Powercat Motorsports team member receives national SAE award

By Grant Guggisberg

^{Thursday, May 22, 2025}

Anish Srivastava, senior in mechanical and nuclear engineering, Olathe, was selected as the recipient of the 2024 SAE International Award for Outstanding Student Leadership in STEM Honoring Max Rumbaugh.

The national award honors one outstanding student leader of one or more SAE activities and, through the award, encourages a vision within the student to become an SAE leader during their post-graduate career. Srivastava recently traveled to Detroit, Michigan, for the 2025 WCX World Congress Experience to receive the award. Additionally, he received a lifetime SAE membership, an award plaque and an honorarium in recognition of his hard work.

Srivastava has been heavily involved in the leadership of K-State’s SAE chapters during his time at K-State, helping facilitate Powercat Motorsports’ consistent rise at Formula SAE Michigan over the past five years, culminating in the team’s first top-10 finish at the national race in May 2024.

Srivastava was nominated by Kevin Wanklyn, one of the advisors for Powercat Motorsports and teaching associate professor in the Alan Levin Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering.

“Over the last few years, considerable progress has been made to move the team steadily up in the rankings at SAE Michigan,” Wanklyn said. “Anish’s hard work during his time at K-State, serving on a variety of leadership roles for the team, including a stint as club president, is a big part of why this team is the best in the Big 12 and one of the top teams in the country.”

Srivastava plans to work for Altec Industries in St. Joseph, Missouri, after his graduation from K-State.