OSU IEEE student chapter grows, excels at regional competition
Tuesday, May 20, 2025
Media Contact: Desa James | Communications Coordinator | 405-744-2669 | desa.james@okstate.edu
The Oklahoma State University student chapter of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers continues to grow in size and strength, recently making an impressive showing at the 2025 IEEE Region 5 Student Conference.
OSU’s team brought 19 students to the event, more than regional chapters. The team competed in various categories, including robotics, circuit design, ethics, cybersecurity, and the graduate-level Three Minute Thesis competition.
Despite major technical challenges, the robotics team showed extraordinary resilience. After losing a motor and several key components just hours before the competition, the team worked through the night to get their robot—nicknamed Bellatrix—operational. Their determination paid off when they were able to compete, a feat not all teams could match.
“Another team faced similar issues and chose to withdraw, but our students refused to quit,” said Nate Lannan, assistant electrical and computer engineering professor. “That kind of resolve is what sets our students apart.”
The ethics team, comprised of Danny Johnson and Alex Carter, also demonstrated strong performance in a timed scenario-based challenge where students were asked to analyze complex engineering dilemmas using IEEE’s code of ethics. While the team did not place, they earned praise for their thoughtful approach and professionalism.
In the 3MT competition, graduate student Thomas Kidd earned third place with a compelling presentation on integrating open-source computer processor hardware using RISC-V architecture with an open-source operating system.
Meanwhile, OSU’s cybersecurity team of Skylar Araujo and Gabe Cornelius placed third in a “capture the flag” challenge that tested a wide range of technical and practical security skills, including physical lock-picking.
Participation in the Region 5 Conference has doubled since OSU’s first showing in 2024, and much of the credit for the growing momentum goes to the student-led efforts of IEEE and HKN, the affiliated honor society. The group has expanded outreach efforts on campus through events like the annual banquet and freshman orientation activities. Support from the Zink Center has also played a key role, helping fund travel and accommodations.
“We're already planning to return in 2026 for the next conference in Boulder, Colorado,” said IEEE student leader Juliette Reeder. “Our goal is to bring an even larger group. The more students we have involved, the better the experience and impact.”
IEEE is the world’s largest technical professional organization dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity. OSU’s student chapter exemplifies this mission through its commitment to professional development, technical excellence and collaborative learning.
