Six SDSU Students Celebrate Major Scholarship Win

By Scout Nelson

Six electrical engineering students from South Dakota State University receive a national honor through the Power and Energy Society Scholarship Plus Award. This respected award from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers recognizes students who show strong academic performance, leadership, and a clear interest in the power and energy field. Each award gives students either $3,000 or $4,000, depending on their history in the program.

The scholarship recipients are Nick Erickson, Nick Ankrum, Cole Brown, Cyrus Nelson, Jaxon Lohnes, and Connor Delehant. Their selections show the continued strength of SDSU’s power and energy program, which remains one of the top programs in the nation. SDSU also stands out as one of only three schools that have had at least one scholar chosen every year since the scholarship first began in 2011.

Faculty leaders say this strong record reflects the quality of SDSU students and the support they receive from the university’s Center for Power Systems Studies. The program works closely with industry partners, who offer internships that give students important hands-on experience. These internships help students improve their classroom learning and make them stronger job candidates.

Each of the six students has a strong academic record and takes part in leadership groups, engineering clubs, research projects, or volunteer activities. They also complete internships with power companies, engineering firms, or technology groups across the region. These experiences help them build skills in power systems, design, protection, and electrical communication.

The students also have clear career plans. Some plan to work for public power companies, while others want to work in engineering design or communication systems. All of them want to contribute to the growing power and energy industry, which continues to evolve as technology and energy needs change.

Overall, the recognition of these six SDSU students shows the importance of strong academic preparation, industry partnerships, and hands-on learning. Their achievements highlight the value of engineering education and the opportunities available for students interested in the power and energy field.

Photo Credit: south-dakota-state-university