The Wind Energy Student Organization (WESO) at Iowa State University will be advancing to the national stage of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Collegiate Wind Competition (CWC).
WESO placed 12 out of 36 competing universities. The club will represent Iowa State at the American Clean Power Association’s Clean Power Conference and exhibitions this spring. They will compete alongside teams from MIT, Kansas State, Virginia Tech, Penn State and more.
“This is a huge accomplishment for us,” MacKenzie Woods, WESO president and senior in electrical engineering, said. “We’ve dedicated countless hours, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see that pay off.”
WESO first entered the CWC competition in 2016. The team consistently performed well through 2019, according to Woods. However, due to declining participation, the club was forced to pause its activities, largely due to COVID-19.
The club was then revived during the 2022-2023 academic year and faced a series of challenges including launching design setbacks, technical issues and internal restructuring obstacles.
Despite these hurdles, WESO was able to overcome them and allowed them to compete at nationals.
“This year, we are committed to overcoming past challenges through careful preparation and teamwork,” Woods said.
Beyond competing as a team, WESO focuses on education, innovation and advocacy for renewable energy. The student-led club is based around their key initiatives, including industry engagement, outreach and STEM engagement and social media awareness campaigns.
“WESO fosters leadership skills, teamwork and problem-solving,” Woods said. “Last semester, we even had a team bonding lead who helped strengthen connections within the club. Building relationships is something every student struggles with, and I think our club is a great space to foster that community.”
Apart from WESO’s innovative industry engagement, they recently hosted a MidAmerican Energy Panel. The members addressed misconceptions about wind energy and discussed career opportunities in the renewable sector.
Another part of WESO’s innovation is outreach and STEM engagement. WESO participates in numerous outreach events. One of their largest events was Lego League STEAM Fest, where members educated attendees about wind energy and demonstrated its impact by using DIY wind-powered cardboard cars.
“We are passionate about getting younger students excited about STEM and renewable energy,” Woods said. “At the Lego League STEAM Fest, we engaged mostly with fifth and sixth graders, helping them connect their STEM interest with wind energy.”
WESO also conducts social media awareness campaigns. They are soon launching an Instagram campaign to raise awareness about wind energy, combat misinformation and promote STEM involvement.
“Our outreach extended beyond students,” Abigail Gallagher, outreach lead in WESO and sophomore in environmental engineering and geology, said. “We also engaged with parents, teachers and other community members. Adults often shape how kids think about renewables, so it’s important we provide them accurate information, too.”
WESO prides itself on their diversity and inclusion.
“We send out a survey, and women make up 34.5% of our team, which is above average for engineering organizations,” Woods said. “Our members also represent a variety of racial and ethnic backgrounds.”
Woods emphasized that this diversity brings valuable perspectives to their work.
“It helps us communicate better, approach problems creatively and ultimately makes us stronger as a team,” Woods said.
While WESO’s focus is wind energy, the club is open to students from all majors.
“We are looking for anyone to help,” Gallagher said. “Anyone passionate about sustainability, renewable energy or professional development is welcome.”
