Two outstanding NECA Student Chapters came before the ELECTRI Council to explain their project proposals and vie for ELECTRI’s 2015 Student Passport Award.  This year, both teams demonstrated the real value of cooperation by incorporating other organizations and student chapters into their proposals.  ELECTRI Council members were so impressed by the value of the projects and the synergy of the partnerships that they voted to fund both initiatives.

California Polytechnic State University’s Student Chapter will partner with the non-profit – Reach Beyond – on a project to install eight photovoltaic systems to distribute water to remote, impoverished areas of Ecuador. The Cal Poly Student Chapter proposal received significant industry support from several NECA member companies. Because of the components required for the installation, the Mechanical Contractors Association of America agreed to assist with the design and fabrication processes and will co-fund the initiative with ELECTRI.

The Pennsylvania State University Student Chapter proposed a photovoltaic solar array for a sustainable water pumping station that will help improve access to affordable, reliable electricity in the Juticalpa community of Roatán, Honduras. The Penn State team will also include students from the University of Toronto Canadian Electrical Contractors Association Student Chapter. Their efforts in Honduras will receive financial support from several NECA member companies, the Penn-Del-Jersey Chapter, and Vegas Electric, based in Roatán.

For additional information on ELECTRI International’s Talent Initiative and its student competitions, contact Laura Holmes at 301-215-4538 or laura.holmes@electri.org