Jennifer Suskovich and Ike Strege

Suskovich’s and Strege’s innovative teaching idea, “Light My Class With Solar Energy,” encourages students to use their Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) knowledge in a “real-world” application. With the Voya grant, Suskovich and Strege will be able to maximize the amount of time that their classroom can be powered using solar energy. Students involved in the project will use an engineering design process to work collaboratively to create solar tracking prototypes, test and redesign their systems. Using mathematical knowledge, they will also be able to determine the proper placement of solar panels throughout the day in order to receive the maximum amount of sunlight in the classroom. The students will also be able to collaborate with the art department to ensure the designs of the solar panels are aesthetically pleasing on the school’s grounds.