The Jack M. Zeigler (BME 1948) Woodruff Outstanding Educator Award was created in 1999 to recognize an outstanding educator among the academic faculty of the Woodruff School of ME at Georgia Tech. This is a lifetime achievement award that a person can receive one time. The winner is announced at an annual spring School event and receives $5,000 in discretionary funds to use for professional development items such as travel, computers, and support of students. The winner is invited to deliver the Jack Zeigler Outstanding Educator Lecture at an assembly of the Woodruff School. The winner is selected by a committee appointed by the Woodruff School Faculty Advisory Committee.

• 2023: Raghuram V. Pucha
• 2021: Craig Forest
• 2020: Wayne Whiteman
• 2019: Suresh Sitaraman
• 2017: Marc K. Smith
• 2015: Thomas Kurfess
• 2013: Bill Singhose
• 2012: Srinivas Garimella
• 2011: G. Paul Neitzel
• 2010: Aldo A. Ferri 
• 2009: David N. Ku
• 2007: Jonathan S. Colton
• 2006: Robert M. Nerem (deceased March 2020)
• 2004: David L. McDowell
• 2003: James G. Hartley
• 2002: Robert Fulton (deceased February 2004)
• 2001: Farrokh Mistree
• 2000: Said I. Abedel-Khalik
• 1999: William Z. Black

Mr. Jack M. Zeigler (class of 1948) received his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering after interrupting his education with 3 ½ years of service in the U.S. Army.  While at Georgia Tech, he was a co-op student at two companies, where he worked primarily as a draftsman. In one company he earned $1.25 an hour; this was a raise from $0.55 per hour at the other company.

Mr. Zeigler, who passed away at the age of 93 on May 28, 2016 , was the retired President and Owner of Fabrication Engineering Service Company, Inc. (FESCO).  FESCO specializes in the made-to-order fabrication business using high quality alloy steels to produce tanks for the chemicals industry and pressure vessels for textile manufacturers.

Until his retirement in 1989, Mr. Zeigler was a registered professional engineering in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia, and he was a lifetime member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineering and the American Welding Society. 

Mr. Zeigler was very supportive of Georgia Tech. He was the chairman of the Charlotte Regional Campaign Steering Committee of the Georgia Tech Centennial Campaign, a member of the Alexander-Tharpe Fund Board of Trustees, a member of the class of 1948 40th Reunion  Fund Committee, and past president of the Charlotte Georgia Tech Club.

He was also the recipient of the 1994 Woodruff School Distinguished Alumnus Award, and the 1994 Distinguished Engineering Alumnus Award sponsored by the College of Engineering at Georgia Tech. Jack Zeigler was born in Thomasville, Georgia and resided, with his wife, Sarah, in Charlotte, North Carolina.