As a former senior vice president at Southland Industries, Dave Peters was one of Southland's greatest contributors — not only with his technical innovations, but also his passion for recruiting talented engineering students. After Dave passed away in 2011, the ASHRAE David C.J. Peters Scholarship was created to honor his accomplishments and dedication to rising young engineers. For several years, this scholarship has been awarded to some of the industry's most promising engineering students.
This year's scholarship winner is Kelsey Moss. Born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska, Kelsey is a senior mechanical engineering student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
How did you become interested in this industry?
[KM] I became interested in engineering in high school. I enjoyed engineering classes and competing in robotics club. Those high school experiences led me to select an engineering major. My favorite engineering subjects in college are thermodynamics and heat transfer, and I chose to work in a field that applies those theories. My first internship exposed me to the HVAC industry. I began to understand how building infrastructure works and enjoyed learning about the systems and equipment in use across the world.
What activities and/or associations are you involved in at school?
[KM] My on-campus involvement includes the Navigators, Tau Beta Pi, the Student Alumni Association, ASHRAE, and Pi Tau Sigma. I lead a Bible study with the Navigators, a Christian ministry on campus. Tau Beta Pi is an engineering honor society and Pi Tau Sigma is a mechanical engineering honor society, for which I am president of the Nebraska chapter. I serve on the Board of Directors for the Student Alumni Association. Throughout the past years in school, I have held three on-campus jobs as a Resident Assistant, a Teaching Assistant for fluid mechanics, and a Development and Ticketing Relations Specialist in the Athletic Department.
What are your favorite hobbies/activities outside of school?
[KM] Outside of school, my favorite hobbies are rock climbing, biking, reading, spending time with friends and family, baking, roller blading, traveling, and Frisbee golfing.
What are your goals after graduation?
[KM] After graduation in December, my goal is to continue learning about the HVAC industry and become proficient in calculating and designing systems. I aim to become involved in a few organizations, including ASHRAE and Toastmasters, to make connections and prepare for future engineering roles. I will take the Professional Engineering exam as soon as I can, and my goal is to pass on my first attempt.
Thank you to Southland for providing the funds for this scholarship. I am very grateful and honored to receive this assistance.
Marketing Communication Manager
As Marketing Communication Manager, Kelly Woggon is responsible for managing Southland's external communications through multiple media channels. Kelly is also accountable for coordinating the production and distribution of Southland's internal multimedia communications.
