Two Kettering University students have been selected for the IEEE Power & Energy Society Scholarship Plus Initiative, a competitive award recognizing undergraduate engineers preparing to enter the electric power and energy workforce. Each student received a $3,000 scholarship for the 2025–2026 academic year.
The recipients are:
Deondre Blair, Electrical and Computer Engineering major with a minor in Computer Science
Ian Gibson, Electrical Engineering major with a minor in Sustainability
“This award reflects how our Electrical and Computer Engineering curriculum and cooperative education program prepare students specifically for impactful roles in the electric power and energy workforce,” said Mark Thompson, Ph.D., Professor and Department Head of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
The initiative recognizes students who demonstrate strong academic performance, meaningful extracurricular involvement, and a commitment to careers in the power and energy field. According to IEEE, 244 students were selected from 110 universities across the United States, Puerto Rico, and Canada for this award cycle.
Blair and Gibson were identified as students whose achievements and engagement reflect leadership within their programs and preparation for professional practice in energy-related engineering fields.
“Through their academic excellence and professional engagement in their co-op positions, both Deondre and Ian are the type of motivated, technically capable students the scholarship was designed to support. Their interests in energy systems, sustainability, computing, and emerging technologies position them to become leaders in the evolving power and energy industry,” Thompson said.
The scholarship is administered by IEEE, the world’s largest technical professional organization dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity. With more than 486,000 members worldwide, IEEE publishes widely cited engineering research, develops technical standards used across modern infrastructure systems, and connects universities with industry through conferences, professional activities, and workforce initiatives.
Through the Power & Energy Society Scholarship Plus Initiative, IEEE supports students entering fields responsible for the design, operation, and reliability of electrical power systems — infrastructure essential to modern industry, sustainability efforts, and everyday life.
