“Renew Crew” Service Project Receives Outstanding Commitment Award from Clinton Global Initiative
A service project in Honduras planned by students from Pennsylvania State University and sponsored by NECA and ELECTRI International – The Foundation for Electrical Construction, Inc., recently received a 2009 Outstanding Commitment Award from the Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U).
The 2009 CGI U Outstanding Commitment Awards, made possible by the Pat Tillman Foundation and the Wal-Mart Foundation, are grants given to exceptional student commitments that take real steps toward solving the world's problems. A total of $400,000 was awarded this year to 78 "student innovative, high-impact student Commitments to Action aimed at improving communities and lives around the world,” according to CGI.
Known as the Renew Crew, the 12 students designed a solar electric system for the Sandy Bay Alternative School in Roatán, Honduras. They installed the photovoltaic panels and necessary wiring during the NECA/ELECTRI International Cross-Border Meeting ion with the help of Vegas Electric, an electrical construction firm and NECA member company based in Roatán.
The sustainable nature of a solar-powered electrical system met the school’s need for more reliable power, and the students got hands-on experience in both designing and installing the system. In partnership with the school’s principal, Renew Crew members also created interactive activities and lessons to teach students about solar energy, the photovoltaic system, and the myriad of opportunities that a college education can provide.
The Renew Crew received an $8,000 grant from the Wal-Mart Foundation as part of their CGI U award to build on the work they began in Roatán this year. In spring 2010, the Renew Crew will install a solar electric system on a local nonprofit medical clinic on the island off the mainland of Honduras.
The Renew Crew see these service projects as a model for a more expansive program called Renewable Energies in Central America (RECA) that would explore sustainable, renewable energy solutions that will improve living conditions for low-income communities in Honduras and other Central American countries.
The Renew Crew plans to return every year during Penn State’s Spring Break to Honduras to install a community-focused system, with the short term plans of staying in Roatán and long-term goals of extending to the mainland, through connections between the electrical contractors and other humanitarian groups in Honduras.
The group is investigating a potential collaborative effort with the Coxen Hole, Roatán campus of the Universidad Tecnológica de Honduras for 2010 or 2011, which will help further the community and education-focused approach to the Renew Crew, as well as create an educational connection with the campuses of the mainland.
Penn State professor and student chapter advisor David Riley helped organize the 2009 Honduras venture. “Our hope is that RECA will help students gain a greater respect and knowledge of the global community, the importance of cross-border relationships, and the industry as it exists within and beyond U.S. boundaries," Riley said.
About the Clinton Global Initiative University Commitment Awards
The Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U) was launched in 2007 to engage the next generation of leaders on college campuses around the world. As a prerequisite of attending the CGI U meeting, students, youth directors, and university officials develop their own Commitments to Action -- a specific plan of action that addresses a pressing challenge on their campus, in their community, or in a different part of the world.
The Renew Crew was recognized with for its Commitment to Action in the area of Energy & Climate Change. Other CGI U Commitments to Action are made in Global Health, Education, Peace & Human Rights, and Poverty Alleviation. This year’s CGI U Outstanding Commitment Award winners for Energy & Climate Change were all funded by the Wal-Mart Foundation.
"Wal-Mart is focused on sustainability at every level and the Wal-Mart Foundation is proud to partner with CGI U to reach hundreds of students and university officials who share our commitment to changing the environment for generations to come," said Margaret McKenna, president of the Wal-Mart Foundation.
Of the Energy & Climate Change commitments made this year, approximately half are working within the United States and half are working in developing countries. Asia (Nepal, India, and Pakistan in particular) was a top destination for students working in energy and climate change, followed by Africa and Latin America. Students are creating community gardens, installing solar installations, and building solar-powered wells. They are also promoting compost techniques and piloting energy metering and conservation techniques in the developing world.
The professional contractors who joined the Renew Crew students in Roatan in March weren’t surprised to learn about the team’s award. “These were some of the most talented and creative I’d ever seen working in the field,” said Orvil Anthony, Vice President, Fisk Electric Co., and president of the South Texas Chapter, NECA. “They had great faith in their problem-solving abilities, and they weren’t afraid to ask questions. They’re going to accomplish great things, and personally, it was a great privilege for me to see them in action. This type a program adds a tremendous value to the future leaders of the electrical construction industry.”
The students also expressed their admiration of the professional electrical contractors who joined them in Roatan. “It was an opportunity to discover and understand what the electrical contracting industry really does,” said Roland Le Roux, a Penn State Ph.D. student in architectural engineering. “The electrical contracting industry is far more diverse, more multidisciplinary, more complex, and more attractive than what many of us originally thought.”
Contact Information
Beth Margulies, Director, Public Relations
301-215-4526, beth.margulies@necanet.org
