In the 2022-23 academic year, the UK Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering awarded a record number of 66 certificates in power and energy. This is the largest number of certificates awarded in the history of the program, which was initiated in 2010 with funding from the Department of Energy and continues its growing activity with direct support from the University, industry, utilities and private donors.
The undergraduate certificate in power and energy is built upon a series of foundational courses supplemented by a broad array of elective courses related to power and energy, which are developed and taught by Power and Energy Institute of Kentucky (PEIK) faculty. The undergraduate power and energy certificate program was the most awarded undergraduate certificate within the Pigman College of Engineering in 2022-23 and one of top-awarded undergraduate certificates at UK last year as well.
The graduate certificate in power and energy supports master’s and doctoral interests in power and energy, as well as the growing interest in the UK University Scholars Program, which enables students to integrate their undergraduate and graduate studies into a single continuous program culminating in both a baccalaureate and a master’s or doctoral degree.
In 2022-23, the college also awarded 16 E.ON scholarships for PEIK in the amount of $3,000 annually, with an additional minimum of $2,000 for use on a power and energy-related study abroad trip during the school year or the following summer, to eligible students who demonstrated a strong interest in power and energy studies. Eligible students are juniors or seniors in the year the scholarship is paid out, have at least a 3.0 GPA, have already applied for the PEIK certificate, have taken power and energy classes and are actively working towards the certificate.
The awarded students are majoring in electrical and computer, chemical, mechanical, biosystems and agricultural engineering.
These annual merit-based scholarships continue to be supported by the endowment established years ago at UK by E.ON, on behalf of Kentucky Utilities Company (KU), now together with Louisville Gas and Electric (LG&E), part of the PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL) family of companies. More information about the scholarship can be found here.