The new Sterling Reckling Design Lab, a space for the first-year class “Entrepreneurship Incubator: Take Your Ideas to Market,” opened this fall.
According to Ms. Jennifer Kehler, assistant director and instructor for the Gordy Family Center for Leadership, Entrepreneurship and Finance, the lab was created “to serve as a classroom space for entrepreneurship classes.”
It features flexible working pods, multiple presentation screens, and walls covered in whiteboards to help students brainstorm and prototype.
“It’s really where we take care of the initial design phases,” added Dr. Tony Watson, a teacher for CLEF. “Eventually, we’ll incorporate the maker space for physical product creation.”
The lab is named after Sterling Reckling, a Kinkaid alumnus and entrepreneur whose sisters donated the space in his memory. Reckling founded several ventures, including a dog food company that inspired others to pursue their own business ideas.
Projects in the design lab range from apps to physical inventions—anything that fits within the school’s ethical guidelines.
“It could be anything from dog toys to the next killer app,” said Dr. Watson, who co-teaches entrepreneurship courses.
Students learn how to pitch to investors, understand finances, build prototypes and market their own products.
Past student ideas include “InstaChill,” a portable drink chiller created by Kinkaid’s entrepreneurship team last year. The group designed, built, and pitched their product—winning competitions and gaining investor interest.
Alex Shaw, a senior taking the class, shared what daily life in the lab looks like.
“We study different companies’ business models, brainstorm problems, and start designing solutions,” she said. “It’s really collaborative—we switch groups a lot and learn to communicate our ideas.” Shaw plans to pursue finance in college, saying CLEF “helped solidify my decision and gave me a foundation in business before college.”
The Sterling Reckling Design Lab isn’t just another classroom—it’s where Kinkaid students become entrepreneurs, collaborate like professionals, and innovate like leaders.
