Alumnus Bill Jackson has generously given 3D printers, cricut maker kits, hand tools, and CNC router accessories to enhance the Jackson Innovation Studio.
Written by Taylor Tucker
Alumnus Bill Jackson (BSEM 1982, MSME 1983), whose family funded MechSE’s Jackson Innovation Studio, made a personal equipment donation that was customized to fit students’ needs and requests.
“We want the studio to be a learning environment that is not held back by equipment or software,” Jackson said of making the donation.
While visiting campus for the studio opening last summer, Jackson consulted with student employees about the studio and its needs. “There is a great team that leads and runs the studio,” he said. “They worked hard to determine the full list of equipment needed.”
Following the visit, the students compiled a “dream list” of desired equipment and other updates that included Ultimaker S5 3D printers and Cricut Maker 3+ kits as well as a variety of hand tools and CNC router accessories. Jackson’s donation covered the list’s total cost.
“The Jackson Innovation Studio is about the learning of innovation concepts—fast to fail, diverging concept development—and innovative characteristics like curiosity, teamwork, and others,” he said.
“Thank you on behalf of the studio’s student employees and the MechSE department for allowing us to improve our studio,” the studio team wrote in response to the donation.