The scholarship is awarded to electrical engineering undergraduate students who are high achievers and show an interest in the power and energy sector.
Three students from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering were awarded scholarships from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Power and Energy Society (IEEE PES) for the 2024-25 academic year.
Andre Llanos, Isabella Polkey and Nicole Parker are three of 84 students from across the U.S. who were chosen for this honor. The scholarship is awarded to electrical engineering undergraduate students who are high achievers and show an interest in the power and energy sector.
“I am so thankful that my passion for power and renewable energy can be recognized through receiving an award such as this,” Parker says. “I am thankful to Dr. Wei Sun, Dr. Qun Zhou Sun and Dr. Justin Phelps for recommending me to this scholarship and assisting in the process of applying.”
Parker, who graduates this fall with a degree in the power and renewable energy track, says she’s passionate about the evolution of cleaner and more efficient power systems and wants to contribute to the generation, transmission and distribution of clean energy. She plans to start her career with Siemens as a substation control and automation engineer and plans to pursue a master’s degree in sustainable power systems engineering within the next few years.
Similarly, Polkey also has an interest in renewable energy and is enrolled in the power and renewable energy track. She plans to work for a utilities company at the forefront of clean energy after she graduates in 2025.
“I am really interested in working in the renewable energy field,” Polkey says. “I have a lot of passion for the Earth and the clean energy movement, so I wanted to find a career that supported this. I am so excited to be able to make an impact in such an important area.”
For Llanos, who has already worked in the industry, the scholarship will help fund his degree and ultimately, allow him to start a new career path in renewable power.
“I have always enjoyed tinkering and solving problems and I felt driven towards a career path that allows me to have an impact on important issues such as sustainable energy systems,” Llamos says. “I worked as a wind turbine technician for several years help tackle this issue. However, I realized that an engineering role in the same field would be more impactful and fulfilling, so I am transitioning into that career path.”
The IEEE PES scholarships are made possible by donations from individuals and corporations. With over 40,000 members, IEEE is the largest technical organization dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity.
Story by Marisa Ramiccio