Michigan Students Raise $11K for Campus Solar Panels

Students in northern Michigan are turning their school into a living classroom by installing solar panels they fundraised for themselves.

The Environmental Club at Traverse City West Senior High School is leading an effort to raise over $11,000 by the end of this school year. A Michigan solar company called Srinergy already donated 14 ground panels. Now students just need to cover installation costs.

Senior Lucy Jones, the club's president, said learning about clean energy now prepares students for a future where solar power will be everywhere. "It's good for students to learn about it now and learn how it works, so then in the future, they're able to know about it and use renewable energy in their lives," she said.

The panels will do more than just educate. Once installed, they'll generate about 7,000 kilowatt hours of electricity annually, covering roughly 5% of the school's power needs.

Science teacher Mary Brisbois plans to use real data from the panels in her environmental science class. Other math and science teachers have already expressed interest in incorporating the solar project into their lessons too.

The Ripple Effect

By making students responsible for fundraising, Brisbois wants them to learn that money challenges are "something to figure out" rather than "a complete roadblock." That's a lesson that extends far beyond renewable energy.

Lyla Hollis, a clean energy specialist at the nonprofit Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities, said watching the installation process itself offers valuable learning. "Getting the solar panels installed into the electric system is not that hard, but it is a process, and to learn how to do that on a small scale is pretty cool to see," she said.

The hands-on experience covers multiple subjects. Students can explore the chemistry behind solar cells, the math of energy conversion, and the practical steps of connecting panels to a building's electrical system.

Jones said she feels optimistic about reaching their fundraising goal with help from the local community. What excites her most is knowing the impact will last long after she graduates.

The project represents something bigger than renewable energy education: it's students investing in their school's future and showing their community what young people can accomplish when given the chance.