McKinley Harm, CNPPID
McKinley, the 2025 Rising Star Award recipient, has demonstrated exceptional leadership as a Civil Engineer and Deputy Dam Safety Engineer at the Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District. She has led creative, field‑tested solutions to infrastructure challenges—such as implementing a novel geo‑cell slope protection system to address erosion—while advancing a forward‑looking vision for integrated water‑energy management and resilient hydropower operations.
Sterling Watson, Natel Energy
Sterling was named the inaugural Rising Star Award winner for her leadership as a fish safety engineer at Natel Energy, where she has advanced innovative turbine designs that achieve near‑100% fish passage survival while maintaining strong performance. Her work on experimental testing, predictive modeling, and peer‑reviewed research has influenced both hydropower project design and broader conversations around environmentally sustainable hydropower development.
