For a Brighter, Cleaner, Safer Tomorrow

South Dakota Alpha KACY TUBBS spent her summer researching solar panels, renewable energy, cybersecurity and electric vehicles. Originally from Orange County, California, Kacy chose to venture out of her comfort zone and attend the University of South Dakota (USD). She moved to Vermillion, South Dakota, without knowing a single person on campus. After going through recruitment, Kacy became best friends with many of her Pi Phi sisters at South Dakota Alpha. She made such strong connections with Pi Phi, Vermillion and USD that she decided to stay there for the summer and find a job in the town that she has learned to call home. Kacy set her sights on securing an internship so she could gain professional experience and grow her leadership skills. At the beginning of the summer, she received an email from a USD faculty member who suggested she apply for an internship with the City of Vermillion.

As a sustainability and political science double-major, working at Vermillion City Hall and diving into issues surrounding renewable energy seemed like the perfect opportunity and she was thrilled to be hired. “Everything happens for a reason,” she said. “There were a few other jobs and internships that did not work out for me; it is easy to get discouraged and doubt yourself after rejection. But then I found this amazing opportunity and was lucky enough to be chosen for the role. I am so glad that I put myself out there, even though I was not originally proficient in solar energy and cybersecurity, because now I have grown exponentially in my intelligence, confidence and leadership skills.” The goal of Kacy’s internship was to evaluate the viability of implementing a solar array into the Vermillion Landfill to offset energy costs produced by fossil fuels. She also studied cybersecurity surrounding the solar array, and developed strategies for preventing, detecting, reacting to and recovering from a cyber-attack.

Kacy worked on additional projects during her internship involving community outreach regarding clean energy. She partnered with a large midwestern energy company as well as a local car dealership to host an Electric Vehicle Ride and Drive Event. Community members were able to drive hybrid and all-electric vehicles (including a very popular all-electric Ford Mustang), and Kacy shared information about electric vehicle rebates to communicate the economic and environmental benefits of driving a more sustainable vehicle. Kacy also coordinated a program which allows City of Vermillion utility customers to buy 100% clean energy for just a few cents each month.

Kacy’s internship was funded by the DEED Scholarship, which is provided by the American Public Power Association (APPA). Part of the scholarship included a travel stipend to attend the APPA National Conference in Orlando, Florida. Kacy stepped out of her comfort zone once again and flew to Florida by herself for the conference. While following COVID-19 guidelines during the conference, she was able to network with hundreds of public power professionals who gave her feedback on her research. She met professionals ranging from CEOs to mayors to line workers, and it was an eye-opening experience to see where her future could take her. During the conference, Kacy spoke with inspiring individuals, including Bonnie St. John, Paralympic medalist and former director of the White House National Economic Council.

Of the experience, Kacy says, “I presented my research to professionals who were able to give me feedback on my work, which was one of the most amazing experiences I could have ever asked for. My internship is funded by APPA, which hosted the conference, so I was widely recognized as the one college girl who decided to fly to Orlando and present her research. I still cannot believe all of this came from applying last-minute for an internship in Vermillion.” Kacy will continue to use the knowledge and skills she gained through her internship at the City of Vermillion and apply them to her studies as well as her various leadership roles across campus. Throughout her next two years at the University of South Dakota, she will continue to pursue career opportunities in the spheres of sustainability and political science.