Three generations, one rare path to UTA
When 11-year-old aerospace engineering major Matthew Howard walks across The University of Texas at Arlington campus, he’s not just thinking about his next assignment; he’s thinking about the family footsteps he’s following.
Matthew is one of the youngest students in UT Arlington’s 130-year history—but in his family, starting college before most kids finish middle school is as much a tradition as gathering for Thanksgiving dinner. His mother, Jacqueline Zee Howard, enrolled at UTA at age 16 after starting college at North Central Texas College at 14, and her younger sister, Jocelyn Zee, enrolled at UTA at 13.
His grandmother, Margaret Zee, started the family tradition of attending UTA, if not the part about enrolling some five years earlier than traditional college students. She arrived on campus in the early 1980s when she was well into her 20s, balancing text books, pregnancy and a dream of earning an accounting degree.
Matthew has ambitions of becoming a pilot as he carries on his family’s remarkable legacy. He is currently a sophomore at UTA after taking courses at Tarrant County College as a 10-year-old.
Imagine the stories that can be told when the family gathers around the Thanksgiving table next week.
“Sometimes when I walk around campus, I wonder what it looked like when they were here,” he said. “It’s kind of cool to think I’m following in their footsteps.”
A head start on his dreams
Balancing a full slate of college courses with the routines of an 11-year-old, Matthew splits his time between the classroom and and the ice rink, where he plays for a travel hockey team, the Texas Heat. He said he’s found a rhythm that works for him, which this semester includes taking a student success course focused on engineering, his first step toward pursuing an aerospace engineering degree.
“My favorite part of class so far is the labs. We made concrete and tested how strong it was. Ours wasn’t great; I probably could’ve broken it with my hands,” he said with a laugh.
Despite being younger—and considerably smaller in physical stature—than his classmates, Matthew said he’s been embraced by the campus community.
“If I’m walking around campus or in class, no one is ever like, ‘Where’s your mom or dad?’” he said. “Everyone treats me like a regular college student.”
A legacy that began in the 1980s
When Margaret, the grandmother, moved from New York to Texas, she didn’t have a degree. She began working in an accounting department and excelled at her work. Her colleagues encouraged her to pursue a college degree.
“I started classes part-time while I was pregnant; it took me 10 years to graduate,” Margaret said. “But I was determined. I knew education was the key, not just for me, but for my family.”
She graduated at age 38, just as her eldest daughter, Jacqueline—still just barely 10 years old at the time—was beginning to look toward college for herself.
The next generation of Mavericks
Jacqueline, Matthew’s mother, transferred to UTA at age 16 as a college junior, graduating in four years in 2002 with a degree in criminology and criminal justice. Inspired by her favorite television show, she set her sights on a career in law enforcement.
“I always wanted to be in law enforcement after growing up watching The X-Files,” Jacqueline said. “UTA allowed me to chase my dream.”
Her career specialized in crime and intelligence analysis positions with the Arlington Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration, as well as teaching at George Mason University. But her love of ice hockey—and officiating the game—altered her career trajectory. Now the hockey programs manager for the Dallas Stars, she is a pioneer in the sport, becoming the first woman to referee in a men’s professional league, the American Hockey League, the developmental league for the NHL.
Her younger sister Jocelyn followed a different path, enrolling at UTA at 13 and graduating at 17 with a degree in microbiology. Today, she serves as a critical care physician at John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth, leading intensive care teams, while also mentoring pre-med students at her alma mater. In 2016, she received the UTA Distinguished Alumni Award, which honored her commitment to the university and community engagement.
“I still come back to campus every year to work with pre-med students,” Jocelyn said. “UTA played such an important role in my life, and I want to help the next generation find their path, too.”
Education and family, hand in hand.
Margaret raised her daughters with a strong sense of faith, discipline and the belief that education opens doors. She homeschooled both of them until their academic interests surpassed what she could provide at home. That’s when they turned to UTA.
“They could do the work, so why not?” Margaret said. “It wasn’t about pushing them; it was about giving them the opportunity to learn.”
That same spirit of opportunity now drives Matthew’s studies. His family’s story has become one of persistence, community and the power of education to change lives.
“UTA has been part of our family for so long,” Jocelyn said. “We’ve all done different things—business, science, engineering—but this campus ties us together.”
Looking ahead
For Margaret, watching her grandson become the third generation of her family to study at UTA is a full-circle moment.
“Some parents think success means sending their children far away to big-name schools,” she said. “But I’ve seen what UTA offers—affordability, great programs and opportunities close to home. You don’t have to leave to succeed.”
Jacqueline agrees.
“Each of us didn’t make it because we’re some sort of genius,” she said. “It’s about hard work, discipline and determination.”
It appears the family’s Maverick legacy isn’t ending anytime soon—Matthew’s younger sister, Emma, already has her sights set on UTA.
“She wants to attend because of Waffleopolis,” Jacqueline said, referring to UTA’s beloved annual back-to-school waffle and ice cream event.
From waffles to the workforce, this three-generation Maverick family proves that opportunity, perseverance and education are ties that bind.
About The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA)
Celebrating its 130th anniversary in 2025, The University of Texas at Arlington is a growing public research university in the heart of the thriving Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. With a student body of over 42,700, UTA is the second-largest institution in the University of Texas System, offering more than 180 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Recognized as a Carnegie R-1 university, UTA stands among the nation’s top 5% of institutions for research activity. UTA and its 280,000 alumni generate an annual economic impact of $28.8 billion for the state. The University has received the Innovation and Economic Prosperity designation from the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities and has earned recognition for its focus on student access and success, considered key drivers to economic growth and social progress for North Texas and beyond.