Adam Raudonis is a student at California’s Westlake High School with a mission. Two missions actually. Here he is in his own words:



“Students for Solar Schools is a student-led initiative that was established with two missions in mind. The first is to install solar panels on Westlake High School, and the second is to create a network and online resource center so other students can successfully get solar power at their schools. At Westlake, our number one priority is the long-term sustainability of the project. After we installed a 6.3kW Photovoltaic array with an online monitoring system, the project will begin again, as a new generation of students, through fundraising and working with the school district, will ensure the addition of more panels each year until the school has reached grid parity.”

“Besides measurable environmental benefits and cost savings, solar panels on schools have the immense potential to inspire green lifestyle changes and actions that make the school more energy efficient and environmentally responsible. Already, Students for Solar Schools has raised over $5,900, negotiated free installation, confirmed the weight bearing capacity of the roof, gained the approval of the school board and engaged the community in our project. “

“We also developed a website and, through it, sparked a movement expanding to over a dozen schools where we are currently sharing our knowledge and resources within the continental US, as well as across Canada, Puerto Rico, and Africa. Our dedicated club at Westlake works each week to further our vision for a solar powered high school an enable our peers across the globe to do the same.”

As Margaret Mead famously said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has”. I guess that goes for high school students like Adam and his classmates as well.