Missouri S&T Electrical and Computer Engineering department recognized three outstanding electrical engineering graduates with the 2025 Grainger Power Engineering Awards during a ceremony held Friday, May 17.
The Grainger Awards, supported by a $1.3 million endowment from The Grainger Foundation, celebrate students who have demonstrated exceptional promise in power engineering. Each recipient received a $6,000 award to support their early career development in the power industry.
Morgan Taylor, who graduated in December 2024 with a degree in electrical engineering and an emphasis in power and energy, was honored for her dedication to renewable energy. Taylor interned at Invenergy in Chicago, where she worked on solar, wind, and energy storage projects. She currently works as an Engineer I on the Substation Design team at POWER Engineers, where she contributes to physical and controls design for substations.
Sophia Strathman was also recognized for her academic and professional excellence. She holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering with a focus on power and energy, as well as controls and systems. Strathman has conducted advanced research under Dr. Jonathan Kimball and completed internships at Spire, Burns & McDonnell, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory. A current master’s student in computer science, she plans to graduate in spring 2026.
Jonathan Saelens, who earned a Master of Science in electrical engineering from S&T in December 2024, was recognized for his work in generator protective systems at Burns & McDonnell. His graduate research focused on advanced DC-AC-AC bridge power converters for more efficient energy transfer. A former Formula SAE Design Team electrical lead, Saelens continues to apply his skills both professionally and through personal engineering projects.
Missouri S&T is one of only six universities nationwide selected to receive Grainger Foundation funding for power engineering awards. The foundation, based in Lake Forest, Illinois, was established in 1949 by William Wallace Grainger, founder of W.W. Grainger Inc.