Kansas State University

Electrical Power Affiliates Program

The Electrical Power Affiliates Program (EPAP) is a partnership between Kansas State University Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and six industry organizations - Black & Veatch, Burns and McDonnell, Kansas Electric Cooperatives, Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Sega and Westar Energy. The program gives engineering students the opportunity to research, learn, network and engage in professional development.

Each fall, Electrical Power Affiliates Day allows the six EPAP members to visit the College of Engineering complex and set up displays where students can stop and talk with representatives to learn more about the power industry. On that day, representatives from the six companies also speak to undergraduate and graduate classes, conduct mock job interviews, sponsor a free lunch for students and attend an industry reception in the afternoon.

“Industrial support of Kansas State will increase in importance as we move toward K-State 2025,” Program Director Noel Schulz said, referring to the goal to become a top 50 public research university during the next 14 years. “The Electrical Power Affiliates Program is an example where six companies can make a difference for our students and faculty. They can contribute to the advancement of the College of Engineering by enabling undergraduate and graduate research projects, student travel to conferences, trips to industrial sites and more.”

EPAP Executive Level

Burns & McDonnell

Founded in 1898, Burns & McDonnell has been making its clients successful for more than 100 years.   

The award-winning engineering, architecture, construction, environmental and consulting services firm established its world  headquarters in Kansas City, Mo. Burns & McDonnell plans, designs, permits, constructs and manages projects all over the world with one mission in mind - to make clients successful. 

From the water you drink, the air you breathe, the roads and airports you travel, to the power that illuminates your home, you don’t have to look far to see ways that Burns & McDonnell touches people’s lives. Burns & McDonnell is wholly an employee-owned firm. 

Westar Energy

Westar is the largest electric company in Kansas and employs about 2,400 people who serve about 685,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers. Westar generates more than 27 million megawatt-hours of electricity annually to meet those customers’ needs.

That need for reliable electricity continues to grow. Westar’s energy plan includes investing in renewable and new, traditionally-fueled generation plants and transmission projects. Westar also focuses on upgrading the environmental controls at existing plants and helping customers, employees and communities with the tools they need to be energy-efficient.

It takes all of this and much more to keep Kansas’ largest electrical provider up and running day after day. From building and operating power plants to providing day-to-day service for customers, engineers are integral to everything Westar does. 

EPAP Member Level

Black & Veatch 

Black & Veatch is an employee-owned, global leader in building Critical Human Infrastructure™ in Energy, Water, Telecommunications and Government Services. Since 1915, we have helped our clients improve the lives of people in over 100 countries through consulting, engineering, construction, operations and program management. Our revenues in 2013 were US$3.6 billion. Follow us on www.bv.com and in social media.

KEC is the Kansas statewide service organization for 28 electric distribution cooperatives and three generation and transmission cooperatives. Formed on August 18, 1941, and headquartered in Topeka, KEC represents the interests and provides needed services and programs to electric cooperatives that serve member/consumers within the state.  KEC functions for the mutual benefit of its members to promote rural electrification and foster the principles on which electric cooperatives were founded.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories

SEL was founded in 1982 when Dr. Edmund O. Schweitzer, III, invented the first all-digital protective relay, reducing the cost and complexity of power protection and revolutionizing the electric power industry. SEL products and solutions must be simple and reliable because they protect the largest, most complicated machine on earth: the electric power grid. SEL provides systems, services, and products for the protection, monitoring, control, automation, and metering of utility and industrial electric systems worldwide. Their company and products exist to make electric power safer, more reliable, and more economical. Today, SEL provides products, solutions, and services in 142 countries, employs more than 3,100 people worldwide, and is 100 percent employee-owned.

 

Sega

Sega Inc., a Kansas City area based engineering and technical services firm, is 100% employee-owned and has been providing quality services since 1973 to the energy industry. They offer a full range of engineering services including planning, project management, detailed design, construction management, and commissioning to electric utilities, universities, industrial companies, and municipalities. In addition to providing engineering services to support the traditional design-bid build delivery system, Sega Inc. can provide procurement and construction for a total turnkey package. Sega Inc.’s focus areas are power generation, power delivery, air quality & environmental, and control systems.