Kaylee Esgar, a recipient of the International District Energy Association’s Patti Wilson Leadership Award, received her B.S. in mechanical engineering in May 2025 from the University of Wyoming. She is scheduled to graduate this May with her MBA, also from UW. (Teagan Riedel Photo)
UW mechanical engineering alumna and current MBA candidate Kaylee Esgar, of Beulah,
Colo., was one of 21 recipients of the International District Energy Association’s
Patti Wilson Leadership Award.
This national award program was launched in 2024 in honor of former International
District Energy Association (IDEA) chair and longtime board member Patti Wilson.
The awards were presented Wednesday, Feb. 18, at CampusEnergy2026, an annual conference
hosted by IDEA to share insights “on sustainable, resilient and low-carbon energy
infrastructure for higher education and other campus environments,” according to the
association’s website.
Now in its second year, the Patti Wilson Leadership Award program aims to “attract
and foster participation of promising young women in the district energy industry
and support emerging leadership potential to continue advancing the global mission
of IDEA.”
As a recipient of the Patti Wilson Leadership Award, Esgar has been identified as
one of these emerging leaders in the district energy sector.
“It honestly means so much to me to be chosen, and I am proud to represent Wyoming
and our use of coal within the district energy world,” says Esgar, who received her
UW bachelor’s degree in 2025.
“Patti Wilson embodied the very best of IDEA, with collegiality, collaboration and
the courage to expand our industry’s comfort zone through advocacy and global engagement,”
says Rob Thornton, president and CEO of IDEA. “This year, it was a privilege to recognize
our esteemed class and celebrate the future of district energy. I am confident our
industry’s future is in capable, mission-driven hands.”
Awards recipients are selected based on their embodiment of the spirit of Wilson.
Esgar was encouraged to apply by her supervisors, Shantel Utton and Eric Hansen at
UW Operations, where Esgar works as a utilities management engineer intern. She services
UW’s emergency generators, performs utility locates and assists with district energy
and utility projects around campus.
Esgar credits her mechanical engineering education with setting her on her current
path.
“Getting my mechanical engineering degree at UW prepared me both in and out of the
classroom. Throughout my four years, I learned just how far hard work, grit and determination
can take you in the world,” Esgar says. “The hands-on opportunities, team projects
and lab-based classes helped me figure out exactly what I wanted to do in my professional
life.”
To achieve her goals, Esgar is assembling the components of her professional trajectory
from the expertise she has gained in multiple departments at UW.
“I pursued mechanical engineering because I wanted to understand how the world works
and learn how to develop ideas into physical products that can change the world for
the better, even if in small ways,” she says. “I decided to pursue my MBA to broaden
my knowledge base, develop leadership capabilities and increase my ability to connect
with people from all backgrounds.”
Esgar wants to pursue project management, research and development or product development
in the fields of manufacturing, motor sports or the oil and gas industries.
“I have hopes to one day own my own Wyoming-based business,” she says.
