my father, but as someone who was learning and growing alongside me,” he said. “This journey strengthened our bond and created memories I’ll treasure for the rest of my life.”

Ortiz Jr. noted that living near each other also helped make studying easier. Of course, there was always support, but he said it helped being able to physically work together and make a run over to each other’s house instead of talking over the phone or computer.

“Being so close has been a blessing, especially during group projects and study sessions,” Ortiz Jr. said.

Last opportunity

Ortiz Sr. is a seasoned veteran in the business world and is a senior digital cloud solutions architect at Microsoft. Junior is an assistant vice president of engineering excellence analyst at CitiBank.

Each saw this opportunity as not only a chance to further his own education, but to also enjoy a rare and unique experience.

Ortiz Jr. is the youngest of the children in the family, so it was also the last opportunity.

“Life can be so fast-paced, and it’s easy for parents and children to grow apart as they follow their own paths. This experience showed me that it’s never too late to share meaningful milestones with your children,” Senior said. “I believe our story proves that learning together can be a way to bond, grow, and create shared memories, no matter how old you are.

“It’s easy to think of school as an individual pursuit, but sharing this experience with my son has been proof that learning can also be a shared, transformative journey. If our story inspires even one family to take on a challenge together, it will all have been worth it.”

Junior, likewise, believes their accomplishment should be an inspiration to others.

“I think many families might assume their goals need to happen separately, but our journey showed that combining our efforts can make the process even more rewarding,” he said. “If seeing us inspires parents and kids to work together - whether it’s in education, business, or just life — that would be incredible. We’re proof that collaboration and support can take you far.”

Learning an adventure for a lifetime

Along with advancing their education alongside each other in college, Junior said watching his father taught him that learning is an adventure for a lifetime. He stressed that it doesn’t stop after graduating college or landing a great job.

“Watching my dad thrive in this program reminded me that growth is a lifelong process,” he said. “Whether it’s school, work, or life, the people you surround yourself with — like family — makes all the difference.”

As for what lies ahead, perhaps going on to get doctorates together? Perhaps someday Junior, currently single, will join his own son or daughter onstage someday?

“You never know,” Senior said with a smile. “I’ve always believed in the value of lifelong learning, so it’s certainly something I’d consider.”

To which Junior added, “While it’s not on my radar at the moment, this MBA journey has shown me that anything is possible, so I wouldn’t rule it out completely.”

This story was originally published January 31, 2025 at 10:31 AM.