a student writes to President Jackson
 

Dear President Jackson, As I sit here and watch the live broadcast of the Computational Center for Nanotechnology Innovations press conference on my IBM laptop, I truly realize how much of a global impact and how powerful my education here at Rensselaer has become. Over the course of my four years I have seen so many positive changes both inside and out. I believe your visionary leadership, dedication and hard work is unparalleled by any person I have ever met.

I am so proud to have been a student here at RPI for four years; it has given me so much. Thank you for giving me the opportunities to excel in academics, leadership, athletics, and all the other things I have been able to take interest in.

I have had the opportunity to meet many great people here at RPI—ranging from trustees, vice presidents, and hall of fame inductees to the grounds crew and maintenance people that make this campus look great. All of these people play an essential role in Rensselaer's success. You have surrounded yourself with some of the brightest and most influential people possible, to make RPI the place it is now, and the place it will soon become. The Rensselaer name and reputation will be with me my whole life, thank you for making it all worthwhile.

I don't have much now to contribute to your capital campaign nor am I at the point to have residence halls named after me. I am only a 22 year old graduate preparing for the next phase of my life, but we were all there once. I can only be thankful for what I have done and where I am going. I will come back and I will give back to Rensselaer, mostly due to my experiences here and the opportunities RPI has given me. Your powerful morals and intense leadership have made this possible.

Thank you,
Bryan Geiger ’06