Alumnus Andrew Whitaker Electrifies, Graduates MIT

– By Jared Brickman


An alumnus of The Honors College at Washington State University lit up the Massachusetts Institute of Technology – metaphorically and literally.

Coauthor of the MIT Future of the Electric Grid Study, Andrew Whitaker (’09 Electrical Engineering, Chinese Language and Culture, and the Honors College) graduated last September with his S.M. in Technology and Policy from the prestigious Massachusetts school.

During his time there, Whitaker completed a thesis exploring the impact of electricity demand on grid reliability.  He’s bringing that expertise back to Washington, where he will work for the Redmond branch of Alstom Grid as a software developer.  The company creates systems that control electricity grids.  Forty percent of all power flowing across the United States is managed by Alstom technology.

What might not seem an obvious supplement to Whitaker’s skillset is the fact that he is fluent in Mandarin Chinese.  However, Alstom Grid has an office in, and does business with, China.

Whitaker standing in a rice field ready for harvest in Indonesia
Whitaker standing in a rice field ready for harvest in Indonesia

Whitaker learned Mandarin Chinese when he earned a Boren Award for International Study.  The distinguished scholarship helped him study for a year in Harbin, which is in the northeast corner of China.

“It was a life-changing experience in more ways than one,” says Whitaker.  “I still keep in close contact with my Chinese roommate.”

Whitaker may be better known to WSU students for a project he completed in his time at the university.  For some time in the past at the Student Recreation Center (SRC), one could find a futuristic-looking vending machine called Ecowell.  Whitaker was one of three students who created it.

The Ecowell system aims to eliminate the use of plastic and paper containers.  Users have to bring their own reusable bottle and sign into an account.  Because there’s no container, the water from Ecowell is much cheaper than traditional bottled water.  People can also add flavoring and vitamin supplements to their drink.

Today, Whitaker is no longer part of Ecowell management, but wishes the company well.

“I really hope it takes hold,” says Whitaker. “Its future is uncertain, but I truly believe in what it stands for.”

Whitaker had several other successes while at WSU.  He earned the S. Town Stephenson Award from the Honors College and was a commencement highlight student.  Both the electrical engineering and foreign language and cultures departments named Whitaker spring 2009 outstanding senior.

“I really appreciated that the Honors College encouraged me to pursue all of my diverse interests, even when they were worlds apart,” says Whitaker.  “My professors there sparked an interest in topics I had never even been introduced to before, and it has led to what I’m doing now.”