The IEEE Student Branch at NC State is proud to help recognize an undergraduate student who has significantly impacted the ECE Student body. Student Chapter Chairs, John Bumgardner and Adithya Balaji, collaborated to create an award that would encourage greater student leadership within the ECE Department. This scholarship is open to all students who are CODA’d ECE students. Members of IEEE’s student chapter leadership are ineligible for the award. IEEE Student Branch involvement is not required but encouraged.

Sara Thornton is the inaugural recipient of the scholarship. She is a NC State Electrical Engineering senior with a concentration in Renewable Electric Energy Systems and a minor in Environmental Science. During her time at NC State she has been highly involved with the ECE Ambassadors on campus, serving as Public Relations Officer and Treasurer, volunteering at departmental events, and facilitating campus tours of EBII. Sara's passion and interests in renewables and power have been growing ever since her Alternative Service Break in San Diego, California, where she installed solar panels for underserved communities in 2019. She also has past research experience within the ECE department in hardware cybersecurity solutions utilizing wireless communication and drone technology. She looks forward to learning more about the power and energy industry and its applications in engineering through involvement with IEEE at NC State!