Who am I?

I am currently a Junior Electrical Engineering student in Kettering University's class of 2021. In addition, I am a co-op student in the Low Voltage Distribution Engineering department of Consumers Energy and a mentor on my Alma Mater's FIRST Robotics Team: 5509, Like a BOSS.

Why did you choose to study engineering and the power engineering field?

FIRST Robotics greatly influenced my decision to study engineering, and I will always be grateful for that. Power Engineering was something I came across while looking for a co-op job closer to my home town. Now I see it as my career.

What do you love about the power engineering field? What excites you about being involved in the PE field?

I'm excited to be doing something that affects everyone. You can't get very far without power, and it is very rewarding to be able to have a career that benefits the majority of the population. Plus, there are so many opportunities under the power engineering umbrella. I look forward to seeing what branch I end up in.

How has being selected as a PES Scholar impacted you?

1. Financial stability is a major improvement.
2. Receiving this scholarship has given me more confidence and self validation.
3. Excited about the future in Power Engineering.

Who am I?

I am a senior electrical engineering major and mathematics minor at the University of Kentucky (UK) set to graduate in May 2018. I have completed two internships at a CMTA, Inc. (a consulting engineering firm) and conducted research with the UK College of Design on sustainably designed greenhouses. I am interested in sustainable building design and renewable energy sources. Additionally, I have worked as a resident advisor for the past three years, dedicating my time to help students succeed in a safe and inclusive environment. I am a member of the Society of Women Engineers, the engineering honors societies Tau Beta Pi and Eta Kappa Nu, and serve on the Student Sustainability Council and the Engineering Student Council. I am currently taking classes to obtain a Power and Energy Institute of Kentucky certificate. Upon graduation, I plan to earn a master’s degree in engineering management or industrial engineering.

Why did you choose to study engineering and the power engineering field?

I had never considered engineering until my high school calculus teacher encouraged me major in it. Back then, I thought engineers only designed bridges and water systems. I did not realize there were so many different disciplines and a broad range of opportunities available within engineering. I was accepted to the University of Kentucky as an “undeclared engineering” major but was not entirely won over by the idea until freshman orientation. They broke up all the engineering students by discipline and sent the undeclared students to listen to a past dean of the college of engineering. I will never forget the way he described engineering and its importance in setting the pace and direction of society. From that point on, I knew that engineering was the right path for me. During my freshman year at the UK, I took a course called “Global Energy Issues.” Throughout the course, the class studied various energy sources and attended several Power and Energy Institute of Kentucky (PEIK) seminars, which kindled my strong interest in power and energy. The course truly opened my eyes to the potential of renewable energy sources and led me to merge my engineering studies and passion for sustainability with electrical engineering.

What do you love about the power engineering field? What excites you about being involved in the PE field?

During my first engineering course at the University of Kentucky (UK), we studied the National Academy of Engineering’s Grand Challenges of Engineering which identify the biggest problems that need to be solved in the 21st century. Several of them either directly or indirectly relate to the advancement and availability of power and energy. These challenges both reflect on needed efficiencies in the power and energy field and predict future changes. I love how the power and energy field is rapidly changing and will continue to change throughout my career. With modern technology, our dependence on electricity has drastically increased. If the power goes out for even a couple seconds, it greatly affects everyone from hospitals to factories to military operations. Also, I love the potential of renewable energy sources and how the utilization can positively impact our environment. However, this development poses several challenges such as altering the grid to accommodate two-way power flow. These challenges motivate me to learn about current technologies and excite me for my career. My experience studying electrical engineering at UK has been the most challenging and rewarding of my life thus far. I am excited for the opportunities that an electrical engineering degree will provide within the power field. I cannot wait to apply my education to real world problems and positively impact lives.

How has being selected as a PES Scholar impacted you?

After being selected as an IEEE PES Scholar, I was selected as a John W. Estey (JWE) Outstanding Scholar which is awarded to the top PES Scholar in each region, seven total in North America. S&C Electric Company invited the JWE scholars to visit their company and tour their facility, hear presentations from top level executives, tour downtown Chicago, and attend a dinner hosted by Mr. Estey. The event was an incredible experience that taught me about the opportunities in the power and energy field, specifically at S&C, and I am now more prepared for my career. I also got the opportunity to meet top power and energy students from across the country and learn about their experiences and interests. The IEEE PES Scholarship and the John W. Estey Scholarship have placed me in a more comfortable position where I can focus on my academics instead of worrying about my finances. With less student debt from my undergraduate education, I am able to pursue a master’s degree immediately after my bachelor’s degree. The University of Kentucky (UK) Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) Department held a luncheon in honor of the UK recipients at the faculty club. As a recipient of both the IEEE PES and John W. Estey Scholarships, the ECE Department wrote an article about me and posted it on their website and social media. This recognition informed faculty and students about the scholarship, which led to conversations about IEEE PES and my plans in the power and energy field.

Who am I?

Electrical Engineering, Spring 2019, Georgia Institute of Technology, Pursuing a job in the Power Industry, Interested in how renewable are implemented and changing the Power Grid

Why did you choose to study engineering and the power engineering field?

Engineering fell into my lap. As a child I loved putting together Legos and learning how the world worked. My mother and father told me that I would be an engineer and since then I have been pursuing the passion of understanding problems. In middle and high school I participated on robotics teams and that is where I was exposed to electrical engineering. After attending Georgia Tech I learned about a project led by graduate students that installed a 7 kW clinic in the mountains of Haiti. I joined that team and also received a Co-op with Georgia Power. I worked two semesters in the Transmission Planning department and one semester in the Georgia Transmission Control Center. All of those experiences showed me how interesting the power industry is and all of the opportunities associated with it.

