SVSS Awards Grant & Scholarship to ASU Sustainability Students

Kyle Ritland, Marketing and Customer Experience
Kyle Ritland, Marketing and Customer Experience
May 25, 2017
2 min read

Earlier this month, the Sun Valley Solar team was privileged to award two talented ASU Sustainability students the first Messner & Patzer Sustainable Energy Scholarship and Grant.

The scholarship and grant were established in 2016 by Sun Valley Solar Solutions employees through a company-wide fundraising effort to honor company co-founders Joe Messner and Russ Patzer and their vision to improve lives by deploying clean and sustainable energy alternatives. The program’s mission is to seek out and support young pioneers who share this vision and are passionate about advancing the science of sustainability to ensure a brighter and cleaner energy future.

Lee Baldwin is the recipient of this year’s undergraduate scholarship. Lee is a junior who transferred to ASU in 2016 and is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Sustainability with a track in sustainable energy, materials, and technology. Inspired by his father’s many years in the U.S. Navy, Lee wants to learn how algae can be harvested to create a sustainable and renewable biofuel alternative.

Saurabh Biswas is the recipient of this year’s grant. Saurabh is a 2nd year PhD student in Sustainability. He came to ASU with a bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering and a Master of Technology in Energy Systems Engineering from India. His research focuses on understanding the links between energy services and social development, using these insights to design energy systems that encourage sustainable development. Saurabh co-founded the initiative called "Rio Claro Sustentável 2020." This past year, he has been working with an agricultural community in eastern Brazil to advance this sustainable transformation program. This grant will help him continue his alternative energy research and the global initiatives he started as a USAID Global Development Research Fellow in Rio Claro.

On behalf of all the employees at Sun Valley Solar and our founders who inspire us, we are deeply honored to play a small role in Lee’s continuing education and Saurabh’s important research. We congratulate them both on their amazing accomplishments thus far, and wish them great success as they continue to work toward a cleaner and more sustainable future for us all.  

The Messner & Patzer Sustainable Energy Scholarship and Grant are available to students at ASU’s School of Sustainability interested in pursuing careers and research in alternative energy, including solar technology. More information is available at www.scholarships.asu.edu.


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About the Author

Kyle Ritland, Marketing and Customer Experience

Kyle Ritland, Marketing and Customer Experience

After working in technology marketing throughout the Pacific Northwest and Silicon Valley for more than 20 years, Kyle opted to follow his heart and focus his talents in solar energy.

As the head of Marketing at Sun Valley Solar Solutions, Kyle works hard to demystify the ever-changing solar landscape in Arizona and across the country. He especially enjoys helping people separate fact from fiction by presenting solar transparently and accurately, rather than relying on hype or deceptive marketing tactics that are far too common with some solar companies.

When not touting the benefits of solar, encouraging his friends to opt for paper over plastic, or growing his own vegetables, Kyle is generally found hiking with his pointer Bravo or preparing a home-cooked meal for friends.

“If you truly understand how solar works it’s easy to see through the gimmicks. The opportunity for savings is very real when you have the correct information”