When Jack Pennuto first came to Missouri S&T in 2000, he was an aspiring mechanical engineer excited to join the S&T men’s swimming team. When the now 23-time All-American swimmer returned to his alma mater this spring, he came as the president of U.S. operations for KUKA Robotics.  

In late April, Pennuto made the trip to Rolla from his home in Michigan for the dedication ceremony of the new KUKA Robotics Lab in Toomey Hall — a space equipped with advanced robotic systems donated by the company. 
 
The lab features four KUKA training cells that include robots and microcontrollers, allowing students to learn the fundamentals of industrial robotics through hands-on programming and operation. 
 
“Missouri S&T has always done a phenomenal job giving students a strong theoretical foundation and a broad base of engineering knowledge,” says Pennuto, who earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering at S&T in 2004 and a master’s degree the following year.  
 
“What makes this addition so exciting is that it will provide a practical, hands-on way to apply what they’re learning. That kind of real-world experience can be a key differentiator — something that helps them stand out in job interviews or even launch their careers.” 
 
Offering robotics training is not new for S&T, but what will be new is having multiple training cells, which will allow students to gain significantly more experience with the technology. 

“For a school like S&T, with its focus on manufacturing and the kinds of companies that recruit here, it just makes sense to have a KUKA Robotics Lab,” Pennuto says. “It’s the right equipment, in the right place, for the right kind of students.” 
 
Pennuto, a first-generation college student, says he hopes the company’s investment in S&T will help students find their footing in the workforce and in life, just as S&T helped him.  
 
Beyond setting him on a solid professional path, Pennuto also met his wife, Kelly, a 2007 biology graduate, at a university event. 
 
“There’s so much you can take away from your time at S&T — not just the academic knowledge, but the mindset, the connections and the opportunities you will find when you’re really pushed to think like an engineer,” he says.  
 
Dr. David Bayless, professor and chair of mechanical and aerospace engineering at S&T, says the timing of the lab opening couldn’t be better. 

“The department is experiencing remarkable growth in enrollment, research and its overall capabilities,” Bayless says. “The addition of this lab is a monumental step forward that will help us develop the next generation of problem solvers ready to tackle society’s most pressing challenges.” 
 
For more information about Missouri S&T’s mechanical and aerospace engineering programs, visit mae.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.