What do you love about the power engineering field? What excites you about being involved in the PE field?

The power industry is unique in how everyone works together to keep the lights on. These past hurricanes have shown that. Companies from all over the country work together by sending workers in to help repair the grid. That is unlike any other industry I know. At the end of the day the power companies want to provide reliable, safe power for all of their customers. The power industry is changing extremely quickly. Renewable energies are rapidly being added to the power grid and changing the dynamics of the grid. How renewables and other smart grid technologies are changing the grid is what excites me the most about the power industry.

How has being selected as a PES Scholar impacted you?

This scholarship has provided me with more resources to pursue my goal of becoming a power engineer. The additional funds are helping me work my way through college. Also, becoming a PES Scholar has allowed me to pursue additional opportunities. This past year I was able to attend the PES Student Congress in Boston. There I learned about the exciting opportunities that are on the horizon in power and met other students from around the country that are pursuing power engineering. I also became the Vice President of the Georgia Tech PES Student chapter this past year. Becoming a PES Scholar helped me gain that position. Finally, I was able to receive a research study abroad through Washington State University and National Science Foundation in Glasgow, Scotland. There I worked at Strathclyde University on a power research project and also learned about the United Kingdom's power system. The PES Scholarship aided me in pursuing these opportunities. Without the scholarship I would not have been able to experience these unique opportunities that have made my college career as exciting and informative as it has been.

Who am I?

Electrical Engineering, spring 2019, CO School of Mines. "Power and Energy Systems" is my academic emphasis. Interested in: Renewables, Grid Integration, Electric Vehicle charging and infrastructure, realizing the "Smart Grid".

Why did you choose to study engineering and the power engineering field?

I am 100% back in school to facilitate the integration of renewables into the grid. I am especially passionate about photovoltaics.

What do you love about the power engineering field? What excites you about being involved in the PE field?

What's not to love? Just the words Power and Energy get me excited. I am interested in the most basic needs and after food, water, and shelter, I find electricity to be the commodity we depend on most. I am fascinated by the grid; grids are the largest physically connected systems built by humans, on the other they are dealing with the smallest physical matter, namely electrons. Power engineering is as dynamic of an engineering discipline as I can imagine because you have so many entities physically connected where supply must instantaneously meet demand.

How has being selected as a PES Scholar impacted you?

1. Financial situation is better.
2. The credentials on my resume now prove that I am committed to this field.
3. I have even greater confidence in my ability to succeed at school now that my hard efforts are being recognized.

Who am I?

I am majoring in Electrical Engineering at the University of Missouri. I am anticipating graduating Spring 2019. I am pursuing a possible emphasis in Power or Telecommunications. I am also involved in several organizations such as IEEE, Tau Beta Pi, Beta Upsilon Chi (BYX), multiple campus ministries, and other fun things I enjoy(intramurals, service fraternities). I am working to become a well rounded engineer to enter the field.

Why did you choose to study engineering and the power engineering field?

I initially chose engineering because my dad is also an Electrical Engineer and I shadowed him at a young age. Additionally, I loved math and science and found that I was good at both. As I entered college, I realized that I wanted to benefit society through my job. Between my freshman and sophomore year of college, I interned with a small power company in Minnesota. There, I saw first-hand the effect power engineers had on society, and my interest grew. I began studying more about power in class as well as I had another internship in the field, upon which I finally realized that I would enjoy pursuing power for the rest of my life.

What do you love about the power engineering field? What excites you about being involved in the PE field?

I love that power engineers help keep society functioning through "keeping the lights on". Also, I love learning about the future of it (SMART Grid, homes, etc.) and am excited for the continual advancements made in the sector.

How has being selected as a PES Scholar impacted you?

1. I've been able to worry less about paying for school and focus more on my classes and campus involvement.
2. I have been plugged in with a group of like-minded engineers that will help me in my future.
3. Though I haven't received a mentor yet, I am excited to reach out to one and have continual advice from an expert in the field.

Who am I?

I am an Electrical Engineering and Mathematics double major at the University of Alabama planning to graduate in May of 2018. My academic interests have followed my professional interests by pursuing coursework in electromechanical systems, electric power & machines, power electronics, and power systems.

Why did you choose to study engineering and the power engineering field?

I decided to study engineering after being exposed to the idea of engineering through Project Lead the Way coursework during high school. These classes exposed me to the design process and the idea that engineers have the ability to shape the way that we live. I chose to pursue the field of power engineering after my first internship with Indianapolis Power & Light. This opportunity exposed me to the distribution side of the industry and how an electric utility interfaces with and provides for the needs of its customers. This internship sparked my curiosity and from there I have immersed myself in the field of power engineering.

What do you love about the power engineering field? What excites you about being involved in the PE field?

The thing that I love about power engineering is that it truly engages with people from all walks of life. We all interact with electricity on a daily basis and the power engineering field offers me the opportunity to play a role in the delivery of this necessity. I am most excited about the rapidly changing face of the power engineering field. This is a time where the industry is being transformed in ways that it has not been shaped in decades.

How has being selected as a PES Scholar impacted you?

Being selected as an IEEE PES Scholar has positively impacted me. The opportunities that this recognition has provided me with have been boundless from connecting with professors performing research in the field to networking with peers and industry professionals. The scholarship has been helpful in allowing me to further pursue a degree in electrical engineering and has exposed me to resources in the field of power engineering.