SDSU Electrical Engineering Students Top Peers

Electrical engineering students at South Dakota State University continue to stand out among their peers.

Earlier this fall, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, the world's largest technical professional organization, announced the winners of its Power and Energy Society Scholarships. Eight of the 20 recipients from the 10-state Midwest region are from SDSU as is the Estey Outstanding Scholar Award winner, which goes to the top electrical engineering student in each region.

This year marks the fourth time in five years that an SDSU student has won the Estey Award, which provides a $5,000 scholarship, a $1,000 travel allowance to the IEEE Power and Energy Society general meeting and 12 months membership in IEEE.

The 2022-23 Estey Outstanding Scholar Award winner is Tyler Fogelson, a 4.0 senior from Fairmont, Minn. The 2021-22 winner was classmate Kade Griesse, a 4.0 scholar from Rock Rapids, Iowa. The other SDSU students to be named Power and Energy Society regional student of the year were Matt Stoel, Sioux Falls, 2019-20; and Grant Metzger, Rock Rapids, Iowa, 2018-19.

Fogelson and Griesse were among the eight SDSU students to receive PES scholarships, which are $2,000 awards.

The other recipients were Sarah Aman, a junior from Aberdeen; CheyLee Arnold, a sophomore from Spencer, Iowa; Cody Decker, a senior from Centerville; Kalen Meyer, a sophomore from Rock Rapids; Shelby Mueller, a junior from Watertown, Minn.; and Luke Rasmussen, a sophomore from Rock Rapids.

Professor Steve Hietpas, who directs SDSU's Center for Power Systems Studies, noted that eight scholarship winners is the best SDSU has ever done. In comparing SDSU's performance to other Midwest schools, Iowa State had five recipients. No other school had more than one.

Nationwide, there were 75 PES scholarships awarded. That means SDSU students secured more than 10% of the total scholarships awarded.

Hietpas said the SDSU scholarship selections reflect "the high caliber of students attending SDSU and the strength of the power and energy faculty, resources and curriculum within the electrical engineering and computer science department as well as the strong connection between the 27 industry members of the Center for Power Systems Studies in our students.

"The numerous internships provided by Center for Power System Studies members provide valuable field experience for our students, who are then able to do better in the classroom. In turn, these industry members have very well-trained students to hire upon their graduation."

Hietpas also gave a shout-out to associate professor Tim Hansen for his active promotion of this scholarship and writing letters of support.

Focusing on Fogelson and Griesse, Hansen said, "Both students are exceptionally talented electrical engineers with a focus on power systems, and both have had internships now for each year of their undergraduate experience in the power field.

"Both Kade and Tyler excel in each of the award categories and have done so since their freshman year. I have had them multiple times in classes over the years and in extracurriculars, which has allowed me, and I am sure other faculty and industry mentors, to write very strong and personal letters of recommendation for the award.

"Having such students in the program just makes everything go a little smoother. For example, Kade and Tyler are currently tutoring second-year students in fundamental circuit theory as that is one of the toughest courses in the program. Their impact goes beyond their individual talent and brings up the entire electrical engineering program through the outreach they do."

A profile of the SDSU scholarship recipients:

- Fogelson is the son of Michael and Jennifer Fogelson and a 2019 graduate of Fairmont High School. At SDSU, he has been involved with the Robotics Cub, IEEE, Eta Kappa Nu, the electrical engineering honor society; HKN Peer Mentoring, Tau Beta Pi honor society, and the Joint Engineering Council. Of these clubs, he has been the chair of IEEE, president of Eta Kappa Nu, treasurer and vice president of administration of the Joint Engineering Council, and team lead for robotics.

Fogelson has worked at Missouri River Energy Services since May 2021 and has taken part in the mentorship program through IEEE Power and Energy Society.

After graduation, he will work as a resource engineer with Missouri River Energy Services.

- Griesse is the son of Dave and Amie Griesse and a 2019 graduate of Central Lyon High. At SDSU, he is president of Tau Beta Pi (all engineering professions) honor society and vice president of Eta Kappa Nu (electrical engineering) honor society. Griesse also is a past officer for the Robotics Club and the Joint Engineering Council.

He has been a summer intern with DGR Engineering in Rock Rapids for the past three years. Upon graduation, he will join DGR Engineering full time as an engineer in training.

- Aman, a junior from Aberdeen, is the daughter of Pat and Lynn Aman of Aberdeen and a 2020 graduate of Warner High School.

At SDSU, she holds a 3.3 GPA and is president of Robotics Club after having served as vice president of communications from January to December 2021. She is vice chair of the student chapter of IEEE and was marketing and media coordinator from January to December 2021. She also is a member of The Pride of the Dakotas Marching Band.

Summer internships include working in the system operations department at Otter Tail Power Company in 2021 and at Missouri River Energy Services in 2022.

During her time at Missouri River, Aman conducted research to address the engineering shortage by automating some engineering work required to perform changes to the grid.

From that she created the poster "Creating an All-Members Screening Process for Large Load Additions" and presented it at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Power and Energy Society general meeting. Her effort won first place in the undergraduate division in this international competition at the largest power conference in the world.

This summer, Aman has an internship with Burns & McDonnell's energy group in Denver. After graduation, Aman hopes to either be an operations engineer working to operate the grid or work as a generation engineer working to implement renewable energy in rural areas.

- Arnold, a sophomore from Spencer, Iowa, is the daughter of Luc and Misty Arnold of Spencer and a 2021 graduate of Spencer High School.

At SDSU, she holds a 3.1 GPA and is communications and marketing executive with IEEE as well as being involved in Robotics Club, Joint Engineering Counciland Oasis Christian Fellowship.

This summer she willintern at Blattner Energy in Avon, Minnesota. After graduation, she hopes to find a job in renewable energy.

- Decker, a senior from Centerville, is the son of Elias and Deann Decker of Centerville and a 2019 graduate of Centerville High School.

At SDSU, he holds a 3.57 GPA and is president of the chess club, secretary of the rock-climbing club and active with IEEE and the Robotics Club.

This summer he interned at Malloy Electric in Sioux Falls.

Postgraduation plans are undecided.

- Meyer, a sophomore from Rock Rapids, is the son of Sid and Tana Meyer of Rock Rapids and a 2021 graduate of Central Lyon High School.

At SDSU, he holds a 4.0 GPA and is a member of the wrestling team.

For the past two summers, he has interned at DGR Engineering of Rock Rapids.

Postgraduation plans are to find a job in the power industry in the Midwest.

- Mueller, a junior from Watertown, Minn., is the daughter of Nicole and Noah Mueller of Watertown, Minn., and a 2020 graduate of Watertown-Mayer High School.

At SDSU, she holds a 3.3 GPA and is secretary of the student chapter of IEEE.

Last summer she interned at Burns & McDonnell in the Transmission and Distribution group, in the Networks, Integration and Automation department. This summer she will be back at Burns & McDonell interning in the Substation department.

Postgraduation plans are to find a job within the power industry.

- Rasmussen, a sophomore from Rock Rapids, is the son of Chad and Ginger Rasmussen of Rock Rapids and a 2021 graduate of Central Lyon High School.

At SDSU, he holds a 4.0 GPA, is active in IEEE and serves as recruitment/retainment officer for the Robotics Club.

In the summer he interned with DGR Engineering in Rock Rapids.

Postgraduation plans are undecided.