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Giving Back to Support Students

John Undrill Headshow

In 2022, John Undrill, an IEEE Life Fellow and long-time IEEE Foundation donor, was awarded the IEEE Herman Halperin Electric Transmission and Distribution Award, for “contributions to the development of analytical tools and stability testing methods for electric power systems.” The Halperin Award is an IEEE Technical Field Award presented in recognition of outstanding contributions to the development of analytical tools and stability testing methods for electric power systems.  In true philanthropic style, Undrill responded by donating his cash prize to the IEEE Power & Energy Society (PES Scholarship Plus Initiative,  a program which provides financial scholarships to deserving engineering students within the power and energy track.

As the architect of the Power System Simulator for Engineering (PSS/E) — analysis software that’s allowed power engineers to plan, design, and operate their systems safely and efficiently for decades and mitigate major power outages, Undrill has been responsible for driving systems that have since become industry standards. He has also advanced techniques for testing stability of power plant components such as turbines and generators.

Undrill, a member of IEEE since 1966, shared that he made the generous gift because “IEEE is the reason I’ve been in the profession for 60 years and I felt it was time to give something back  “I see it as a way to give a bit of extra help along the way to students who are already deeply attracted to engineering schools and passionate about making a difference in the field of power and energy.”

Award Recipients and Conference Speakers who receive cash prizes or speaker fees may choose to donate their prize to the IEEE PES Scholarship Plus Initiative or one of the many other donor-supported funds managed by the IEEE Foundation.

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