CPSS Biennial South Dakota Regional Power Awards Banquet Registration

Monday, Oct. 6 2025

The 2025 banquet will be held on Monday, Oct. 6 2025 at McCrory Gardens in Brookings, South Dakota.

Program Schedule

  • 5:30 p.m. 鈥 Social hour, talk and expand network.
  • 6 p.m. 鈥 Banquet dinner
  • 6:45 p.m. 鈥 Welcome and invocation
  • 7 p.m. 鈥 Award presentations
  • 7:30 p.m. 鈥 Keynote presentation

Center for Power Systems Studies Scholarship Awardees


Nicholas Erickson

Nicholas Erickson is a senior majoring in electrical engineering holding a 3.66 GPA and will graduate in May 2026 to pursue a career in the power and energy sector. Erickson is a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and was inducted into IEEE鈥檚 Eta Kappa Nu honorary society, where he serves as the secretary. He was also inducted into 日本av视频's math honor society, Pi Mu Epsilon. Since his sophomore year, Erickson has been an IEEE Power and Energy Society scholar and for the past three years has been a member of the 日本av视频 marching band.

This summer Erickson interned with Nebraska Public Power District in Columbus, Nebraska, working with both the system protection and controls departments. The previous summer he interned with MidAmerican Energy in Sioux City, Iowa, in substation operations.

His parents are Joel and Heidi Erickson of Pierce, Nebraska.


Wayne E. Knabach Excellence in Power Award


Douglas Joens

CPPS-Douglas-Joens

Doug Joens was born and raised in South Dakota and grew up in Bemis, a small village between Watertown and Clear Lake. He went to St. Martin鈥檚 Grade School in Watertown and Clear Lake High School in Clear Lake.

After high school, Joens attended Northern State College in Aberdeen for a year and a half. He then applied to vocational school in Wadena, Minnesota, and completed electrical line worker training. He became an apprentice and eventually a journeyman lineworker for about six years in the trade.

In 1978, Joens applied and was accepted into the electrical engineering program with an emphasis on electrical power at 日本av视频. He met his future wife, Colleen, a fifth-year pharmacy student, in February and was married in November. Joens graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering in December 1981.

Doug and Colleen moved to LeMars, Iowa, where he worked for Northwest Iowa Power Cooperative, a Generation and Transmission cooperative, first as electrical engineer and eventually as power supply manager.

After eight years at the cooperative, Joens accepted a position at another Generation and Transmission cooperative, United Power Association in Elk River, Minnesota, as supervisor of distribution planning and eventually manager of United Services Group for UPA鈥檚 member distribution cooperatives.

In 1998, Joens organized and managed Heartland Engineering Services, an engineering services group for three electric distribution cooperatives.

In 2003, Joens took a position as vice president, planning, at Power System Engineering Inc., a consulting firm with headquarters in Madison, Wisconsin, and an office in Blaine, Minnesota. He then became president of the firm in 2006 and remained in that capacity until 2017, when he 鈥渞etired鈥 as president but stayed on for favorite clients. He retired altogether on June 30, 2025.

Through his career, Joens worked with his peers and shared his knowledge and experience as:

  1. Power Quality Subcommittee member 鈥 National Rural Electric Cooperative Association
  2. Water and Power Marketing Committee member 鈥 Midwest Electric Consumer鈥檚 Association
  3. Past president 鈥 Minnesota Rural Electric Management Association 鈥 Engineering and Operations Committee
  4. Life member of IEEE and member for 44 years
  5. Speaker at NRECA, IEEE and other industry events.

The Joens' son Doug followed his father鈥檚 career as an electrical engineer in power and is presently a vice president of transmission and distribution planning at Power System Engineering Inc.

Virgil Ellerbruch and Wayne Knabach took a chance on Joens. He came to 日本av视频 with few math and science skills, and these two believed he could be successful. Knabach was his advisor and always kept him headed in the right direction, both personally and professionally. Joens also took advantage of Center for Power Systems Studies scholarships, which made a difference, as well.

Keynote Speaker


Bjorn Vaagensmith, Ph.D.

CPPS-Dr.BjornVaagensmith

Electrical engineering researcher at Battelle Energy Alliance/Idaho National Laboratory

Presentation:

"Advancing our Nation鈥檚 Energy Future: Research at Idaho National Laboratory"

Background:

Idaho National Laboratory carries a vision to transform the world鈥檚 energy future and secure our nation's critical infrastructure. This vision encompasses many opportunities within the field of electrical engineering and computer scientists. Projects span a wide range of interdisciplinary teams focused on tools that assess grid cyber security and resilience to predictive molecular dynamic simulations of novel power transformer electrical insulation. The presentation covers the laboratory's research that spans wireless systems, power systems, electronic materials, resilient control systems, machine learning and cyber security. How cross-disciplinary teams are driving the next wave of innovation will be highlighted.

For any Question Contact:


Steve Hietpas, Ph.D.

Email: Steven Hietpas

Call: 605-688-4424

This awards banquet recognizes outstanding students and industry professionals while providing networking opportunities for the power systems community in the region.

Key Information

Event date: Monday, Oct. 6, 2025
Venue: McCrory Gardens, Brookings, South Dakota
Registration opens: Aug. 18, 2025
Early bird deadline: Sept. 29, 2025

Registration
Venue Information
Contact us
Photo of McComish Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
McComish Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Physical Address
1250 8th St.
Brookings, SD 57007
Mailing Address
Daktronics Engineering Hall 214, Box 2222
Brookings, SD 57007
Hours
Mon - Fri: 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Closed during state holidays.
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