The University of Houston–Downtown highlighted its First-Generation Gator Program as a structured pathway for first-gen students combining mentoring, scholarships, and family engagement. The program’s emphasis on navigation support and involvement beyond the student—bringing families into the college-planning process—targets barriers that often show up in financial decision-making, advising access, and persistent enrollment. For institutions scaling student success models, the case points to a replicable set of components: sustained advising relationships, aid tied to persistence, and programming designed around first-gen family context. While the article focuses on UH–Downtown’s approach, its framing positions family engagement as a core retention strategy rather than an optional add-on.