Open Your Home to a Rice Student

Rob ‘88 and Mendy Spillane ‘89 Mitiguy are accustomed to a lot of activity at home. In addition to raising three children (Riley ‘15, Haley ‘17 and Trevor ‘19), they live within shouting distance of Mendy’s two older brothers, Chip ‘83 and Kevin ‘87, and Mendy’s mother lives next door in an attached apartment. The Mitiguys also have very deep Rice roots. Their children were 4th generation Rice students! So, when Rice Athletic Director Neil Brodeur ‘85 asked them if they would host a student from Spain, Rob and Mendy saw this as an opportunity to help Rice and liven up a house that had grown quiet. 

Patricia Melgarejo Roman, affectionately nicknamed ‘P’ by Haley, arrived at Rice this fall as a freshman with the intention of staying just a semester. Two days after moving in with the Mitiguys, she asked if it would be OK to stay the second semester. The Mitiguys are more than happy to have P stay for the remainder of the year. “We are having such a good time getting to know P, learning about Spain, seeing photos of her family and friends, and experiencing Rice through her eyes,” explained Mendy. 

Mendy and Rob have been encouraged by the support they’re receiving from the Rice community. “We thought we would be an island, alone in this host-parent effort, but there’s been tremendous support from the Rice community,” explained Mendy. “And, it’s so fun to drive up the Rice hill again!”

When asked if she would recommend this experience to other alumni or past parents, Mendy said “do it! We are invigorated by P’s energy, her enthusiasm for experiencing American traditions like visiting a pumpkin patch or celebrating Thanksgiving. It’s been a blessing.” 

If you or anyone you know are interested in hosting a Rice student, contact Heatherly Allard at [email protected] or (802) 862-6521 ext. 214.