Apple announced on Wednesday that Steve Jobs, co-founder and former chief executive, died at age 56 after several years of health complications.

Jobs, who started the company in 1976 with his high-school friend, Steve Wozniack, had been battling pancreatic cancer for years. In August, he stepped down as chief executive of the company because his failing health prevented him from performing his duties. He is survived by his wife of 20 years and four children.

ACU’s Mobile Learning Initiative has been successful with the help of Apple’s products. Items such as iPhones, iPads, and Mac computers can be found all over campus. Because of Apple’s influence on education and lifestyle at ACU, the death of Steve Jobs has made a significant impact on the campus.

“He was young. He just completely changed our world technologically,” said Heather Newton, a communication sciences and disorders major from Austin.

“I thought it was kind of shocking since the new iPhone just came out,” said Taylor Franklin, a sophomore computer science major from Terrell, “but he died at the top of his game.”

Jobs founded Apple when he was 21. With the help of Steve Wozniak, he build the Apple I in this parents garage. Since then the company has unleashed revolutionary products including the Apple II computer, the iPod, the iPhone, the App Store and the iPad. Jobs also bought Pixar Animation Studios from George Lucas. The studio became famous after the release of the movie Toy Story.

The accomplishments Jobs achieved are recognized, especially by fans of Apple’s merchandise.

“He was an advocate for good design, which is something lacking these days,” said Graham Rutledge, a sophomore marketing major from Dallas.

Logan Cole, a junior family studies major from Abilene, said that Jobs seemed intrigued by the idea of death and was ready to accept his circumstances.

“Because of that reality of death, he didn’t let that hold him back,” Cole said.