What People are Saying
Nate Lindsey says….
The lessons I learned as an AHEAD Energy volunteer speak to this organization's mission to illuminate communities around the world. In Fall 2008, AHEAD asked me to travel to sub-Saharan Africa, assess available energy resources and energy needs at a Ugandan primary school, and help assemble a personal network of local, state, university, and commercial individuals that would continue to inform AHEAD's work in the region. The experience was transformative.
Travelling alongside AHEAD Energy President MJ Ebenhack to the Peace Primary and Nursery School in Makindye, Uganda, I learned of one of AHEAD's guiding approaches -- to strategically work beside stakeholders, not in front of them. We talked with every student, teacher and staff member in order to gain insight into the Peace School's unique energy (and other) needs. This contextual approach enabled our design of an alternative energy system tailored to the school's setting, while empowering the school to take a central role in the project. This project won the Outstanding Commitment to Action award from the Bill Clinton Global Initiative University in 2009, which provided funds for the solar photovoltaic system at the Peace School. This prestigious award is a testament to AHEAD’s vision to work with communities to improve access to modern forms of energy.
My education was profoundly affected by AHEAD Energy. AHEAD helped me design and carry out an interdisciplinary major in alternative energy and sustainable engineering, which allowed me to align my abilities with my personal philosophy rooted in environmentalism. After volunteering with AHEAD, I went to work at the US Department of Energy, where I created opportunities for geothermal energy projects in Uganda, Rwanda, Djibouti, and Kenya, while networking with East African scientists in order to provide continuing educational resources to them. Next fall, I will begin a UK Fulbright Scholarship in which I will connect Ethiopian, European and American geoscientists at the benefit of geothermal energy development in East Africa.
AHEAD Energy’s impact on my life was far-reaching, but it does not compare to the impact they continue to have on African communities in need of energy.
Nate Lindsey, a native of Skaneatles, New York, is a 2011 graduate of the University of Rochester where he designed an interdisciplinary major in alternative energy and sustainable engineering.
Samantha Ruiz says….
My experience with AHEAD Energy has been inspiring to say the least. During the winter of 2009, AHEAD gave me the opportunity to devise a wind turbine system design which was to be assembled and installed at the Chazon Children’s Center in Molo, Kenya the upcoming summer. I worked closely with wind turbine donation partner, Jetpro Technology Inc., in Tainan, Taiwan.
The unique experience was fulfilling. AHEAD allowed me to see a beautiful integration of engineering, business, and stewardship. In addition to determining the best geographic location for the wind turbines, I had to make sure the system design was able to meet the energy needs of the Chazon Children’s Center community. I was encouraged by AHEAD’s mission to enable all people to have a high quality of life and plan to pursue this in my career.
President MJ’s passion and leadership have opened my eyes to stewardship in the context of a greater global community. Currently, I am a Master of Science in Business Administration candidate at the Simon Graduate School of Business and have a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Rochester. My goal is to follow AHEAD’s example and use my business and engineering expertise to improve the lives of our international neighbors.
Samantha Ruiz earned a BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Rochester in 2009, completed a Kauffman Entrepreneurial Year (KEY) project in 2010, and will graduate this spring from the Simon Graduate School of Business with a BS in Business Administration.
The lessons I learned as an AHEAD Energy volunteer speak to this organization's mission to illuminate communities around the world. In Fall 2008, AHEAD asked me to travel to sub-Saharan Africa, assess available energy resources and energy needs at a Ugandan primary school, and help assemble a personal network of local, state, university, and commercial individuals that would continue to inform AHEAD's work in the region. The experience was transformative.
Travelling alongside AHEAD Energy President MJ Ebenhack to the Peace Primary and Nursery School in Makindye, Uganda, I learned of one of AHEAD's guiding approaches -- to strategically work beside stakeholders, not in front of them. We talked with every student, teacher and staff member in order to gain insight into the Peace School's unique energy (and other) needs. This contextual approach enabled our design of an alternative energy system tailored to the school's setting, while empowering the school to take a central role in the project. This project won the Outstanding Commitment to Action award from the Bill Clinton Global Initiative University in 2009, which provided funds for the solar photovoltaic system at the Peace School. This prestigious award is a testament to AHEAD’s vision to work with communities to improve access to modern forms of energy.
My education was profoundly affected by AHEAD Energy. AHEAD helped me design and carry out an interdisciplinary major in alternative energy and sustainable engineering, which allowed me to align my abilities with my personal philosophy rooted in environmentalism. After volunteering with AHEAD, I went to work at the US Department of Energy, where I created opportunities for geothermal energy projects in Uganda, Rwanda, Djibouti, and Kenya, while networking with East African scientists in order to provide continuing educational resources to them. Next fall, I will begin a UK Fulbright Scholarship in which I will connect Ethiopian, European and American geoscientists at the benefit of geothermal energy development in East Africa.
AHEAD Energy’s impact on my life was far-reaching, but it does not compare to the impact they continue to have on African communities in need of energy.
Nate Lindsey, a native of Skaneatles, New York, is a 2011 graduate of the University of Rochester where he designed an interdisciplinary major in alternative energy and sustainable engineering.
Samantha Ruiz says….
My experience with AHEAD Energy has been inspiring to say the least. During the winter of 2009, AHEAD gave me the opportunity to devise a wind turbine system design which was to be assembled and installed at the Chazon Children’s Center in Molo, Kenya the upcoming summer. I worked closely with wind turbine donation partner, Jetpro Technology Inc., in Tainan, Taiwan.
The unique experience was fulfilling. AHEAD allowed me to see a beautiful integration of engineering, business, and stewardship. In addition to determining the best geographic location for the wind turbines, I had to make sure the system design was able to meet the energy needs of the Chazon Children’s Center community. I was encouraged by AHEAD’s mission to enable all people to have a high quality of life and plan to pursue this in my career.
President MJ’s passion and leadership have opened my eyes to stewardship in the context of a greater global community. Currently, I am a Master of Science in Business Administration candidate at the Simon Graduate School of Business and have a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Rochester. My goal is to follow AHEAD’s example and use my business and engineering expertise to improve the lives of our international neighbors.
Samantha Ruiz earned a BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Rochester in 2009, completed a Kauffman Entrepreneurial Year (KEY) project in 2010, and will graduate this spring from the Simon Graduate School of Business with a BS in Business Administration.