Marquette inspired a Best Buy executive to work to improve the lives of inner-city teens, he said in a speech Wednesday evening.

Darren Jackson spoke to a full house, mostly made up of business majors, in the Weasler Auditorium. He graduated from the College of Business Administration in 1986 with a degree in accounting. Jackson focused his message on how his role as chief financial officer of Best Buy allows him to give back to communities.

He described how Marquette blessed him with the Jesuit experience and instilled in him an intellectual curiosity. But he nearly didn't make it into the university. In high school, Jackson scored only a 19 on his ACT. Yet when Marquette reviewed his application, they were impressed with his ambition and moral values. Jackson said he is "forever in debt to Marquette."

Jackson praised Marquette's commitment to serve to others, which motivated him to become actively involved in developing Cristo Rey Jesuit high schools. Cristo Rey schools allow impoverished inner-city teens to attend a private high school at virtually no cost to the family. Jackson said about four years ago, a Marquette priest offered him the opportunity to help start up a Cristo Rey school in the Minneapolis area. He accepted the offer immediately.

Using his association with Best Buy, Jackson is able to provide a near free education to students as long as they work at a Best Buy one day a week. Best Buy is now joined by dozens of other corporations who are helping fund Cristo Rey schools all across the country.

Jackson said he believes that everyone has a unique vocation that they must work to

discover.

"Success is easy to catch; purpose is elusive," he said.

Before joining Best Buy, Jackson worked with prominent retailers Carson Pirie Scott & Co. and Nordstrom Inc., where he served as chief financial officer at both. In 2000,

Jackson joined Best Buy and within a year was promoted to CFO.

As CFO of the nation's No. 1 electronics retailer, Jackson's responsibilities include analyzing market trends to improve sales, composing financial reports and tax information for government organizations, and assisting in key corporate decisions.

Jackson listed "integrity, respect, and humility" as the values he emphasizes most to Best Buy employees, but iterated that those qualities are essential not only in the corporate world but in daily life.

After the speech, students said they felt energized and motivated to follow Jackson's example of reaching out to the disadvantaged.

Catie Alexenko, a freshman in the College of Business Administration, said she was taken aback by how moved she was by Jackson's lecture.

"Mr. Jackson's life experiences were very inspirational. He threw humor into his presentation, which made it lighter and more enjoyable."

Bobby Immen, a sophomore also in the College of Business Administration, said he gained a deep respect for Jackson's community outreach.

"I truly admire his dedication and service to others, especially in light of his personal success," said Immen.

Jackson is actively involved in the Marquette community. In addition to serving

on the Marquette board of trustees, he's also a member of the University

President's Council.

His speech kicked off "Alumni in Action" week, in which notable graduates will be on campus to discuss how Marquette has affected their professional life.