The season of giving: Donations benefit SEI’s scholarship program

Around this time last year, Solar Energy International (SEI) alum, Brittany Heller, sat down and made a list of goals for the upcoming year, one of them being to further her solar education through solar PV training, specifically in battery-based technology.  

Soon after Brittany met SEI Marketing and Communications Manager, Mary Marshall, and SEI Development Director, Marla Korpar, at a 200-kW installation in Norwood, Colorado with GRID Alternatives. Brittany was working as an AmeriCorps VISTA at the time with GRID, and Marla and Mary were VISTAs at SEI. After expressing her interest in SEI’s battery training, the SEI VISTAs encouraged Brittany to apply for the Heather Andrews Scholarship, and join them in Paonia that spring for SEI’s PV301L: Solar Electric Lab Week-Battery-Based.

“At that point I really wanted to take a class, and Marla and Mary really encouraged me to do it,” Brittany explained. “I was so stoked that SEI put a focus on women in solar, with women making up only 28% of the solar industry, it was amazing learning that they had that opportunity.”

In 2012, SEI established the Heather Andrews Scholarship Fund to support women’s solar training. Heather was a SEI alumna and solar champion who passed away Feb. 8, 2012 after complications from brain surgery. This scholarship supports female SEI students pursuing hands-on training at SEI’s Paonia PV Lab in Colorado. It also supports female SEI students with partial tuition scholarships for SEI online training.

“Receiving the Heather Andrews scholarship gave me a huge boost of confidence and opened up opportunities. It was so amazing to get to spend a week in Paonia, learning about battery-based systems from inspiring teachers working in all facets of the industry,” Brittany said.

Brittany went on to finish her AmeriCorps year at GRID with new battery technology knowledge in tow, and she taught two classes on living off-the-grid at the Sonic Boom and Arise music festivals.

“I feel so incredibly thankful for the SEI scholarship program. I wouldn’t have been able to take the courses I’ve taken at SEI had there not been scholarship opportunities. I feel supported knowing that SEI and the Heather Andrews Fund are purposefully funding women in solar’s education,” Brittany said.

The Heather Andrews Scholarship Fund for women, along with SEI’s Walt Ratterman Scholarship for developing countries, the Johnny Weiss scholarship Fund, and the Veterans and Active Duty Military program continue to give opportunities for students to develop their solar careers through the generosity of our SEI network.  You, too, can help support solar training access for everyone!

How to help? November 28 is Giving Tuesday, #GivingTuesday is a global giving movement that has been built by individuals, families, organizations, businesses, and communities in all 50 states and in countries around the world. Millions of people have come together to support and champion the causes they believe in and the communities in which they live.

Support solar education by donating on Giving Tuesdya to SEI’s scholarship funds.  Brittany explained: “My educational experiences at SEI have given me the technical foundations necessary to push forward in my career.” Help others do the same today! DONATE.

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