The College of Engineering Student Stories

Meet Jocelyn

I graduated from UTA in 2025 with a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering and I’m starting my Master’s degree in mechanical engineering here. Although I was born and raised in Texas, my roots are deeply tied to Puerto Rico—both of my parents were born and raised there before moving to the U.S. to pursue the American dream. Growing up, they instilled in me the values they were raised with: resilience, hard work, and the importance of education. UTA has supported me in continuing those values, providing a space where I could grow academically and personally. The sense of community here helped me feel seen and understood. I’m grateful to my parents for the foundation they provided, and to UTA for helping me build upon it.

When I was applying to colleges during my senior year of high school, I knew I wanted to become an engineer—but I wasn’t quite sure which engineering major to pursue yet. What I did know was that I wanted an affordable university with a strong engineering reputation. That’s what first led me to consider UTA.

One of the things I appreciate most about the University is the wide variety of student organizations available. Two that had a significant impact on me were the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) and UTA Racing. Being part of these organizations helped shape who I am today and deepened my involvement on campus. Through SHPE, I participated in community service events like Mission Arlington and gained leadership experience by helping plan activities. With UTA Racing, I was involved in organizing events such as UTA Autocross and developed technical skills using design tools like SolidWorks and MATLAB—skills that directly supported my coursework.

UTA offers countless opportunities to get involved and build a sense of community, and being part of these organizations not only prepared me for the professional world but also helped me form lasting friendships. For that, I’m truly grateful.