Rice University Owls to sport helmet decals Saturday in honor of slain student | Houston Public Media

In their first game of the season, Rice University Owls on Saturday will sport helmet decals in honor of Andrea Rodriguez Avila, a pre-law student who was murdered in her dorm room earlier this week.

Police conducted a welfare check on the student at the request of her family Monday after she failed to attend classes on the first day of the school year. In her dorm room, police discovered Rodriguez Avila’s body riddled with gunshot wounds in what appeared to be a murder-suicide.

The body of 22-year-old Habeneyom Belai, who was not a Rice University student, was also found in the dorm room with what appeared to be self-inflicted gunshot wounds. University Police Chief Clemente Rodriguez said a note was discovered in the dorm room describing a troubled relationship between the two.

RELATED: Two people found dead in Rice University dormitory Monday in apparent murder-suicide

Rodriguez Avila was born in Honduras and traveled more than 1,000 miles away from family to pursue a career of working for the United Nations.

She lived in Spain and Maryland, where she immersed herself in school activities, spoke multiple languages and was recognized with several awards, her family, who described her as an academic achiever, said in a statement Thursday.

Rodriguez Avila transferred from the Community College of Baltimore County to Rice University to accomplish her dreams of helping others and changing the world, her family said.

At Rice University, she served as deputy parliamentarian of the Rice Student Association and a peer academic advisor. She was also a member of the university’s Honor Council.

“We want Andrea’s life and the tragedy of her death to make a difference,” her family said in the statement. “As someone who helped others, we ask that her fellow students and friends help celebrate her memory by caring for others. As grieving parents, we ask other parents to keep communicating with your children about all relationships and pay close attention to all concerns.”

Rice University football players will wear helmets bearing her name during the first game of the season against the Sam Houston State University Bearkats in Houston on Saturday.

“This Saturday, as we gather for our first football game of the season, Paula and I invite you to join us- not just to cheer for our Owls, but to continue supporting each other during this time of healing,” Rice University President Reginald DesRoches said in a social media post on Thursday.

The university could not immediately provide photos of the helmet decals on Friday. The Owls will kick off their season at Rice Stadium at 5 p.m. Saturday.