Solar Energy International (SEI) and BayWa r.e. Solar Systems LLC (BayWa r.e.) announced they have selected the first five recipients of solar training scholarships from the BayWa r.e. Scholarship Fund.

The $10,000 scholarship fund was created earlier this year to contribute 100% of SEI tuition fees for nine hand-selected future solar professionals. The program focuses on reaching candidates who have become unemployed or underemployed during the coronavirus pandemic as well as growing a diverse, skilled workforce to deploy renewable energy safely worldwide.

BayWa r.e. Scholarship Fund awardees receive technical and safety training via SEI's online or in-person classes and labs, to help each graduate improve their chances of landing a solar job while also increasing the diversity of the solar workforce.                                                                                     

Applications are still open for the final four scholarships, which will be awarded later this year. The initial recipients will begin their online training this summer.

"We must expand access to professional training to widen and deepen the solar industry's global talent pool," said Marla Korpar, development director at SEI. "Partnering with BayWa r.e. for this scholarship offers a wonderful opportunity to diversify and strengthen the solar workforce." 

"At BayWa r.e., we share SEI's commitment to creating a diverse, equitable and resilient solar industry," said Christine Owens, vice president of marketing for BayWa r.e. Solar Systems. "One of the fundamental ways to achieve that goal is by ensuring high-quality training is available to a diverse group of individuals free-of-charge."

The first BayWa r.e. Scholarship Fund recipients are:

• Turner Adornetto, Montrose, Colorado
• Jenna Dunne, Orlando, Florida
• Mark Keil, Kerhonkson, New York
• Andrew Robitaille, Portland, Maine
• Neil Tweardy, Groton, Connecticut

For more information on how to apply for the BayWa r.e. Scholarship Fund, go to: www.solarenergy.org/scholarship-funds

Solar Energy International | https://www.solarenergy.org

BayWa r.e. Solar Systems | https://solar-distribution-us.baywa-re.com