When Jacopo Frigerio was inducted into the Missouri S&T Academy of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineers in October 2023, he says one of his goals was to find new ways to positively impact as many students as possible in his home department. 
 
It didn’t take the two-time S&T graduate long, as those students will soon have access to a brand-new Boss LS-1420 laser cutter made by the BossLaser Co. and a portable filtration system that were both recently delivered to the S&T campus. 
 
Frigerio and his wife, Jenifer, provided financial support for the cutter, and thanks to his encouragement, the academy and department also contributed funds for the equipment.

“This started after I heard Dr. Warner Meeks discuss the remarkable radio-controlled aircraft that students make for his senior design class,” he says. “After learning that his students’ precision designs were typically sent to a third party for materials to be cut, I realized I could help the department purchase the equipment to handle this in-house.  
 
“I quickly pledged my support, and when I asked for the academy to provide a contribution as well, everyone agreed it was a no-brainer.” 
 
Frigerio, who earned a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from S&T in 1993 and a master’s degree in mechanical engineering in 1995, retired in 2020 after spending his career at Lockheed Martin. While at Lockheed, he often made the trip from his home in Littleton, Colorado, to Rolla to give informational and inspirational talks to students at his alma mater.  
 
Since retiring, he has been even more laser-focused – both literally and figuratively – in supporting the university. 
 
“Missouri S&T has had an amazing impact on my life,” he says. “It changed me for the better and helped me have a rewarding career. Now, I get to make a positive difference for the next generation of engineers.” 
 
Meeks, an associate teaching professor who earned three degrees in aerospace engineering at S&T, says the new equipment will allow students to more quickly develop and test complex designs for several mechanical and aerospace engineering courses. He says the cutter will work for everything from wood and rubber to foam and fiberglass. It can also engrave metals, such as aluminum, steel and copper. 
 
“The support we receive from the academy and S&T alumni in general is incredible,” Meeks says. “The academy sponsors so many great initiatives, and they are also excellent ambassadors for the department. As an S&T alumnus myself, it is wonderful to see successful professionals here come full-circle and want to give back.” 
 
For more information about how to support the mechanical and aerospace engineering department or the Academy of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineers’ initiatives, email Tom Turpin, senior development officer, at tturpin@mst.edu. 

About Missouri S&T

Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) is a STEM-focused research university of over 7,000 students located in Rolla, Missouri. Part of the four-campus University of Missouri System, Missouri S&T offers over 100 degrees in 40 areas of study and is among the nation’s top public universities for salary impact, according to the Wall Street Journal. For more information about Missouri S&T, visit www.mst.edu.