Driven to Discover: An ASPIRE Student’s Path Through Leadership

As the automotive industry continues to grow, so too does the work of engineers and with the continuous expansion of electric vehicles, there are even more avenues for discovery. And that’s part of what drew Utah State University student Hope Miller to ASPIRE.

“I’ve always wanted to work on cars and in the automotive industry,” said the research assistant. “Being able to do that here in this capacity with electric vehicles has been really cool and quite an eye opener.”

Miller works on two projects at ASPIRE, one of which is a wireless megawatt charging system with Kenworth Truck Company. For that project, the ASPIRE engineering team is using the same concept seen in a wireless phone charger, then scaling it up to be able to quickly charge the battery of an electric semi-truck.

“It has honestly taught me the most,” Miller said. “It’s where I started when I first started working here, and it’s where I’m still working alongside other projects.”

The second project entails taking a different company’s charging pad, along with the design they already had, and retrofitting it for the new Class 6 box truck.

“I’ve definitely learned a lot of tool-based skills, which I think has been really helpful in the design side of things because that’s where everything starts.” Miller explained.

ASPIRE’s Ryan Cook, a mechanical engineering team lead, has been involved with Miller and the team on these projects. Overseeing and working with her has given him a firsthand look at her capabilities as a research assistant.

“Hope has done an excellent job of taking ownership of tasks and finding opportunities to learn from what she is working on,” he said. “I’ve really seen her grow as an engineer through designing the box truck mounting system, then leading the assembly of it.”

Leading by Learning

In March of 2025, Miller went on a cohort trip with the student leadership council through the ASPIRE Student Association. She was able to relate her past experience as ASA President with the lessons learned on the trip.

“(The trip) was really helpful, specifically to see how different companies work together, like their workflow and their company dynamic,” Miller said. “That’s kind of what I got to do a lot as President, along with managing a lot of the smaller activities.”

Miller’s value and engagement as a member of ASPIRE hasn’t gone unnoticed. Melanie Conrad, ASPIRE’s student and industry relations coordinator, spoke of her dedication as a leader and the meaningful impact she makes on ASPIRE and its students.

“In her roles as ASA President, Vice President and a member of the Student Leadership Council, she plays an active part in advancing initiatives that strengthen student involvement and engagement,” Conrad said. “I am continually impressed by her professionalism, reliability and genuine desire to make a difference.”

At ASPIRE’s Summer EV Academy, high school students had the chance to get hands on experience building an electric vehicle. Miller played the crucial role of a facilitator and mentored students while building the mechanical systems of the switch car.

“My favorite part was watching the students figure out problems and work towards solutions,” Miller explained. “Sometimes I could see that something wasn’t done quite right, but it never took long for the students to realize it and come up with solutions to fix it.”

The experience provided by participating in the EV academy was not only beneficial for the high schoolers, but the facilitators and mentors as well. Teaching others provided valuable insights into shaping the careers of the students and Miller herself.

“The EV academy has helped me see how to be a better mentor and help others learn,” she said. “-and it has also made a difference in the way I approach new opportunities as there is always something to be learned.”