Students raise money for solar panels

Saint Mary’s students are hoping for a surge of supporters — and $20,000 — to help bring solar panels to the Winona campus. Organizer Conner Ellinghuysen says the addition of a 16.4-kilowatt system will reduce the university’s carbon footprint, save the university money, and provide educational experiences for students. The student-led fundraising initiative began with Student Senate members Reikel Biechler, Katie O’Leary, Peter Hegland and Ellinghuysen spending a year developing the idea and proposal.

The group is partnering with another organization called Minnesota Student Energy Project, which has agreed to fund two-thirds of the $60,000 project. That leaves a $20,000 fundraising goal. Ellinghuysen said the group would like to raise the money by the end of the school year, so the panels could be installed before school resumes next fall. For more information, you can e-mail Ellinghuysen at crelli11@smumn.edu or check out the students’ fundraising website on Razoo: http://www.razoo.com/story/Solar-Panel-Student-Initiative.