Daily Pioneer News

PLATTEVILLE - University of Wisconsin-Platteville student Aaron Nysse is among six individuals selected nationwide for a 2004 Society of Automotive Engineers scholarship.

The $1,000 Long Term Member Sponsored Scholarship is open to students actively involved in their local SAE chapter. SAE International awards the scholarship annually to six juniors entering their senior year of study.

A mechanical engineering major, Nysse said his participation in SAE has been a huge benefit to his education. In addition to serving as vice president for the UWP chapter, Nysse has been involved in several hands-on SAE projects that have helped him learn more about engineering.

One of the projects Nysse has been most involved with is the SAE Clean Snowmobile Challenge. The design competition challenges students to reengineer an existing snowmobile for improved emissions and noise while maintaining or improving the performance characteristics. Nysse helps organize the project team at UWP, and has served as team captain the last four years.

"I've been heavily involved since I've come to campus. There's a big difference between showing up at the meetings and being actively involved," Nysse said. "It's hurt my GPA a bit, but I felt it helped me be more effective at taking the important things away from classes. In job interview situations, the only thing they want to discuss is my involvement with SAE projects."

Another project he's been involved with is the SAE Mini-Baja competition, in which engineering students are tasked to design and build an off-road vehicle. Nysse has helped with the building and fabrication of three Mini-Baja vehicles.

Nysse, who is also a member of the Pi Tau Sigma and Tau Beta Pi honors societies, said one benefit of the mechanical engineering program at UWP is that students can get involved in hands-on projects as early as their freshman year. Anticipating graduation in May of 2005, Nysse said he will reduce his involvement in SAE projects in his final year of study at UWP.

"I'm going to try to step back a little this year, let the younger generation step-up," he said. "There was a core group of us together for three years, and several of those guys have graduated. We're going to make sure the younger generation takes up the torch."

Nysse is the son of Roger Nysse and the late Elizabeth Nysse of rural Plymouth. He plans to enter the field of recreational motor sports after graduation.