Scholarship

Scholarship Background

Kinect Solar is a woman-owned small business with a passion for taking on big problems. We work behind the scenes with solar manufacturers and developers to solve some of their most complex supply chain challenges. We take pride in the small but vital role we play in bringing clean, renewable solar energy to our nation.

We have learned through experience that big problems can be solved through simple solutions. The best ideas are straightforward, can be applied quickly, and focus on changing behaviors.

The climate crisis is a major problem that requires solutions of all scopes and sizes, and that is why we created the Kinect Solar Start Small Scholarship. This scholarship is awarded twice a year to college and university undergraduates who offer up simple, practical, and affordable ideas to help people live more sustainably and in harmony with our planet right now. We are interested in a wide range of ideas that span multiple disciplines and approaches.

Deadlines

Fall Semester: 11:59 p.m. CT on Friday, June 30, 2023
Spring Semester: 11:59 p.m. CT on Friday, December 1, 2023

Eligibility

College and university undergraduate students in any field of study are welcome to apply. Applicants must be U.S. citizens who are currently enrolled in an accredited 2- or 4-year college or university.

Scholarship Amount

$2,500 to one winner each semester (fall and spring).

Application Process

To apply, students must submit a 500-word essay or a brief video (no longer than 3 minutes) to scholarship@kinectsolar.com along with their full name, the college or university they are attending, and a phone number where they can be reached. Applicants must also provide official enrollment verification from their college or university, typically obtained through the registrar’s office, and emailed to scholarship@kinectsolar.com.

Essay Topic

The essay or video must answer this question:

“If you could share just one simple idea with your friends, family, and others around you that would help in living more sustainably and more in harmony with the planet if applied consistently, what would that be?”

Scholarship Rules

The $2,500 Kinect Solar Start Small Scholarship will be awarded
to two students annually. The funds will be sent to the school’s financial aid office prior to the start of the semester. The awarded funds must only be used for tuition, fees, school supplies, or other education-related expenses.
Selected winners are granted a one-time scholarship and may not reapply. Students who are not selected may apply again for future semesters.
Winners grant Kinect Solar the right to share basic information about them (name, school, year in school, etc.) and a portrait on its website and in its social media channels.

Selection Process

One winner will be selected for each fall and spring semester by the Kinect Solar Scholarship Committee. The committee will announce the winner of the scholarship no more than two weeks after the submission deadline. The winner will be notified via email or phone. If the winner does not respond within a reasonable amount of time, the committee will extend the offer to the next runner-up.

Contact Information

For more information, email scholarship@kinectsolar.com.