From left to right: Dr. Kenneth W. Sewell OSU VP for research, Dr. John O’Hara ECE associate professor, Tyler Graham, Dr. Guoliang Fan ECE department head

CEAT student named USRA Distinguished Undergraduate for 2024

Monday, December 9, 2024

Media Contact: Desa James | Communications Coordinator | 405 744 2669 | desa.james@okstate.edu

Tyler Graham’s path to engineering was inspired by a lifelong love of building and problem-solving. In middle school, he began experimenting with a Raspberry Pi, and in high school, he joined his school’s FIRST Robotics team, which solidified his interest in engineering.

At Oklahoma State University, Graham found a thriving community and opportunities to pursue his passion for space research.

Graham — an electrical and computer engineering major in the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology — has been honored as a 2024 Distinguished Undergraduate by the Universities Space Research Association. Graham is one of only five students nationwide to receive this prestigious recognition, which includes a $5,000 scholarship.

Graham’s remarkable achievements and passion for space research earned him the Judith L. Pipher Memorial Scholarship Award, the newest scholarship under the USRA Distinguished Undergraduate Awards. This honor recognizes Graham’s work with OKSat, Oklahoma’s CubeSat Launch Initiative, where he has focused on advancing infrared optical communication technology.

"Optical communications are the future of space technology, but significant challenges remain before they can complement or replace traditional RF technologies," Graham said. "I believe I was chosen for this scholarship because of my work to make infrared optical communications more accessible in terms of weight and cost, paving the way for universities and researchers to further develop new solutions."

Tyler Graham holding his USRA distinguished undergraduate award — Tyler Graham holds his USRA Distinguished Undergraduate award.

Graham is actively involved within CEAT.

He has been the student lead of OKSat for the past two years. During that time, he collaborated with three senior design teams who aim to develop Oklahoma’s first space mission and launch a 3U CubeSat in the next few years.

As the avionics lead for the Space Cowboys' high-altitude rocketry team, he has achieved Tripoli Level 1 and 2 certifications. His team is preparing for upcoming competitions, including the Argonia Cup, and working on a rocket designed to reach 100 kilometers —officially entering space.

In addition to his other work, Graham is a member of the Ham Radio Club W5YJ and serves as president of CEAT Solvers, a student-led design group tackling creative engineering challenges, such as developing a monowheel bike and combat robots.

"My goal is to put Oklahoma into space and establish a legacy of space design and launch capabilities here in my home state," Graham said. "In the distant future, I would like to see OSU as a sort of aerospace leader in the context of all American universities. We have a lot of talent here, and I’d like others to see it! "

Graham credits his success to mentors like Dr. John O’Hara, OSU ECE associate professor, and Dr. Peter LoPresti, University of Tulsa electrical engineering professor, who supported his efforts with OKSat and provided recommendation letters. He also thanked the Space Cowboys and OKSat team members who contributed to his journey.

“Tyler thoroughly embraces his goals and interests as guiding lights for his studies and then achieves meaningful success in all he does,” O’Hara said. “He is an amazing example of OSU talent and an excellent model for his peers.”

Graham said that support from all the individuals allowed him to continue the work and made him a good choice as a USRA Distinguished Undergraduate.

Graham also gave some advice to students aspiring to careers in engineering or space research.

"There’s never a better time to get started! Right now, humanity is once again racing to get back out into space. For those not yet in college, I’d recommend looking for ways to get involved in space as a hobby. Be in the know about what missions are going on right now, and watch some videos (there’s millions). For those at OSU, talk to professors who do that research look for opportunities like rocketry and NASA design comps. If you’re not sure where to start, come attend a Space Cowboys meeting!”