From the left: Penn State Fayette Chancellor Dr. Francis K. Achampong, William K. Jackson, and Chairman of the Advisory Board William B. Blaney
William K. Jackson was honored as the recipient of the 27th “Outstanding Fellow of Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus” award on May 9 at the Uniontown Country Club. The award was presented by Penn State Fayette Chancellor Dr. Francis K. Achampong at a special meeting and ceremony of the Advisory Board of Penn State Fayette.
The “Outstanding Fellow of Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus” was established in 1985 by two local businessmen. Their intent was to honor a community leader whose support of the campus had been so exemplary as to warrant special recognition by the advisory board and the campus’ administration, faculty, staff and students. Penn State Fayette does not grant honorary degrees, so the Outstanding Fellow Award is the highest honor the campus can bestow. The recipients of this award possess the qualities that truly epitomize the phrase, “Penn State proud.”
“It is a pleasure to recognize Bill Jackson, who has been a long-time friend of the campus and an Advisory Board member since 1992. His generosity of time and resources has been greatly appreciated over the years. I want to personally extend my congratulations and best wishes to Bill on this much-deserved award,” said Achampong.
A 1973 graduate of Brownsville Area High School, Jackson continued his education at Penn State University, spending two years at Penn State Fayette before transferring to the University Park campus. Jackson graduated with a bachelor of science in agricultural business management in 1977.
After earning his degree, Jackson joined his father, uncle, and cousin in the family business, Jackson Farms, which was established in 1955 and is located in New Salem, Pa. Today, Jackson is in partnership with his brother-in-law, Kerry Harvey, in the business which has grown and evolved over time to include nearly 900 acres in Redstone and Menallen Townships.
Jackson is an active member of the community. He has been president of the Fayette County Fair Board since 1996 and is a board member of the Fay-Penn Economic Development Council and the Fayette Chamber of Commerce, we well as a member of the Advisory Board of Penn State Fayette. In addition, he serves on the boards of AgChoice Farm Credit ACA based in Mechanicsburg, Pa., which he chaired from 2009 through 2012, and the AgFirst Farm Credit Bank headquartered in Columbia, South Carolina.