Who am I?

PES Scholar - 2015

I am studying Electrical Engineering with an emphasis is Power and Energy Systems at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. After I graduate from Illinois in May 2016, I will begin my full-time position as an Associate Engineer at San Diego Gas & Electric in San Diego, California. In my free time I enjoy photography, traveling, and hiking.

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

One of the main reasons I chose engineering is because I am a third generation Electrical Engineer. My great-grandfather was a VP at General Electric and my mother is a Director of Transmission Interconnection at Sempra Energy. I contemplated a few different majors upon graduation from high school including engineering, accounting, and architecture. By taking a few introductory courses at community college, I found myself truly passionate about the challenging work of the engineering courses. Focusing in Power and Energy Systems was just the icing on the cake.

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

I love the power engineering field because it plays a very important role in everyone's modern life. Not only does this provide job security, but it also means the power engineering field is ever changing and growing with the advancement of technology. I am extremely interested in the planning and operations of our bulk electric grid, as well as the integration of renewable energy.

How has been selected as a PES Scholar impacted you?

I am so honored to be selected as 1 of 209 PES Scholars. Being an IEEE PES Scholar has and will continue to open doors of opportunity to a bright future. The PES Scholarship reward of $2,000 has also been extremely helpful for cutting the cost of my tuition as an out-of-state student. Ultimately, I am so grateful for the opportunity to be recognized as an IEEE PES Scholar and I will never forget this accomplishment!

January 2016