Where Are They Now? Sun Valley Solar Scholarship and Grant Recipients

Kyle Ritland, Marketing and Customer Experience
Kyle Ritland, Marketing and Customer Experience
March 11, 2019
2 min read

Since 2016, Sun Valley Solar Solutions has been privileged to help several talented ASU Sustainability students with their missions to build a cleaner and more sustainable future.  Our contribution started as a company-wide fundraiser and has since evolved into an annual scholarship and grant designed to assist forward-thinking, aspirational students studying sustainability and solar photovoltaic systems at ASU.

Now in its third year, the Sun Valley Solar Solutions scholarship and grant continues to empower future movers and shakers in the sustainability industry. Previous recipients already have a sizable impact on the world. Please read on and join us in celebrating their hard work. 

Junkee Ahn - 2018 Scholarship Recipient

Ahn is our most recent recipient, having been awarded our scholarship in 2018 as a junior at ASU. He has previously held internships with Kimberly-Clark Professional and the City of Phoenix, Aviation Department. In this department, he assisted with updating the department's sustainability management plan, where he looked at new solar applications and electric vehicle charging at the airport, among other sustainable initiatives.

This past summer, Ahn went to South Korea to work with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN-ESCAP). Here, he was responsible for researching energy security, interconnected power grids, and environmental sustainability. Ahn believes access to clean and modern energy is fundamental for a sustainable society and hopes his work promotes sustainable energy for all. Read more about Ahn's UN contributions here. 

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 these scholars' important research and contribution to a cleaner and more sustainable society. 

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 here.

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”