Difference Makers
UM-Dearborn Difference Makers are at the forefront of their fields. They’re improving the lives of others and making an impact on campus and in our local communities.
Since taking his first computer programming class at the age of 15, Jordan Lampi has dreamed of becoming a software engineer.
Jordan knows firsthand the benefits of learning computer skills at a young age. That is why he and classmates Zachery Bridges and Scott Hoffman founded Computers to Educate Children. The organization provides computers with educational software to children in Detroit, Dearborn and surrounding areas.
“I had this idea to create a nonprofit organization to help put computers into the hands of children,” he said. “My vision was to get donated computers and install educational software on them. The computers would then be donated to children on a needs-based basis.”
Students and faculty members for the University of Michigan-Dearborn Computer and Information Sciences Department helped launch the organization as an activity of the Association of Computing Machinery.
The organization received national recognition as UM-Dearborn’s chapter of ACM won the Student Chapter Excellence Award for Outstanding Community Service in 2011.
In addition to his work with Computers to Educate Children, he has tutored for CIS courses, co-hosted a programming competition and twice competed in the regional ACM programming competition.
Jordan also completed a co-op placement with Superior Controls in Plymouth, Mich. He was hired part-time at SoarTech and will become a full-time employee after graduation.
“I am very fortunate to be doing what I’m passionate about and doing it for a great company,” he said.
