A Waterloo native has been making a name for himself internationally since he graduated from Waterloo High School in 2007.

Jonathan Naber founded Illini Prosthetic Technologies, a nonprofit organization with the mission of developing and producing an affordable prosthetic arm for amputees living in poverty, while he was studying at the University of Illinois in 2008.

IPT has created a rapid-fitting, low-cost prosthetic arm called the OpenSocket, which is now being used in several countries in Africa, Asia and the Americas, and will soon be expanding to many more.

After graduating from U of I in 2011, Naber went on to work in Guatemala with IPT and is currently enrolled in the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

He recently had the opportunity to meet Prince Charles at a reception put on by the Marshall Commemoration Commission, which is funding his studies in the United Kingdom as a Marshall Scholar.

The event was celebrating the 60th anniversary of the scholarship, which took place at the U.K. Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

“I had the opportunity to speak with Prince Charles, which was an interesting and memorable experience,” Naber said. “This opportunity reminds me of the special relationship (the two countries) share, especially in the political and economic arenas.”

Naber was also invited to Queen Elizabeth’s birthday party in mid-June, which he is also very much looking forward to.

So far, Naber said he has fully enjoyed his studies at LSHTM.

“My classmates are from every corner of the globe, and my professors are world leaders in

their fields,” he said. “The taught portion of my program is now coming to a close, and I will turn my full attention to my thesis.”

He is researching the application of community-based rehabilitation for amputees and developing countries, which he said will possibly involve some fieldwork with partner organizations during the month of July.

Naber will study for one more year in the U.K. and earn his master’s of science degree in engineering and management of manufacturing systems from Cranfield University.

“Once I have finished that step, I will pursue my vision of bringing community-based rehabilitation to vulnerable groups in developing countries,” he said. “There are a lot of exciting opportunities to do this work due to increased international attention on this issue.”

Naber speaks highly of growing up in Waterloo.

“I grew a lot through my involvement at Waterloo High School, my 4-H club, and my church,” he said.

Naber said he is “eternally grateful” to the people and organizations that supported him during his studies at U of I and during his time in Latin America.

“Perhaps the greatest blessing of all is something that has carried me through my studies and my work, through the good times and the tough times: the Midwestern work ethic and moral anchor that Waterloo teaches her children,” he said.